Dry Eye Therapy in Toronto

How Bayview Vision Can Help

Dr. Olga Savitska and our team at Bayview Vision proudly offer dry eye therapy to patients in Toronto. Book your dry eye appointment today if you have had prolonged signs and symptoms of dry eyes, including red, irritated, tired or painful eyes. Our doctors can help make a curated treatment plan for you.

What is Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that occurs when your tears are not able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. It is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface that results in:

  • Symptoms of discomfort

  • Visual disturbance

  • Tear film instability with potential damage to the ocular surface

  • The increased osmolarity of the tear film 

  • Inflammation of the ocular surface

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome 

Signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome usually affect both eyes and may include:

  • A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes

  • Stringy mucus in or around your eyes

  • Sensitivity to light

  • Eye redness

  • A sensation of having something in your eyes

  • Difficulty wearing contact lenses

  • Difficulty with nighttime driving

  • Watery eyes, which is the body's response to the irritation of dry eyes

  • Blurred vision or eye fatigue

What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?

Tears can be inadequate and unstable for many reasons. For example, dry eyes may occur if you don't produce enough tears or if you produce poor-quality tears. This tear instability leads to inflammation and damage of the eye's surface. Dry eyes feel uncomfortable. If you have dry eyes, your eyes may sting or burn. You may experience dry eyes in certain situations, such as on an airplane, in an air-conditioned room, while riding a bike or after looking at a computer screen for a few hours.

Treatments for dry eyes may make you more comfortable. These treatments can include lifestyle changes, eyedrops, nutrition, and warm compresses. You'll likely need to take these measures indefinitely to control the symptoms of dry eyes.

Tear Glands and Tears

Dry eyes are caused by a variety of reasons that disrupt the healthy tear film. Your tear film has three layers: fatty oils, aqueous fluid and mucus. This combination normally keeps the surface of your eyes lubricated, smooth and clear. Problems with any of these layers can cause dry eyes.

Reasons for tear film dysfunction are many, including hormone changes, autoimmune disease, inflamed eyelid glands or allergic eye disease. For some people, the cause of dry eyes is decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation.

Decreased Tear Production

Dry eyes can occur when you're unable to produce enough water (aqueous fluid). The medical term for this condition is keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Common causes of decreased tear production include:

  • Aging

  • Certain medical conditions including Sjogren's syndrome, allergic eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, graft vs. host disease, sarcoidosis, thyroid disorders or Vitamin A deficiency

  • Certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, and drugs for high blood pressure, acne, birth control and Parkinson's disease

  • Desensitized corneal nerves caused by contact lens use, nerve damage or that caused by laser eye surgery, though symptoms of dry eyes related to this procedure are usually temporary

Increased Tear Evaporation

The oil film produced by small glands on the edge of your eyelids (meibomian glands) might become clogged. Blocked meibomian glands are more common in people with rosacea or other skin disorders.

Common causes of increased tear evaporation include:

  • Posterior blepharitis (meibomian gland dysfunction)

  • Blinking less often, which tends to occur with certain conditions, such as Parkinson's disease; or when you're concentrating during certain activities, such as while reading, driving or working at a computer

  • Eyelid problems, such as the lids turning outward (ectropion) and the lids turning inward (entropion)

  • Eye allergies

  • Preservatives in topical eyedrops

  • Wind, smoke or dry air

  • Vitamin A deficiency

Risk Factors

Factors that make it more likely that you'll experience dry eyes include:

  • Being older than 50. Tear production tends to diminish as you get older. Dry eyes are more common in people over 50.

  • Being female. A lack of tears is more common in women, especially if they experience hormonal changes due to pregnancy, using birth control pills or menopause.

  • Eating a diet low in vitamin A, which is found in liver, carrots and broccoli

  • Eating a diet low in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish, walnuts and vegetable oils.

  • Wearing contact lenses or having a history of refractive surgery.

Complications Associated with Dry Eyes

People who have dry eyes may experience:

  • Eye infections. Your tears protect the surface of your eyes from infection. Without adequate tears, you may have an increased risk of eye infection.

  • Damage to the surface of your eyes. If left untreated, severe dry eyes may lead to eye inflammation, abrasion of the corneal surface, corneal ulcers and vision loss.

  • Decreased quality of life. Dry eyes can make it difficult to perform everyday activities, such as reading.

Preventing Dry Eyes

If you experience dry eyes, try to take note of the situations that cause your symptoms. Then, if you are able, find ways to avoid those situations. For instance:

  • Avoid air blowing in your eyes. Don't direct hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners or fans toward your eyes.

  • Add moisture to the air. In winter, a humidifier can add moisture to dry indoor air.

  • Consider wearing wraparound sunglasses or other protective eyewear. Safety shields can be added to the tops and sides of eyeglasses to block wind and dry air. Ask about shields where you buy your eyeglasses.

  • Take eye breaks during long tasks. If you're reading or doing another task that requires visual concentration, take periodic eye breaks. Close your eyes for a few minutes. Or blink repeatedly for a few seconds to help spread your tears evenly over your eyes.

  • Be aware of your environment. The air at high altitudes, in desert areas and in airplanes can be extremely dry. When spending time in such an environment, it may be helpful to frequently close your eyes for a few minutes at a time to minimize the evaporation of your tears.

  • Position your computer screen below eye level. If your computer screen is above eye level, you'll open your eyes wider to view the screen. Position your computer screen below eye level so that you won't open your eyes as wide. This may help slow the evaporation of your tears between eye blinks.

  • Stop smoking and avoid smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor for help devising a quit-smoking strategy that's most likely to work for you. If you don't smoke, stay away from people who do. Smoke can worsen dry eye symptoms.

  • Use artificial tears regularly. If you have chronic dry eyes, use eyedrops even when your eyes feel fine to keep them well lubricated.