Get Ready to Shed
Tears of Joy Again
Dry eye can bring occasional distraction or constant discomfort, depending on its severity. You may experience irritation, swelling, or gritty sensations in your eyes, all of which are symptoms of dry eye.
Fortunately, numerous options exist to help you manage dry eye symptoms. At Thompson Rivers Family Optometry, our dedicated eye care professionals are experienced in the assessment and diagnosis of dry eye, including determining the root cause of your discomfort.
If you need help with this common condition, contact us and let our team find a solution that works for you.
What Is
Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye, also called ocular surface disease, occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or produce tears without the proper composition.
A healthy tear film has 3 layers: the mucus layer, the water layer, and the oil layer. If these layers are unbalanced, it can lead to uncomfortable dry eye symptoms.
Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Burning or stinging eyes
- Gritty or scratchy feeling in your eyes
- Excessive eye watering
- Eyes that feel tired, even after resting
- Red or swollen eyes or eyelids
- Foreign object sensation (the feeling of something stuck in your eyes)
- Discomfort while wearing contact lenses
Risk Factors for Dry Eye
You are more likely to experience dry eye if:
- You are 50 years or older
- You are a woman
- You have certain medical conditions, such as Hepatitis C, vitamin A deficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid disease
- You take certain medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, or some SSRIs
- You have had certain medical procedures, such as corneal surgery, LASIK, or radiation therapy
Dry Eye Assessments and Diagnoses
We perform thorough assessments for dry eye, including an evaluation of your tear film, the health of your meibomian glands (which produce the oil layer of your tear film), and checking the health of the surface of your eye.
Part of your assessment will include a discussion of your symptoms and medical history to help us determine the root cause. Dry eye has many possible causes, from certain medical conditions, like Sjogren’s Syndrome, to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or blepharitis.
MGD disrupts the production of the oil layer of your tear film, which allows your tears to evaporate too quickly. Blepharitis is chronic inflammation of your eyelids, which can affect your tear glands and cause dry eyes. Depending on the root cause of your condition, we will recommend a treatment plan tailored to you.
Dry Eye Management Options
If we diagnose you with dry eye, we’ll work with you to determine the next steps. We’ll recommend an at-home treatment that may include:
- Artificial tears: We’ll recommend a specific type of eye drop, such as preservative-free eye drops or gel, that can soothe your dry eye symptoms and target tear production or inflammation (depending on your condition). Your 10th bottle of preservative-free drops is on us.
- Prescription medications: In some cases, we may recommend prescription medications to manage moderate-to-severe dry eye.
For those whose dry eye symptoms cannot be managed at home, we’ll provide a referral to a specialist for treatment covered by the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP).
Make Dry Eyes a Thing
of the Past
You do not have to live with the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye. There are many options available for relief, whether you’re able to manage your symptoms at home or you need the assistance of a specialist. Your dry eye management plan will be tailored to you based on your dry eye assessment and your usual symptoms.
Contact us today and let our team create a plan to help you manage your symptoms.
Finding
Our Clinic
We’re located in the Northills Shopping Centre off Tranquille Road. Find our office between the CIBC and the Interior Health clinic on the north side of the mall. For your convenience, our entrance is directly accessible from the parking lot—no mall entry required.
Visit
Our Location
Our eye clinic is conveniently located at the Northills Shopping Centre, next to the CIBC.
Where to Park?
The mall offers spacious parking and accessible parking spaces.
Hours of Operation
*Closed between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM every day for lunch
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Acknowledgement
We’re grateful to live and work on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory, within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwepemcúĺecw. We acknowledge and respect the history, language, and culture of the Secwépemc people who have lived here since time immemorial. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation.
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Thompson Rivers Family Optometry
- 250-376-1985
- 250-376-1309
- office@trfo.ca