Dry Eye Treatment in Somerville, NJ
Millions of Americans experience dry eye syndrome every year, but you don’t have to accept its uncomfortable symptoms. Insight Eyecare has a skilled team, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, and effective solutions for long-lasting relief from dry eye. Our experienced optometrist, Dr. Michelle Timko, will identify the root cause of your dry eye and create a personalized plan that will allow you to see and appreciate the beauty in all things around you.
Itchy, Uncomfortable Eyes? You May Have Dry Eye
Tears are made up of three main components: water, mucus, and oil, and if any of these are lacking, dry eye symptoms can develop. There are two main forms of dry eye disease, each with different underlying causes: aqueous (you don’t produce enough tears) and evaporative (your tears don’t last).
To help you feel better in the long run, Dr. Timko utilizes advanced technology to identify which type of dry eye you have and treat it accordingly.
Symptoms
Having dry eyes can affect your daily life and routine. If you’re experiencing two or more of the following symptoms, you may have severe dry eye:
- Dry, gritty sensation
- Stinging and burning
- Itchiness
- Eye redness
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
Causes & Risk Factors
You’re more likely to have or develop dry eye if you:
- Use screens often — when you’re on a computer, you blink less frequently, causing your tears to evaporate quickly.
- Have Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD) — the oil in your tears keeps your eyes from evaporating quickly; if you have MGD, your tears don’t last because your meibomian glands are clogged, disrupting the natural oil flow.
- Wear contact lenses — by limiting oxygen flow to your eyes, contact lenses can cause them to dry out.
- Eye allergies & environmental factors — pollen, smoke, wind, and dry air can make your tears evaporate faster.
Our Advanced Dry Eye Diagnostics
For long-lasting relief from dry eye, we must diagnose the right kind of dry eye. Dr. Timko analyzes your tears and front-of-eye health using advanced diagnostics testing and screening. Three powerful tools in our diagnosis and treatment are our slit lamp, meibomian gland imaging, and corneal topography.
Our slit lamp tells us if your eyes are making enough tears, while our meibomian gland imaging diagnoses instances of Meibomian Gland Disease. We also may use our corneal topography to detect irregularities in your ocular surface, which could indicate an issue with your tear film.
Our Therapeutic Dry Eye Treatments
Every case of dry eye is different, as well as the patient experiencing it. To adhere to your specific condition, symptoms, and preferences, Dr. Timko sees value in providing flexible and personalized treatments.
Nordic Naturals Fish Oil Supplements
Fish oils, which are home to omega-3 fatty acids, are known to reduce inflammation and improve the function of your meibomian glands, which can soothe uncomfortable dry eye symptoms. Likewise, patients diagnosed with MGD can also benefit from improved oil production from their glands.
Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress
For some patients, Dr. Timko may suggest using Bruder moist heat eye compresses to help clear up blockages of MGD. Patients with dry eye syndrome can often find relief using warm compresses, which help with hydration, lubrication, stabilization of the tear film, improving the function of oil glands, and slowing down tear evaporation.
Artificial Tears & Gels
Patients unable to produce natural tears or suffering from low-quality tears may find benefits in using specialty artificial tears. Our artificial tears and gels not only provide additional lubrication to your eyes but can also promote healthy healing, and Dr. Timko can recommend the exact right kind for your eyes.
Tailored Dry Eye Management from Insight Eyecare
Here at Insight Eyecare, we truly care about your eyes and vision, and we love nothing more than keeping them healthy and helping you see better! Our amazing team, led by Dr. Timko, will create a personalized dry eye management plan just for you. We stand by our promise to do right by our patients; schedule an appointment with us today to begin your journey to long-lasting dry eye relief.