Dry Eye Therapy – Associates in Eyecare

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Find Relief for Your Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can cause more than just discomfort; if left untreated, they could lead to corneal damage. You don’t need to continue to suffer from dry eyes; Associates in Eyecare – Bristow is here to help. Instead of just addressing your symptoms, we will identify the root cause of your dry eyes and create a tailored treatment plan that will provide you with long-lasting relief.

For more information about dry eye treatment options, and applicable options for you, please speak to your optometrist during your next appointment.

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What Causes Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes have two root causes: poor tear quality and inadequate tear volume. Our eyes require tears to stay lubricated, so if the tears we produce are of poor quality or we don’t produce enough tears, it can leave our eyes feeling dry and irritated.

Poor Tear Quality

Tears are made up of three main ingredients: oil (called meibum), water, and mucin. Meibum creates a protective layer across the outside of the tear film, delaying evaporation, while mucin ensures that the tears spread evenly across the eye’s front surface. When tears evaporate too quickly, or are not uniformly distributed across the surface of the eye, it can lead to dry eyes.

Inadequate Tear Volume

The eyes rely on several different glands in and around the eyelid for tear production. The aging process, select medications, and even certain medical conditions can all inhibit tear production.

Inadequate tear volume can also be caused by environmental factors, such as wind, which can cause our tears to evaporate too quickly.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye symptoms include:

Burning or gritty eyes
A foreign body sensation
Blurry vision
Red eyes
Tired eyes
Increased sensitivity to light and glare

Dry Eye Therapy at Associates in Eyecare – Bristow

Complete Dry Eye Assessment

Before we can begin to treat your dry eyes, we need to determine the root cause by performing a complete dry eye assessment. These comprehensive tests are MOA approved and use advanced techniques to uncover the underlying reason for your dry eyes.

Dry Eye Treatments

Once we know what is causing your dry eyes, we can begin treatment. Treatment options at Associates in Eyecare – Bristow include:

Nutritional Supplements: Research has shown that healthy eyes rely, at least in part, on a healthy diet. Certain nutrients have even been found to reduce dry eye symptoms in some patients by reducing inflammation. Choosing foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including nuts, fish, and green leafy vegetables can increase the amount of meibum your eyelids produce. A comprehensive nutritional study found that your overall eye health can be improved by consuming vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, and zinc.
MiBo Thermoflo: MiBo Thermoflo is an in-office treatment for dry eyes caused by inadequate meibum production. This procedure uses soothing heat to warm the meibomian glands, allowing meibum to flow more easily, and providing instant and lasting relief.

TearCare®

TearCare® is an open-eye in office procedure designed to target the underlying cause of evaporative dry eye. By applying heat directly to the eyelid TearCare melts the blockage within your meibomian glands.

Our Services

Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Eye Diseases

Our Reviews

Making an appointment was easy. The staff is very friendly. The office is really clean. Didn’t feel rushed during the exam or pressured to purchase eyewear. Eyewear selection was very nice! I will recommend to my friends and family!

Serita

I live in Manassas now but I still come to the Associates in Eyecare in Bristow because I really trust them. The staff is always so friendly and while eyecare is always expensive, I feel like they really try to give me the best deal! I’ve been coming to them for a few years now with no plans on going anywhere else.

Caitlin

Been going here for several years and have always had a great experience! When I lost my vision insurance, I tried some the other “budget” places, but decided the care here at AIE is far superior and worth the extra cost. Dr. Colbourne has always been very friendly and caring and always seems to have my best interest in mind. Even though I don’t have vision insurance anymore, I’ll stay with AIE!!