Dry Eye Management

Do your eyes feel gritty, burning, or constantly tired? You might be experiencing dry eye syndrome, a common condition that affects millions of Canadians.

Understanding dry eye syndrome

Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the tears you do produce evaporate too quickly, leaving your eye surface dry. Various factors can cause it: natural aging processes, hormonal changes (particularly in women during perimenopause), certain medications including antihistamines and antidepressants, prolonged screen time, dry air or wind, and underlying health issues such as autoimmune diseases.

While it might seem like a minor annoyance, untreated dry eye can significantly impact your quality of life, making reading, computer work, and watching television uncomfortable. In severe cases, chronic dry eye can damage the surface of your eye.

Common symptoms to watch for

Dry eye symptoms vary from person to person but often include:

burning or stinging sensations
feeling like something’s stuck in your eye
redness and irritation
blurred vision that improves with blinking
watery eyes
sensitivity to light
eye fatigue

Some people also experience difficulty wearing contact lenses comfortably.

Our comprehensive approach to dry eye care

At Urban Eyecare Optometrists, we don’t treat dry eye as a separate issue from your overall eye health. Dry eye assessment is included as part of every routine eye examination because understanding your tear film quality and eye surface health is essential to complete eye care.

We perform detailed dry eye examinations using advanced MYAH technology, allowing us to assess your eyes with precision. This technology helps us identify the specific type of dry eye you’re experiencing and create a personalized management plan.

Comprehensive treatment options

We offer a complete range of Dry Eye products specifically designed for dry eye relief and management:

Eye drops

We stock various formulations of Hylo Dual eye drops, including I-DROP PUR for preservative-free relief, I-DROP gel for more substantial lubrication, and IDROP MGD specially formulated for meibomian gland dysfunction. Each formulation targets specific dry eye mechanisms.

Lid wipes

Lid wipes maintain proper lid hygiene. They’re available with and without tea tree oil, which is crucial for managing certain types of dry eye related to lid margin inflammation.

Omega-3 supplements

I-VU supplements support healthy tear production from the inside out, addressing one of the root causes of dry eye.

Eye ointments

I-DEFENCE and Ocunox ointments provides you with longer-lasting overnight relief, particularly helpful for people who wake with dry, uncomfortable eyelids.

I-RELIEF mask

Therapeutic hot and cold compress therapy using an I-RELIEF eye mask helps to unclog oil glands and reduce inflammation around the eyes.

Prescription medications

Medications such as Restasis or Cequa are used for more severe or chronic cases. We can also provide advanced in-office treatments such as LipiFlow (which uses heat and pressure to clear blocked oil glands) or BlephEx (deep lid cleaning).

Take control of your comfort

You don’t need to live with uncomfortable, irritated eyes. Effective treatments are available, and we’re here to help you find relief. Contact us today to discuss your symptoms.