WOod and Watson

The first line of treatment is using eye drops to rehydrate the surface of your eyes.

Please note that not all eye drops are equal, and contain many different ingredients, and we recommend only preservative -free options to use on a regular basis. We will advise if more advanced formulations are required. 

If your sleep is being disturbed, or waking up in the morning with dry eyes, then we recommend something more viscous, like a gel or night ointment. These, like with drops are best used prophylactively before symptoms begin. This helps to maintain the health of your eyes without letting symptoms get worse and then having to play catch up.

Effective daily cleansing is very important in keeping your lids and lashes clean , and keeping the meibomian glands open and clear. Blepharitis and Demodex are typical conditions which clog up the lids and roots of the lashes. There are some excellent  wipes and foams that we recommend to help cleanse the lids and lashes. 

For chronic blepharitis which is not resolving, we offer an in-practice  ZEST deep cleaning treatment to unblock the meibomian glands and remove demodex.

Heat therapy is a proven route to relief for dry eyes. And this requires the heat to be a certain temperature for a defined period of time. Heat therapy works by helping to liquify the meibum oil in the blocked meibomian gland ducts. These are located along the eyeline adjacent to the roots of the eyelashes.  These protective  oils flow into the eye and form a barrier against excessive evaporation. 

Using a flannel has little or no effect, but there are other effective ways, such as microwavable warm compresses, or USB -powered electronic devices which we can recommend. 

Gently massaging the lids after heat therapy helps release the liquified meibum oils and gets them flowing into the tears, and this can be done manually or with a massaging device  

The primary benefit of punctal plugs is to conserve the eye's own natural tears by blocking the drainage ducts, which provides significant and measurable relief for people with dry eye disease. By preserving your natural tears, punctal plugs can significantly cut down on the need for constant artificial tear use. One study noted that patients used artificial tears up to 5 times a day before treatment, but after punctal occlusion, no patient needed drops more than twice a day (average 0.6 times a day). It can be an effective, safe, and minimally invasive option that works by helping your eyes help themselves. 

The impact of Omega 3 essential oils has been long well known for healthy eye and brain function.  Dry eye is an inflammatory condition, and eating more foods rich in antioxidants  and fatty acids such as oily fish, flaxseed and nuts will have long term benefits. Having a Mediterranean style diet not only benefits your general health, but also your eye health.

The best high quality Omega-3 supplements will contain unprocessed oils in their natural triglyceride state. You will need some patience as changes do not happen overnight, an can take 6-12 weeks to experience any changes.