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Dry eye disease can leave you with irritated, red, tired eyes. It can make working on your computer difficult and lead to excessively watery eyes, light sensitivity, or blurred vision. In short, with dry eye symptoms, your vision isn’t at its best.
But there’s hope. We offer comprehensive dry eye diagnosis and quality treatments for all our patients with dry eye symptoms.
About 90% of Albertans have dry eye, thanks in part to our often dry and cold climate. Most of us should at the very least be using a quality, preservative-free eye drop regularly, and many of us need a little more help to maintain comfortable, clear vision. That’s why we include dry eye screenings in all of our eye exams.
We take a personalized approach based on what we learn in your dry eye exam. Book your eye exam today to get started and find relief.
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What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease is caused by issues with your tears. If you don’t produce enough tears or your tear quality is compromised, you might feel irritating symptoms, including:
- Burning, scratchy, or gritty eyes
- Fluctuating or blurred vision
- The sensation of something in your eye
Most cases of dry eye are related to meibomian gland dysfunction. Your eyelids are lined with meibomian glands that make the essential oil layer of your tears. When the glands are blocked or not working, your tears can’t properly protect your eyes’ surfaces.
Diagnosing Dry Eye Disease at Visionary Eye Centre
Dry eye is so prevalent among our Albertan patients that we screen for dry eye in every eye exam to better understand how it’s disrupting your life. Based on your answers, we may recommend certain additional dry eye tests at no additional cost.
Our testing is thorough and noninvasive. One of our most powerful diagnostic tools is the OCULUS Keratograph, a device that captures detailed images of your eyes and measures several aspects of your tears to inform our treatment recommendations.
To get a complete picture of your dry eye experience, our testing may include several of the following tests:
- Tear film analysis: We analyze the composition of your tears and measure how long they take to evaporate or drain from your eyes to understand the quality of your tear film.
- Meibography: We can take pictures of your meibomian glands to assess any damage and determine treatment effectiveness.
- Detecting corneal damage or dryness: Over time, dry eye disease can injure the surface of your eye (your cornea). We use an eye-safe dye to visualize any damage.
- Tear osmolarity: We’ll measure the salt content in your tears, which is a very helpful measure in diagnosing dry eye and understanding its severity.
Once we understand what’s causing your dry eye and how your symptoms are affecting your life, we can suggest a treatment routine.
Our Dry Eye Treatment Options
We aim to empower you with dry eye treatments that work for your life, give you relief, and set you up for long-term comfort and clear vision.
Based on what we learn in your eye exam, we’ll recommend all the options available to you and help you decide which ones make the most sense.
All of our dry eye treatments can be paired with good lifestyle habits, including staying hydrated, protecting your eyes with sunglasses or safety goggles in windy or smoky conditions, and taking frequent breaks from using devices.
The iLux treatment uses gentle heat and pressure to get rid of blockages in the glands that line your eyelids and provide the oily component of your tears.
Your treatment will take place in our office. You’ll sit back and relax while we gently treat each eye. The full treatment takes around 12 minutes for both eyes. After that, you’re on your way!
Just one treatment can provide a noticeable improvement in symptoms that may last up to 12 months. We can advise on a recommended treatment plan in your exam.
Eye drops and sprays can refresh your eyes and help you feel more comfortable throughout the day.
Preservative-free drops can deliver gentle hydration for sensitive eyes without irritating ingredients that can make dry eye symptoms actually feel worse.
Prescription eye drops are designed to address inflammation and specific conditions, providing relief at the source.
Lid sprays can both cleanse and soothe the eyelids, supporting overall eye wellness. And lid wipes gently cleanse your eyelids and remove debris, promoting hygiene and supporting relief from dry eye symptoms.
We have many helpful dry eye products available to purchase in-clinic, and your eye doctor can prescribe a medicated drop if appropriate.
Eye masks can be a soothing and effective solution for managing dry eye symptoms.
These warming masks help improve tear quality by stimulating the oil glands that line your eyelids, promoting natural hydration and relieving discomfort. Easy to use and a relaxing step to add to your daily routine, they can be a helpful addition to your dry eye care.
Omega-3 supplements and omega-3-rich foods, like salmon and flaxseeds, can support healthy tear production and reduce inflammation, one of the root causes of dry eye.
These nutrients can enhance the quality of your natural tears, providing long-lasting relief and improved comfort. Adding them to your diet or routine is a simple, natural way to help promote better eye health.
Sometimes dry eye symptoms can cause the eyes to over produce poor quality, watery tears. Punctal plugs are an option that keeps the eye moist by blocking tear drainage.
In some cases, we may recommend punctal plus. We can insert punctal plugs at our office. After administering numbing drops to your eye, we’ll put the plugs into place. You may feel momentarily uncomfortable, but you shouldn’t feel any pain and won’t feel the plugs once they’re in.
Depending on your unique dry eye experience, we can use temporary plugs that dissolve on their own or plugs designed to last years.
Find Relief Today
You don’t need to let dry eye keep you from enjoying life to the fullest.
Schedule an eye exam with Visionary Eye Centre to discover personalized dry eye treatment options tailored to your needs. We’re here to help your eyes feel comfortable, healthy, and refreshed.
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Sherwood Park Location
You’ll find us at Synergy Wellness Centre, just off Bethel Drive, north of Baseline Road. Parking is $2, but simply provide your plate number at your appointment, and we’ll cover the cost.
Our Address
Synergy Wellness Centre
- 501 Bethel Dr. #101
- Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0N2
Contact Information
- Phone: 780 467-6688
- Fax: 780 467-6682
- Email: info@visionaryeyecentre.com
Hours of Operation
Millwoods Location
You’ll find us in Millwoods Town Centre Professional Building, just off 29 Avenue and west of 50 Street NW. There is convenient parking available on-site, and the location is easily accessible by public transit.
Our Address
Millwoods Town Centre Professional Building
- 108 7319 29 Avenue
- Edmonton, Alberta T6K 2P1
Contact Information
- Phone: 780 960-1616
- Fax: 780 900-8380
- Email: millwoods@visionaryeyecentre.com
Hours of Operation
* Saturday hours may vary, please call first
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