Toronto, ON / (416) 597-3937
Living with dry, irritated eyes on a daily basis can be exhausting. You become frustrated and overwhelmed with the discomfort you cannot seem to escape. But do not worry; you do not have to continue to suffer.
We are here to help. Toronto Centre Eye Care can diagnose your case of dry eye and recommend the best course of treatment. We will help you find relief.
Your eyes are made of delicate mucous membranes. To work properly, these membranes must be cleaned, lubricated, and kept moist at all times. Your tears are designed to meet all of these needs. When your eyes are not properly hydrated, they become irritated, sore, and red. If this becomes a chronic condition, we call it dry eye or dry eye disease.
Dry eye usually occurs for one of two reasons.
Your body manufactures tears to keep your eyes clean and lubricated. Sometimes, your body simply does not make enough tears, or cannot make them fast enough to keep up with demand. This causes the eyes to become dry and irritated.
Tears are mostly made of water and an oil called meibum. Meibum creates a film on your tears which prevents them from evaporating. If your tears do not contain the right amount of meibum, the tears will evaporate immediately from the surface of the eye, leaving it dry and irritated.
Although they are irritating, for the most part, dry eye symptoms seem harmless. Without treatment, however, dry eye can lead to more serious issues such as corneal ulcers, scars, perforation, and thinning.
Live more comfortably and protect your eyes. Request an appointment for a dry eye consultation today.
Artificial tears are eye drops available over the counter at any pharmacy. These drops are formulated to work the same way your body’s natural tears do. While they are not the most effective long-term solution, artificial tears do provide quick and effective relief from dry eye symptoms.
Medicated eye drops such as Restasis also offer immediate relief from dry eye symptoms. However, unlike artificial tears, these drops also stimulate your body’s natural tear production; potentially offering a more long-term solution. Drops like Restasis cannot be purchased over the counter. You will require a prescription from your pharmacist.
Sometimes dry eye can be attributed to tears draining from the eye too quickly. Punctal plugs are very small, comfortable plugs which are inserted into the drainage ducts in the upper and lower eyelid. This gives the tears more time to hydrate the eye. Punctal plugs can be removed if necessary.