Dry Eye Treatment in Tampa, Sebring, Brooksville & Gainesville

Dry eye syndrome is a chronic disease in which the eye does not make enough tears, or the tears it makes are of poor quality. The result is an unstable tear film, increased tear osmolarity and inflammation of the eye’s surface — which is why dry eye affects vision, not just comfort.

Dryness or grittiness, a foreign-body sensation, burning or stinging, sensitivity to light, blurred or fluctuating vision, and — counterintuitively — excessive tearing. Reflex watering is one of the most common signs of a dry eye.

When the tear film breaks down, the eye’s surface becomes irritated and triggers a flood of reflex tears. Those tears are mostly water and lack the oily and mucous layers needed to stay on the eye, so they run over the lid instead of protecting the cornea.

A healthy tear film has three layers: an oily layer from the meibomian glands that slows evaporation, a watery layer from the lacrimal gland that washes away particles, and a mucous layer from the conjunctiva that keeps tears on the cornea. Dry eye occurs when any of those layers falls short in quantity or quality.

Risk rises with age, particularly after 40. Other risk factors include eyelid problems, recent eye surgery, autoimmune disease, certain medications, and external factors such as extended computer use and contact lens wear.

Your doctor can diagnose dry eye during your eye examination. Common tests use dye solutions that highlight dry spots on the corneal surface, and paper strips or threads placed on the eyelid to measure how fast tears are produced.

Punctal plugs, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy, CAM360 and PROKERA® amniotic membrane treatments, autologous serum eye drops made from your own blood, and prescription drops such as Restasis® and Xiidra®. Dry eye has more than one cause, so your doctor will match the right option to your eyes after a full dry eye evaluation.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a light treatment for clogged oil glands. It calms inflammation along the eyelids and helps the meibomian glands work better, so healthy oil keeps your tears from drying up too fast. Treatment is three short sessions a few weeks apart, often paired with gland expression, with little to no downtime. It is often recommended for meibomian gland dysfunction and rosacea.

Both use amniotic membrane, a healing tissue that calms inflammation and helps the surface of the eye heal. PROKERA® holds the membrane in a clear ring that rests on the eye like a contact lens, is usually worn for several days, and is removed at your follow-up visit. CAM360 is a ringless membrane placed under a soft bandage contact lens, so most people carry on with their normal day while it works. Both are placed in the office and are often recommended for moderate to severe dry eye and surface damage.

PROKERA® is the only FDA-cleared therapeutic device that both reduces inflammation and promotes healing of the ocular surface. It is a biologic corneal bandage used to treat keratitis, recurrent corneal erosion, dry eye syndrome and chemical burns.

There is currently no cure for dry eye syndrome — it is a chronic disease. It can, however, be managed very effectively. Most patients get substantial relief once the specific cause of their tear film failure is identified and treated directly.

Dry eye evaluation and treatment are available at all five Newsom Eye locations — Sebring, Carrollwood (Tampa), South Tampa, Brooksville and Gainesville.