Find Dry Eye Relief in Hampstead, NC
Dry, Irritated Eyes? We Can Help
Many patients experience itchy, irritated, or watery eyes and dismiss it as a minor inconvenience. These are signs of dry eye syndrome, an eye condition affecting millions worldwide. Left untreated, dry eye can lead to discomfort, blurred vision, and even damage to the surface of your eyes.
Atlantic Eye Associates is skilled in diagnosing and treating dry eye, using advanced therapies to provide long-lasting relief. If you've been struggling with persistent eye irritation, it’s time to seek professional care and learn how we can help improve your eye health.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the quality of your tears is insufficient to keep the surface of your eyes lubricated. Tears are essential for maintaining healthy eyes, and disruption in tear production or tear film quality can lead to chronic irritation and inflammation.
There are two primary types:
- Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye: This type occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears. Autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, often affect tear glands and lead to this type of dry eye.
- Evaporative Dry Eye: This is the most common type and occurs when the meibomian glands in your eyelids don’t produce enough oil, leading to rapid tear evaporation. Conditions like blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) can cause this.
Do You Have Dry Eye?
Many people aren’t aware they have dry eye, simply attributing symptoms to tiredness, allergies, or seasonal changes. If you experience any of the following symptoms, it may be time to schedule a dry eye evaluation:
- Do your eyes feel gritty or as if there’s something in them?
- Do your eyes burn, sting, or itch throughout the day?
- Is your vision frequently blurry, especially after screen time or reading?
- Do your eyes water excessively or feel uncomfortable in windy or dry environments?
- Do you often feel eye strain, particularly after prolonged focus on digital screens?
- Are your eyelids red or swollen, or do you notice crusting around your lashes?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may have dry eye syndrome. Atlantic Eye Associates can provide a thorough diagnosis to determine the root cause of your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Atlantic Eye Associates Dry Eye Treatments
We offer a range of state-of-the-art treatments to relieve the symptoms of dry eye and address its underlying causes. Our treatment process begins with a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose the type and severity of your condition. From there, we provide personalized treatments beyond basic lubricating eye drops.
Intense Pulsed Light
(IPL) Therapy
IPL therapy is a breakthrough treatment that uses pulses of light to reduce inflammation and improve the function of the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oils in your tears.
Low-Level Light
Therapy (LLLT)
LLLT uses controlled light to stimulate healing in the meibomian glands and reduce inflammation around the eyelids. This treatment is effective for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and blepharitis patients.
Lipiflow is an FDA-approved treatment that combines heat and gentle pressure to unblock the meibomian glands, helping restore normal oil flow to the tear film. This treatment targets the root cause of evaporative dry eye.