A guide to dry eye management options
Here at Woodfall’s we are being asked more and more often by our patients to offer advice around dry and uncomfortable eyes.
This issue is a problem for many people, and now that technology has moved on, we are able to offer some solutions.
DEFINITION
Our tears are made up of three layers, a mucin base layer, a watery or aqueous layer which is the bulk of the tear film and a lipid or oily front layer.
![](https://rwoodfall.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Tear-Film.jpg)
There are two types of dry eye disease:
- Aqueous deficient dry eye: This is when your eyes don’t produce enough tears.
- Evaporative dry eye: This is when your tears evaporate too quickly.
Some people have aqueous tear deficiency and tear instability.
Dry eye disease is a pathological condition which is why it is classified as a disease; Dry eye involves many eye surface changes caused by tear dysfunction.
D.E.D. CANNOT BE CURED BUT MUST BE CAREFULLY MANAGED
COMMON SYMPTOMS
- Stinging
- Burning
- Scratchy sensation
- Watery eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Red eyes
- Stringy mucus
- Foreign body sensation
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Difficulty with night vision
- General fatigue or blurred vision
SOME CAUSES OF SYMPTOMS
- Natural ageing changes
- Using devices
- Contact lens wear
- Eye surgery
- Some eye conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Diabetes
- Hormonal imbalances
- Skin conditions
- Certain medications
- General fatigue
NEXT STEPS
STEP 1: Diagnosis
Once we have identified your dry eye concern, we will schedule a full dry eye diagnosis using our Idra device to provide an individual analysis of your tear film, delivering a fast and detailed structure of your tear composition. This helps identify the type of dry eye disease that is present, and the best treatment to prescribe.
STEP 2: Treatment
You will be offered options for treatment; this may be a basic package of takeaway products such as a heat mask and dry eye drops or a procedure to stimulate the meibomian glands which is painless and usually takes around 20-30 minutes. We’ll offer you treatment immediately, ideally on the day of your diagnosis.
STEP 3: Follow up
You will feel the benefits of our prescribed treatment within hours, depending on the treatment you receive and the nature of your condition, you will need to return for a repeat treatment and management plans.
TREATMENT – TEARSTIM
![](https://rwoodfall.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Tearstim.png)
TEARSTIM: THE PROCESS
The treatment only takes a few minutes. You sit comfortably in a chair. Our dry eye specialist covers your eyes with eye protector shells. A special gel is applied below the eyes. A series of 10 light pulses is aimed at the region below the eyes. They are painless and non-invasive. The series is repeated in the same way on the lower eyelid of the other eye.
TEARSTIM: HOW IT WORKS
The application restores the normal activity of the meibomian gland, with very rapid improvement for your eyes within hours of the application. The effect lasts a few days at the beginning. In total, the treatment comprises three to four sessions, following that, the effect will last from a period of 6 months to 3 years. An annual booster session in the form of a single treatment is recommended.
It is advised you have three rounds of treatment for long-lasting results of over 3 years (optional fourth round if patient still symptomatic):
• Day 1: First round of treatment
• Day 15: Second round of treatment
• Day 45: Third round of treatment
• Day 75: Fourth round of treatment
• It is advised for the patient to have additional 1 session treatment 1x a year if symptoms return.
ACTIVA: THE PROCESS
The Activa device combines eyelid heating and vibrating massage to stimulate meibomian glands by applying heat at a very specific temperature using a unique eye mask worn in the consulting room under supervision of our trained dry eye specialist.
ACTIVA: HOW IT WORKS
This innovative eye-mask provides a complete heating and automatic squeezing technology in a fast and painless single device, effective on meibomian glands dysfunction associated with tear film evaporation.
• Unclog glands
• Melting the meibum
• Restore natural meibum flow
• Better pathology management
• Increase glands functionality
![](https://rwoodfall.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Activa-Dry-Eye.png)
PLEASE NOTE: OUR DRY EYE CLINIC IS CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE AT OUR CRYSTAL PALACE BRANCH