Explore Our Dry eye and blepharitis Services

Dry eye is a condition that affects many of us over the course of our lives. It can vary hugely in severity from a fairly mild irritation to a debilitating disease of the surface of the eye. Symptoms include burning, stinging, gritty feeling eyes and sometimes watering and blurry vision. There are several types of dry eye with multiple causes and it is often a chronic condition that requires ongoing management.

We are launching a dry eye clinic designed to help you (and us) understand your dry eye. We can then advise on the best routine to help ease your symptoms. We will also be offering some treatments in clinic to kick start improvements your tear film.

Blepharitis is another chronic condition that is closely linked to dry eye disease. It often causes red, itchy, swollen eyelids with crusting around the base of the eyelashes. Again there can be different types of blepharitis and we will identify the type during the initial assessment. A particularly common form is associated with an infestation of mites found on the skin called demodex. We will be offering ZEST in clinic deep cleansing treatment which is proven to be effective for all types of blepharitis particularly demodex.

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Topcon Myah

Hycosan

ZEST

Optase

Body Doctor

What We Offer

Initial assessment…£65

A comprehensive initial assessment including a thorough history and symptoms with a questionnaire recommended by the tear film and ocular surface disease society (TFOS). This will help us to understand potential causes and the extent of any issues.
We will use the Topcon Myah to assess the lids and blink mechanism as well as the tear quantity, quality and break up time (how long it takes between blinks for the protective tear film to break up).

Particular attention will be given to the meibomium glands. These provide the oily lubricant part of the tears (meibum) and can be prone to blockage and atrophy over time. It is estimated that approximately 85% of dry eye sufferers have an evaporative form of dry eye which is where the tears evaporate too quickly due to a lack of the protective meibum in the tear film. The Topcon Myah can obtain an infrared image of the meibomium glands in order to quantify the scale of any issues and monitor their condition over time. A small amount of meibum can be expressed in order to assess the patency of the glands and the quality and quantity of any secretions.

Next steps

Dependant on the outcome of the initial assessment we may recommend one or a combination of options including:

  • Meibomium Gland Expression… £65 A technique performed with local anaesthetic in clinic to clear any stale solidified secretions blocking the glands. This is a good way of kickstarting the gland function and when followed up with regular warm compresses at home can substantially improve the tear break up time.

  • ZEST deep lid cleanse… £120 This is an innovative, natural approach to the management of blepharitis, demodex, dry eye, meibomium gland dysfunction and eye inflammation. ZEST uses an Okra-based system (patented by the Body Doctor ltd) to gently but thoroughly cleanse the lid area and provide immediate and long-lasting relief.

  • Punctal plug fitting… £120 This technique can help patients whose dry eye is caused by a reduced production of the aqueous (watery part) of the tears. Small implants are placed in the eye’s lower inner tear duct (called puncta). Puncta are the tiny openings that drain tears from your eyes. The plug reduces the amount of fluid that drains from the eye. This helps keep the eye’s surface moist and comfortable, relieving itchy, burning, and red eyes. The Plugs used initially will dissolve away after 3 months and if the technique has been beneficial a more permanent plug can be then be inserted.

  • Warm compresses, lid hygiene and artificial tears. We will provide you with a routine to follow at home using products and techniques proven to improve the tear film and ocular surface. Consistency is essential in managing these conditions as they are often chronic in nature.

For anyone who suffers with chronic dry eyes, blepharitis or meibomium gland dysfunction it is helpful to think of maintaining your eye health in a similar way as you would your teeth. Daily cleansing and lubrication, regular warm compresses and lid massage at home compounded by bi-annual appointments for more in depth treatment and review in the clinic. This routine can help to ensure healthy comfortable eyes in the long term. We think its well worth the investement. There will be some payment plan options in the future to allow you to spread the cost of your care over the year. Please ask for details.