DRY EYES TREATMENTS
NEWPORT BEACH

Orange County’s Best Eyelid Surgery Center

An often overlooked element of dry eye is the effect that the structure and function of our eyelids contributes to the comfort and health of our eyes. With each blink the eyelids contribute a complex of needed functions to maintain the health of our ocular surface.
Dry eyes aren’t just irritating; they can be bad for your ocular health. Your eye needs to be properly lubricated in order to work, as it should. If left untreated, severe cases of dry eye can lead eye inflammation, corneal abrasion, and even vision loss. Don’t ignore the issue, if your eyes feel dry, contact a reliable oculofacial plastic surgeon immediately. Dr. Joseph offers a very unique perspective on Dry Eye Syndrome, based on his specialized training and focus on the eyelids.
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I ALREADY TAKE EYE DROPS FOR MY DRY EYES. HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT?
Classically, treatment for dry eye relied on adding external moisture to the eyes in the form of eyedrops. These artificial tear drops are used to lubricate the ocular surface and are used periodically during the day or during times of extreme dryness. While these drops can be an important addition in the treatment of your dry eye, there are a lot of issues with using these drops as a primary treatment. First, and foremost, they are not treating the problem, they are merely trying to mask it. Also, for a lot of people they just do not work well enough. Taking a few drops per day doesn’t make up for the dry gritty feeling you feel with each of your many thousands of blinks each day.
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Restasis is a heavily advertised prescription medication for dry eye. It is meant to increase tear production in a certain subset of patients who have decreased tear production due to inflammation of the ocular surface. While this may be a very helpful medication for some, it is less helpful for others. A consultation with Dr. Joseph in his Newport Beach office will help determine the underlying cause of your dry eye and which treatment is right for you.

Surprisingly, the most common cause of excessive tearing is actually excessive dryness of the eyes. Tearing occurs as a response to the irritation and damage that accumulates due to this dryness. If you experience occasional irritation, or a sandy or gritty feeling on the eyes then you may have an element of dry eye. Also, if your tearing seems to occur at certain times of the day, in certain locations, with certain weather conditions, or with certain activities then this may be a sign that dryness is to blame.

While the production and amount of tears is important in the maintenance of the surface of the eye. It is in only one part of a very complex interaction of factors that determines whether or not our eyes are dry and irritated or lubricated and comfortable.

  • The Tear Film – The tears produced from our tear glands are only ⅓ of the tear film. Just as important is the oil made from glands in the eyelids called Meibomian Glands. This oil stabilizes the tear film and allows it to spread and evenly coat the surface of the eye.
  • Inflammation – The most common reason for poorly functioning meibomian glands is inflammation of the eyelids called blepharitis. This inflammation is exceedingly common and is present in the vast majority of dry eye patients seen by Dr. Joseph. It is also poorly controlled in many of these patients which propagates their dry eye symptoms despite using lubricating eye drops consistently.
  • Eyelid Structure and Function – The dependence we have on the eyelids for the health and comfort of our eyes is evident with each blink. If you try to go an extra few seconds without blinking your eye will immediately let you know how unhappy it is. If the eyelids do not rest in the appropriate position and with the appropriate tension in relation to the eye; or if closure or blinking is abnormal or incomplete, this can lead to very severe dry eye disease.
HOW WILL I FEEL AFTER MY EYELID SURGERY?
Despite our eyelids and eyes being very sensitive structures, the good news is that the recovery from eyelid surgery is a relatively comfortable process. Common issues after eyelid surgery include soreness, mild burning, mild “scratchiness” on the surface of the eye, itching, and a mild headache. Discomfort usually lasts only 1 to 2 days and most patients require only mild pain medication such as over-the-counter Tylenol.
HOW WILL MY EYELID SURGERY AFFECT MY VISION?
The eyelids have an intimate relationship to our eyes and vision. The health, structure and function of the lids are vital to maintaining good vision. Dr. Joseph approaches eyelid surgery with this relationship at the forefront to maintain the health of the eyes and vision. As we heal from eyelid surgery, the normal recovery process can have an effect on our vision. The most common issues after eyelid surgery include mild blurring of vision, sensitivity to light, and rarely mild double vision. These issues tend to resolve in the first few days after surgery.
This summary should serve as a guide as to what to expect after eyelid surgery. It’s important to remember that each procedure and each person is different. Dr. Joseph will discuss the individual aspects of your planned procedure and recovery during your consultation in our Newport Beach office.
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