Dry Eye Treatment

Comprehensive Dry Eye Exams & Treatment in St. Albert

Do your eyes feel gritty, dry, or constantly irritated? Are you blinking more than usual, noticing excessive tearing, or regularly dealing with red, sensitive eyes? These can all be signs of dry eye disease, a chronic condition that affects not only the health of your eyes but also your comfort and quality of life.

At Eye Health Centre, we take your eye health seriously. Our optometrists are experienced in diagnosing and treating dry eye disease with a thorough, technology-supported approach tailored to your unique needs.

From our diagnostic tools to customized treatment plans, we are committed to bringing you long-term relief so you can get back to seeing the world with comfort.

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What to Expect During Your Dry Eye Assessment

If we identify signs of dry eye in your eye exam, we’ll recommend a dedicated dry eye evaluation with Dr. Weisbeck to find the underlying causes and create your treatment plan.

Your personalized dry eye evaluation typically includes:

- Questionnaire: Understanding your symptoms, habits, and lifestyle to identify potential contributing factors.

- Ocular imaging: Using our Mediworks Firefly Anterior Segment Camera and meibography imaging slit lamp, we’ll assess the health of your cornea, tear film, and meibomian glands.

- Corneal examination: Special dyes help us detect corneal damage invisible to the naked eye.

Our Comprehensive Dry Eye Management Options

Dry eye disease is a chronic condition, meaning it will likely require management throughout your life. While there’s no cure yet, the approaches we recommend at Eye Health Centre can target the underlying cause of your symptoms, helping you feel more comfortable and protecting your long-term eye health.

Our dry eye solutions include:

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy: Uses light pulses to address inflammation and unblock clogged oil glands to improve tear quality.
BlephEx eyelid hygiene cleansing: Removes debris, bacteria, and biofilm, improving eyelid health and reducing irritation.
Medicated eye drops: Prescribed for your specific needs to restore moisture to your eyes.
Meibomian gland expression: We can express the oil glands along your eyelids to help restore tear film balance.
Preservative-free eye drops: Gentler for long-term use to provide immediate relief.
Bruder mask heat therapy: Unclogs oil glands in the eyelids with soothing, therapeutic warmth.
Eyelid cleansers and moisturizers: Gentle and effective products for daily care that maintain eyelid hygiene.
Omega-3 supplements: Formulated especially to support healthy tears.
Eye makeup removers: Designed to remove makeup safely without compromising your eye health.

Dr. Weisbeck will monitor your progress and adapt your treatment as needed to support your comfort and long-term visual health.

Intense Pulsed Light Treatment for Dry Eye in St. Albert

If you’re constantly dealing with the discomfort of dry eye disease, intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment may offer a path to relief.

The Lucent Luvo IPL, a Health Canada-cleared technology, was specifically designed to target meibomian gland dysfunction, which is at the core of many peoples’ dry eye symptoms. The meibomian glands, found along the edges of your eyelids, produce the essential oil layer of your tears. When these glands become blocked or inflamed, the tear film quality decreases.

IPL addresses this by using precise light pulses to help reduce inflammation, clear blocked glands, and restore their natural function. When other solutions haven’t achieved the relief you’re seeking, IPL can help.

What to Expect Before & During IPL Dry Eye Treatment

When it’s time for the procedure in our clinic, you’ll wear protective eyewear to keep your eyes safe throughout the treatment. We’ll also apply a cool gel to the treatment area for extra comfort.

During the session, the device delivers light pulses to the eye area.

These pulses reduce inflammation and help unblock the meibomian glands.
IPL treatment is designed to be quick and noninvasive, with most sessions lasting about 15 minutes.

What to Expect After IPL Dry Eye Treatment

Most of our patients are able to get back to their day right away after their IPL appointment. Some of our patients notice slight redness or warmth around the treated area, but this usually resolves within a few hours.

We typically recommend multiple IPL sessions, depending on the severity of your symptoms, to achieve the best results and long-lasting relief.

To help protect the treated areas and support recovery, we’ll recommend applying dermatologist-endorsed Riversol sunscreen, which is a simple but important step in your aftercare routine.

Over time, you’ll likely notice a significant improvement in your symptoms, from less dryness to greater overall comfort.

Understanding Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease occurs when the equilibrium of your tear film, which moisturizes and protects your eyes, becomes disrupted.

This can result from insufficient tear production, poor tear quality, or blocked oil glands along your eyelids (known as meibomian gland dysfunction, or MGD). Left untreated, dry eye disease can progress over time, leading to discomfort, blurred vision, and even damage to the cornea.

While symptoms can vary for each person, common complaints include:

Stinging or burning sensations in the eyes
Persistent dryness
Excessive watering or tearing
Sensitivity to light
A sandy or gritty feeling, as if something is in the eye

At Eye Health Centre, our goal is to provide relief while tackling the root causes of your symptoms to reduce future discomfort and damage.

What Makes Dry Eye Feel Worse?

While the majority of dry eye cases are linked to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), several other factors can contribute to this condition, including:

Hormones: Hormonal changes due to contraceptives, pregnancy, or menopause can increase the likelihood of developing dry eye.
Age: People over 50 are more prone to dry eye due to natural aging processes.
Environment: Our dry climate, heaters, smoky air, and air conditioning can evaporate tears too quickly.
Medications: Certain antidepressants, antihistamines, and blood pressure medications can cause dry eye as a side effect.
Autoimmune conditions: Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome are often associated with dry eye.
Eye surgeries: Procedures like LASIK or cataract surgery may contribute to symptoms.
Makeup and skincare: Some products contain chemicals that can interfere with the meibomian glands.
Screen time: Long hours on our devices reduces how often we blink, worsening symptoms.

Book Your Dry Eye Assessment Today

Living with dry eye can disrupt your daily life, but you don’t have to live with discomfort. Our St. Albert optometrists can offer precise diagnoses and personalized solutions to support your comfort and eye health for years to come.

Dry eye disease presents differently for everyone—that’s why we aim to uncover the root cause of your specific symptoms for truly personalized care. Book an eye exam today to begin the process of evaluation, treatment, and soothing relief.

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Why Choose Us?

Focused on You

We take the time to understand your unique needs and tailor our eye care to you and your family. One size does not fit all!

Vision Therapy

We design treatment programs to improve your visual skills, which can address learning difficulties, binocular vision dysfunction, concussion symptoms, and more.