Dry Eye Therapy

Don’t Let Dry Eye Get You Down

If your eyes feel dry and irritated while on the computer or doing everyday tasks, you may have a chronic condition called dry eye. Dry eye can be uncomfortable and may hinder your comfort when reading, watching TV, or braving a dry Calgary winter day.

Twenty20 Eyecare is here to help soothe your dry eye and provide the comfort you need and deserve. Talk to us today about our dry eye treatments, including meibomian gland expression, punctal plugs, BlephEx, and more. Our team wants to find the dry eye solution that will work for you. Ask us for a consultation during your next eye exam.

Book Appointment

The Tear Film & Dry Eye

Dry eye occurs when you don’t have enough tears or your tears are of poor quality.

The tear film is a layer of tears that cover the surface of your eyes and provide protection, nourishment, and moisturization.

It’s made of 3 layers: mucus, oil, and water. They all work together to keep the eye healthy. If any layer is disrupted, you can develop dry eye.

Book Appointment

Dry Eye Diagnostic Tools & Equipment

To diagnose your dry eye, we use our varied diagnostic tools to understand all the details of your eye health and vision.

Each case of dry eye is different in its cause and severity, so we take the time to identify what may be causing your dry eye and how we can best treat it.

At Twenty20 Eyecare, dry eye screenings are included in all comprehensive eye exams.

Dyes & Staining

Fluorescein staining can help us see how long it takes for your tears to break up and evaporate on the surface of your eye. The dye is dropped into the eye and lit with a blue light. Areas of damage and inflammation contributing to dry eye will appear green.

Automated & Subjective Tear Break-Up Time

Tear stability, known as tear break-up time (TBUT), is assessed by measuring the duration between the completion of a blink and the initial disruption in the tear film. Various methods, such as using fluorescein dye, corneal imaging, and automated equipment, can evaluate TBUT.

Schirmer’s Test

Schrimer’s test checks how many tears your eyes make. During the test, a small paper strip is placed under your lower lid, and you’ll be asked to close your eye for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, the test strip is removed, and the wetness is measured. A score of 10 mm or greater is considered normal tear production.

Our Dry Eye Treatments

There are many dry eye treatments, which can be overwhelming. How do you know where to start? But we can help. We offer various treatment options, each providing unique benefits.

If you have a particularly severe or chronic case of dry eye, a combination of treatment methods might be best for you. If one treatment option isn’t working, we can move on to another until we find a treatment that works.

Contact us today to book an appointment to learn more about our dry eye treatment options.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are tiny plugs that are placed in the tear duct to stop your tears from draining too quickly, keeping moisture in the eye longer. They are a common treatment for dry eye and can provide long-lasting relief. The procedure is quick, painless, and can be done in our office.

BlephEx

Dry eye can occur when debris and bacteria build up on the eyelid, leading to flaky residue and inflammation. BlephEx is like a polishing tool for the eyelid and uses a small sponge tip to remove debris and bacteria from the lid to keep your eyelids clean.

Meibomian Gland Expression

The meibomian glands, which are the tiny oil-producing glands lining the eyelids, can become clogged or blocked resulting in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Gland expression can help unblock them and release oils back into the eye and improve tear quality.

Expression can be done either manually or using specialized technology such as intense pulsed light therapy (IPL).

Eyelid Debridement

Eyelid debridement is a process used to remove dead skin cells and bacteria from the eyelid. It is commonly done for those with blepharitis or dry eye MGD, where debris buildup can lead to irritation and infection. The procedure involves using a gentle scrub or specialized tool to clean the eyelid, promoting healthier skin and reducing symptoms.

Eyelid debridement can be done with meibomian gland expression.