Northwest Vision Dry Eye Center
Dr. Yoongie Min and the staff at Northwest Vision specialize in providing effective relief for Dry Eyes and MGD (Meibomian gland dysfunction), leading cause of dry eye syndrome. We use a wide range of treatment options. Dry eyes or dry eye syndrome (DES) is a condition where your tear glands don’t make enough tears or your tears evaporate too fast. MGD is a blockage of the meibomian glands where they don’t secrete enough oil into the tears, and the tears then evaporate too quickly.
Anyone can have dry eye syndrome, although this problem is much more common in older adults. Most people that suffer from dry eye syndrome do not even realize that they have a medical condition. For many people complete symptom relief is possible. The symptoms of dry eye, which include dry, scratchy, watery and burning eyes, can usually be successfully managed. Visit Northwest Vision Center for relief.
How do we treat dry eye at Northwest Vision?
We recommend the following treatment options for dry eye:
~ Avenova (from Nova Bay)
~ Lid cleanser
~ Ez Tears eye drops
~ Restasis prescription eye drops
~ Omega 3 supplements
Your optometrist may recommend artificial tears, which are lubricating eyedrops that may alleviate the dry, scratching feeling and foreign body sensation of dry eye syndrome. Prescription eye drops for dry eye, such as Restasis, go one step further, by helping to increase your tear production. To read more about the symptoms and causes of dry eyes, visit Your Eye Health.
Contact Lenses and Dry Eye
Artificial Tears
If you wear contact lenses, be aware that many artificial tears cannot be used during contact lens wear. You may need to remove your lenses before using the drops. Wait 15 minutes or longer (check the label) before reinserting them.
Mild Dry Eye
For mild dry eye, contact lens rewetting drops may be sufficient to make your eyes feel better, but the effect is usually only temporary. Switching to another lens brand could also help, as well as making sure the contacts are properly cleaned.
Ask Doctor First
check with your doctor before buying any over-the-counter eye drops. Your eye doctor will know which formulas are effective and long-lasting and which are not, as well as which eye drops will work with your contact lenses.
Mapping out Dry Eyes: The OCULUS Keratograph 5M
The OCULUS Keratograph 5M is a unique multifunction instrument that incorporates several unique functions. First, it serves as a corneal topographer which maps the front surface of the eye. This is important for monitoring certain corneal diseases such as keratoconus. It is also quite helpful in fitting challenging contact lens candidates. The Keratograph also functions as a precise camera system that can document many disease conditions of the eye.
Best of all, the Keratograph has technologies that allow us to evaluate the tear and gland system to determine the extent of dry eye disease. It thus allows us to determine a customized treatment plan to better serve our dry eye patients.
