Dry Eye Therapy in Fort Worth

Reliable Relief for Irritated Eyes

Millions of Americans suffer the gritty, painful irritation and blurred vision caused by dry eyes. Yet many of our patients don’t realize there are new, effective treatments that can provide real relief.

Our approach to dry eye therapy is powered by technology. By using leading diagnostic tools, we can assess the root cause of your discomfort and target the problem with a personalized treatment plan.

Book a Dry Eye Exam

WHAT IS DRY EYE SYNDROME?

Dry is exactly what it sounds like—it occurs when your eyes aren’t producing enough lubrication to keep them moist and comfortable.

There are 2 main types of dry eye. The first—and least common—occurs when the eyes simply don’t produce enough tears. The second occurs when the tears are of poor quality.

DECREASED TEAR PRODUCTION

Reasons for decreased tear production are varied and might include:

Contact lens wear
Normal aging
Medications such as antihistamines or antidepressants
Medical conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjögren’s Syndrome
Recent laser vision correction surgery

POOR QUALITY TEARS

Good quality tears depend on a balanced and effective tear film. The tear film is made up of 3 layers—a mucus layer to spread the tears over the surface of the eye, a water layer to hydrate the eye, and an oil layer to keep the water from evaporating too quickly. If there’s an imbalance in the tear film, dry eye syndrome can result.

The tiny glands along the top and bottom edges of the eyelids, called the meibomian glands, are responsible for producing the oil layer of your tear film. Blockages in these glands can cause a reduction in the amount of oil produced, causing a condition known as Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

When your meibomian glands are blocked, your tears evaporate quickly and cannot properly lubricate and protect your eyes. Symptoms of MGD include:

Irritated eyes
Redness
Blurred vision
Watery eyes
Stringy mucus on eyes

Most cases of dry eye are related to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Diagnosing Dry Eyes and MGD at Griffin Eye Care

We use the OCULUS Keratograph 5M to diagnose the root cause of our patients’ dry eye discomfort.

The Keratograph 5M allows us to quickly get an objective measure of your tear break-up time. This tells us how quickly your tears evaporate on your eyes. A short tear break-up time is a clear indication of dry eye.

The keratograph also provides detailed images of your meibomian glands, so we can see whether they are blocked or nonfunctional. And it gives us a tear meniscus height measurement so we can estimate the volume of your tears.

Importantly, we’ll always combine this information with discussions about your symptoms and your lifestyle so we can understand what may be making your symptoms worse, including:

Screen time
Certain medications, including antihistamines
Other medical conditions

Personalized Treatments for Dry Eye & MGD

We work with you to determine the best therapy to relieve your symptoms based on the cause of your discomfort and any lifestyle changes that may help.

OptiLight IPL is our premier treatment for patients who qualify. We also offer a suite of other treatments detailed below. OptiLight is the first and only FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eye. We also offer home and other in-office treatments to help you maintain moisture and manage the symptoms of dry eyes and MGD below:

Therapeutic drops
Warm Compresses
HydroEye supplements
Eyelid scrubs
In-office Thermal 1 Touch
In-office Lower Level Light Therapy (LLLT)
In-office lids expression
Punctal plugs
OptiLight by Lumenis

OptiLight by Lumenis for Dry Eye & MGD

OptiLight by Lumenis is a light-based, non-invasive treatment done in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye. It is used to treat some of the underlying inflammation conditions that cause dry eye and MGD.

The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.

How Does It Work?

OptiLight uses precise pulses of light to reduce the inflammation that is typically associated with dry eye disease, improve tear break-up time, and increase meibomian gland functionality.

This application can significantly relieve dry eye indicators and has a multi-factorial effect, including:

Increasing tear break-up time
Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
Eliminating blood vessels that contribute to inflammation
Improving meibomian gland functionality

Begin the Journey Toward Comfortable Eyes

The comfort of your eyes is intrinsically linked to the health of your visual system. You don’t have to put up with constant dry eye irritation.

Book an exam today and let us help you find relief.

Book a Dry Eye Exam

Our Location

We’re located in the middle of the shopping center between Pho & Grill restaurant and The Cat’s Meow Veterinary Hospital. Feel free to call or text us if you have any trouble finding us.