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Dry eyes or Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is especially common here in the desert. Often this is a chronic condition, which means that long term treatments may be required. Everyone’s eyes are different, so the symptoms and the treatments needed to help your eyes feel their best may be different than someone else.

 

Dry Eye Syndrome can range from a mild irritant to a chronic problem. The symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome include:

  • Dry, irritated, or red eyes
  • Excessive tearing/watery eyes
  • Inflammation
  • Sore or sensitive eyes
  • Itchiness
  • Burning or inflammation
  • A gritty or pasty feeling in the eyelids
  • Crusty or gunky eyes
  • Blurriness

Treatment Options 

More mild dry eye cases may be managed simply with over the counter drops like artificial tears. Always consult your doctor before purchasing over the counter drops, as some formulations may contain harmful preservatives or active ingredients that may actually worsen your dry eyes. If your eyes are dry and burning, avoid redness relief drops as they will likely make things worse.

Other at home treatments include:

Lid hygiene- keeping your lashes clean will help keep bacteria and other debris from falling into your eyes and disrupting your tear film (what keeps your eyes moist!)

Omega 3 Fatty Acid supplements- omega 3’s are good for nearly everything- hair, skin, nails, and EYES! They help to boost your natural tears

Hydration- decrease sugary and caffeinated drinks and increase water intake. Also, with as dry as our air is, adding a humidifier to your home can do a lot for your dry eyes

Warm compresses- Often, the glands that produce our tears can get clogged. Use a warm compress for at least five minutes, followed by lid massage, to help release the glands

Certain medications can contribute to dry eyes. If you’re taking these medications, or would like to know if yours may be, consult your eye doctor to discuss your options.

 

For more significant cases of dry eye, more complicated or expensive treatments may be necessary to manage your dry eyes. This may include prescription eye drops, punctal plugs to keep your tears on your eyes longer, oral medications or other treatments.

We now offer Marco Equinox Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT), the latest in dry eye treatment technology. 

Developed by NASA, LLLT has proven effective at treating dry eye disease. LLLT uses specially designed LED lights to gently warm up the eyelids, activating the mitochondria and boosting the cells to function better.

  • Safe, non-invasive procedure
  • 15 minutes per session
  • No recovery time needed
  • No side effects or discomfort
  • Safe for adults and children

It’s quick and painless! Simply lay back with the Equinox mask on and relax as the warm light clears your glands.

LLLT may also help decrease the appearance of facial wrinkles, acne and rosacea.