Dry Eye Treatments in Okotoks

Meibum is produced by the meibomian glands, which are located in our eyelids. If our meibomian glands become clogged, they cannot provide our eyes with sufficient meibum, causing dry eyes.

Meibomian gland expression is a painless in-office treatment that combines soothing heat and eyelid massage to soften the thick meibum that obstructs your glands so that it can be gently removed, allowing your glands to function normally again.

ILux is an in-office treatment used for meibomian gland expression. The small, handheld device gently warms your eyelids and carefully monitors their temperature to avoid applying too much heat.

Once the meibum has been sufficiently heated, the device gently compresses your eyelid to remove the built-up clogged meibum from your meibomian glands.

IPL therapy is a simple solution to help handle symptoms of blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction. We use an Icon IPL device to heat your eyelid and melt blockages in your meibomian glands during a session.

TempSure Envi is one of our newest technological additions to our library of dry eye treatments. This device uses state-of-the-art radiofrequency lasers to melt blockages in your meibomian glands and stimulate the flow of healthy meibum to your tear film.

Punctal plugs are tiny, biocompatible inserts that are placed in your tear ducts. This ensures that your tears do not drain away too quickly, thereby increasing your tear volume. Punctal plugs can provide relief from some forms of dry eyes.

In some cases, dry eyes can be caused by blepharitis, an infection and irritation of the eyelid margins that can cause a crusty buildup of debris and bacteria along your lid line. Treatments such as BlephEx and Zest can help.

Blephex is an in-office treatment involving a small, handheld cleaning tool that allows your optometrist to exfoliate along the edge of your eyelids and eyelashes, removing the debris and bacteria, relieving your blepharitis symptoms.

ZEST is an in-office treatment used to target blepharitis and inflammation caused by mites (demodex). It uses mechanical force to remove biofilm and reduce blepharitis through its active anti-inflammatory component, okra.

Several cycles of treatments may be required to eradicate the underlying cause of dry eyes, blepharitis, demodex and inflammation, but your optometrist will be able to advise you how many treatments and how often would be beneficial.

Managing your condition at home with the suggested care treatments will go a long way and are important for ensuring success.

Eye-Light? is an IPL andand low level light therapy system for dry eye and eyelid conditions. It functions by using a high-power LED light, which stimulates neurotransmitters. This stimulation causes Meibomian glands to produce at a higher rate, which ultimately leads to reduced tear evaporation. The use of Eye-Light contributes to a stabilized lipid tear layer. ?We offer both blue and red light mask treatments here at Okotoks Eyecare which are prescribed to help reduce inflammation surrounding the eyes.