You are not alone. 1 in 50 people suffer from Dry Eyes, with even higher numbers in some age groups.

Many patients with Dry Eye can be dealt with by a pharmacist or a General Practitioner. As a specialist ophthalmologist with a special interest and research experience in dry eye disease, I specialise in the most severe forms of dry eye disease.

Patients with Dry Eyes can suffer from gritty, sore, or painful eyes, and persistent symptoms can significantly impact your daily life.

Finding the correct combination of treatment is vital in relieving symptoms, but with guidance, you can find the right treatment to find relief from the symptoms of dry eye disease.

There are two main types of dry eyes, aqueous deficient and evaporative. Through specialist tests and investigations, an ophthalmologist with a special interest in Dry Eye Disease, can help you work out what sort of dry eye disease you have and direct you to the treatments that are most likely to work.

Paul Tomlins has extensive experience in both the laboratory research and the clinical management of people with Dry Eye Disease.

Artificial tear drops or lubricants are an important in relieving the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease.

For many patients with mild, intermittent dry eye disease, “over-the-counter” eyedrops from your pharmacist can help. There is a plethora of drops available, and the choice can be very confusing.

Generally, the ‘thicker’ and more viscous a drop, the longer it will stay in the eye and the longer it will protect the eye.

Preservative-Free drops do not contain preservatives, they are more gentle to the eye, and can be used more often. Preservative-free drops may be in multi-dose bottles designed to prevent infection getting into the bottle and so avoiding the need for preservatives, for example Thealoz Duo Whilst these drops are a little more expensive, they are more gentle to the eye, they can be used more often and the bottle may have a longer life after opening.

The use of warm compresses, such as the EyeBag, is particularly important in patients with evaporative dry eyes and patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (blepharitis).

Warmth to the eyelids improves the flow of oily secretions from the eyelid oil glands (meibomian glands) and improves the functional qualities of the tears.

It is important that warm compresses are used regularly and for at least 8 minutes.

Lid Wipes

Some patients may find lid wipes particular useful. Lid wipes clear debris from the lashes and prevents irritation of the eye. Additionally, some lid wipes, such as Optase lid wipes, contain tea-tree oil, a known anti-inflammatory.

Intermittent Pulsed Light

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for managing dry eye disease, particularly in cases associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Studies have demonstrated that IPL can improve tear film stability and reduce symptoms by targeting the abnormal blood vessels and inflammatory mediators contributing to MGD. The light energy from IPL heats and liquefies stagnant meibum in the meibomian glands, facilitating their proper function.