If you have mild dry eye symptoms, there are several things you can try to get relief before going to the eye doctor:
Blink more frequently. When using a computer, smartphone or other digital device, we tend to blink our eyes less frequently than normal, which can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms. Make a conscious effort to be aware of this, and blink more often when using these devices. Also, perform full blinks, gently squeezing your eyelids together to wash your eyes fully with a fresh layer of tears.
Take frequent breaks during computer use. A good rule of thumb here is to look away from your screen at least every 20 minutes and look at something that is at least 20 feet from your eyes for at least 20 seconds. Some eye care practitioners call this the "20-20-20 rule," and abiding by it can help relieve both dry eyes and computer eye strain.
Remove eye makeup thoroughly. Eyeliner and other eye makeup can clog the openings of the meibomian glands at the base of the eyelashes, leading to dry eye. At the end of the day, be diligent about remove all traces of makeup from your lids and lashes.
Clean your eyelids. When washing your face before bedtime, gently wash your eyelids to remove bacteria that can cause problems that lead to dry eye symptoms. Apply a warm, moist washcloth to your closed lids for a minute or two. Then gently scrub your lids and lashes with a mild cleanser, such as diluted baby shampoo or pre moistened eyelid wipes sold in drugstores.
Wear quality sunglasses. When outdoors during the day, always wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of the sun's UV rays. It's best if they feature a wrap-style frame to protect your eyes from wind, dust and other irritants that can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms.
If still not relieved of the symptoms, do visit your eye doctor for further management.
Breakthrough Technology For Treating” Dry Eyes”- Lipiview And Lipiflow
Lipiview Tear Science
Treatment of Meibomitis with Lipiflow
Dry eye disease affects millions of people of all ages starting in the 20s and progressing as we grow older. The broad range of symptoms of Dry Eyes includes a sandy, gritty sensation in the eyes, fluctuating vision, tearing, or a constant feeling of an eyelash stuck in the eye. In some patients, this ocular surface disease (OSD) can be painful leading to slowed reading speed, decreased work productivity, trouble focusing on the computer monitor, or difficulty seeing to drive safely. Shree Ramkrishna Netralaya is delighted to offer patients relief from their Dry Eye Disease with the advanced TearScience System that includes the LipiView® with DMI imaging and the Lipiflow® treatment.
LipiView®, a sophisticated instrument with a built-in interferometer, is the first device of its kind that captures images of your meibomian glands along your eyelids. Your physician will be able to determine whether you have Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). You will be able to see pictures of your own glands with the advanced technology of the Dynamic Meibomian Gland Imaging system (DMI). With your physician’s explanation, you will be able to understand whether you have Meibomian Gland Disease. If your glands are plugged-up and obstructed, the natural oils cannot flow to coat your ocular surface, leading to faster evaporation of your tears. This will lead to evaporative dry eyes. LipiView® can also asses your blinking function by analyzing if your blinks are complete. It also measures your blink rate and blink quality. There are two types of blinkers: full and partial. Partial blinkers do not close their eye completely when they blink. Incomplete blinking results in a poor quality tear film which exacerbates dry eye There has been an increase in the amount of partial blinkers in the world with the advent and rise of digital devices (cell phones, tablets, computers, video games) in our lives.
LipiFlow® is designed to treat the root cause of evaporative Dye Eye Disease by unplugging the blocked meibomian glands. Opening and clearing these blocked glands will allow them to resume their natural production of lipids (oils) needed for a healthy tear film. A disposable activator is placed on each eyelid. These eyepieces use a patented, precisely controlled heat that is applied to the inner eyelid with pulsed pressure to unblock the meibomian glands. This thermal pulsation system not only unclogs the glands but also encourages them to resume their natural production of the lipids needed for healthy tears. Its single-use design and built-in sensors ensure a safe, sterile treatment. The process is very soothing and lasts for 12minutes. This treatment is usually recommended once a year. LipiFlow® is the only FDA-cleared thermal pulsation treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.
Depending on the state of the meibomian glands before LipiFlow treatment, there may be a need for a re-treatment. Following the procedure you may experience mild redness as well as a period of temporary dryness while the glands work to produce healthy oils again. Not everyone will experience of a large improvement in dry eye symptoms, as most of their glands have already degenerated. In those cases, treatment was deemed necessary to save the few remaining meibomian glands from complete degradation.