Saskatoon, SK / 306.978.2993
Dry eyes are uncomfortable. They’re irritating, disruptive, and make it hard to focus. But did you know your dry eyes could damage your vision?
Dry eyes, or dry eye disease, is not just a symptom; it’s a chronic condition. Without the appropriate tear volume or quality, your eyes become vulnerable to injuries, infections, and even ulcers. Keeping your eyes hydrated and lubricated is absolutely essential to your ocular and visual health.
At Brighton Eyecare, we find the source of your dry eye and treat the underlying cause, not just manage your symptoms.
Request an appointment to find relief from your dry eye.
Generally speaking, there are 2 major types of dry eye. Many cases involve some elements of both types of dry eye disease.
Aqueous deficiency dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears to stay hydrated and healthy. It’s often a natural part of aging, or a symptom of a separate condition like Sjorgren’s syndrome.
Your tears are coated in a thin layer of oil called meibum. The oil film keeps tears from evaporating off the surface of the eye. If the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing meibum, become clogged or inflamed, tears will evaporate too quickly, causing dry eye symptoms.
Symptoms of dry eye include:
Every case of dry eye is different. The ideal dry eye solution often requires a combination of different treatment options. We will build a customized treatment plan based on your symptoms and their underlying cause.
Brighton Eyecare offers a wide range of dry eye treatments. These are some of the most popular treatments for dry eye disease.
Many people turn to over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears to soothe their dry eye symptoms. These drops can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with dry eye; however, the effects are only temporary.
Medicated eye drops like Restasis and Xiidra relieve your dry eye symptoms by treating the underlying cause. These prescription eye drops stimulate your natural tear production and reduce inflammation, offering a more long-term solution than over-the-counter drops.
Once your tears have served their purpose, they drain out of your eyes through your tear ducts. For patients with aqueous deficient dry eye, we can make their existing tears more effective by preventing drainage.
Punctal plugs are very small inserts made of silicone or collagen. The inserts are placed inside the tear ducts to prevent drainage and allow natural tears to hydrate the eye longer. This can be a long-term solution or a short-term solution. If the treatment is meant as a short-term solution, the plugs are made of a dissolvable material.
Evaporative dry eye is very closely linked with a condition called blepharitis. Blepharitis is often associated with inflammation of the eyelid and debris collecting around the lash line. These symptoms can affect the meibomian gland and impact the quality of the tear film.
BlephEx is a treatment designed to mitigate the effects of blepharitis and reduce evaporative dry eye symptoms.
The treatment involves a handheld device with a very small rotating sponge on the end. Your optometrist will gently apply the rotating sponge to your eyelid, focusing on your eyelash lines and lid margins.
This sort of intensive cleaning treatment helps eliminate bacteria, detritus, and blockages that might cause inflammation or prevent the flow of meibum.
Brighton Eyecare is conveniently located in Brighton Marketplace just off McCormond Drive, between Save on Foods and The Keg.
| Monday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Tuesday: | 12 PM - 8 PM |
| Wednesday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Thursday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Friday: | 8 AM - 5 PM |
| Saturday: | 9 AM - 3 PM (with the exception of long weekends) |
| Sunday: | Closed |
We understand that life is busy, and it isn’t always convenient to take time out of your workday to visit your optometrist. To help serve you better, we offer Saturday appointments and have extended hours on Tuesdays.
