BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
BSM Eye Clinic.
Dry Eye
Dry eye: if artificial tears don’t help, we check your tear film and eyelids together
About
What is dry eye syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears, tears evaporate too quickly,
or the balance of the three tear components (mucus, water, oil) is disrupted,
causing damage and irritation to the eye surface. Left untreated, dry eye syndrome is
a progressive eye disease that can lead to corneal inflammation and decreased vision.
Finding the root cause early is the only way to break the vicious cycle.
-
My eyes stream with tears in the wind.
-
My eyes feel gritty and it’s hard to open them in the morning.
BSM Eye Clinic
BSM Eye Clinic
BSM Eye Clinic
Causes of dry eye syndrome
-
Physical factors
Natural aging, in which tear production
declines with age -
Environmental factors
Long hours of computer and smartphone use
at work and in daily life
(fewer blinks) -
Lifestyle habits
Heavy eye makeup and fine dust
that irritate the eye’s mucous membranes -
External irritants
Long-term contact lens wear
in direct contact with the cornea
Why artificial tears alone are not enough
-
Aqueous-deficient type
The lacrimal gland cannot produce enough of the watery component
that makes up natural tears.
Causes include age-related shrinking of the lacrimal gland, immune disorders such as Sjögren’s syndrome,
and long-term medication use (antihistamines, etc.).- Eyes always feel gritty and dry
- Pain like sand rolling around in the eye
- Frequent redness and a burning sensation in the eyes
-
Evaporative type
The evaporative type, which accounts for 80% of patients,
is a condition in which, even with a normal tear volume,
there is a problem with the lipid layer that covers the tears and prevents evaporation,
so tears evaporate into the air almost instantly.- Eyes clearly feel dry, yet keep watering
- Eyes sting and water in the wind
- Vision gets blurrier and eye fatigue becomes severe as the afternoon goes on
The hidden culprit behind dry eye syndrome
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)
What are the meibomian glands?
The meibomian glands are 20 to 30 tiny oil glands located along the edge of the eyelids, next to the roots of the eyelashes.
They form a natural protective film (oil layer) over the tears that keeps them from evaporating into the air.
-
Normal meibomian glands
Clear, clean liquid
The oil layer firmly protects the moisture -
Dysfunctional (MGD) glands
Turns yellow and hardens
The oil layer breaks down and moisture evaporates immediately
Causes of meibomian gland dysfunction
-
Buildup of debris
Airborne fine dust clumps together with eye discharge
-
Makeup residue
Eye makeup such as eyeliner and mascara directly blocks the gland openings
-
Oil degeneration
Oil that cannot be released hardens inside the gland into a toothpaste-like consistency
Symptoms by stage
-
Early stage
Eyes feel gritty and it is hard to open them in the morning
-
Middle stage
Foreign body sensation worsens, and eyes stream with tears in the wind
-
Advanced stage
Chronic styes, conjunctivitis, and noticeably blurred, declining vision
Protect your own eye health: MGD prevention and care
-
1 Warm Compress (Melting the Oil)
Place a warm compress at about 40–45℃ over your eyes.
1–2 times a day, about 30 minutes -
2 Eyelid Cleansing (Removing Debris)
After the warm compress, apply a dedicated eyelid cleanser to gauze and gently wipe along the roots of the eyelashes. This removes melted oil residue, makeup residue, Demodex mites and more to help prevent inflammation.
Dry eye syndrome treatments
BSM Eye Clinic offers a range of treatment solutions, including IPL laser treatment for dry eye and punctal occlusion.
01
·
04
IPL laser treatment for dry eye
The key to improving dry eye is resolving what is blocking the meibomian glands.
IPL laser delivers gentle heat to the blood vessels around the eyelids, helping the hardened oil glands release their oil
and restoring moisture to the eyes. After treatment, dryness symptoms have been shown to improve
by about 80% or more in patients.
Benefits of IPL laser treatment
- Oil gland scaling: Melts the hardened oil blocking the openings so it can drain smoothly.
- Restoring vascular health: Reduces red, abnormally dilated blood vessels to help blood circulation.
- Treating the root of inflammation: Reduces the release of inflammatory substances to treat meibomitis.
- Eliminating the cause: Effectively removes Demodex mites that cause eyelid inflammation.
- Eye-area lifting effect: An added benefit of hair removal around the eyes and improvement of fine lines
Punctal occlusion (Punctal Plug)
The punctum is the channel through which tears drain into the nose.
Punctal occlusion is a procedure that blocks this channel
with a punctal plug made of silicone or polydioxanone,
helping tears stay on the eye surface longer.
Because it preserves your own natural tears,
you can feel much more comfortable, longer-lasting moisture.
AQUACEL IPL Laser at BSM Eye Clinic
For dry eye caused by a deficient oil layer of the tear film, AQUACEL IPL laser applies pulsed light to the skin around the cheekbones and temples; the resulting
temperature difference helps restore impaired meibomian gland function and relieves dry eye.
-
1
Function restorationNormalizes the secretion of dormant meibomian glands.
-
2
Blocking inflammationFundamentally suppresses the bacteria and harmful microbes
that cause eyelid inflammation.
-
3
Locking in moistureForms a strong oil layer
that thoroughly prevents tear evaporation. -
4
Freedom from drynessBuilds a stable tear film
to break free from the cycle of dry eye.
