Innovative, Personalized Care for Dry Eyes
Do your eyes feel scratchy or gritty? Do you experience discomfort, impaired vision, or have problems focusing? You’re not alone. Millions of Americans suffer from dry eye symptoms. But relief is possible.
At Eyesmate Vision Care, we’re dedicated to helping you manage and alleviate the discomfort of dry eyes. Our innovative methods and technologies can support longer-lasting improvements, so you can leave our office feeling refreshed and renewed.
Don’t live with dry eyes a moment longer. Book an appointment with us today.
Book AppointmentWhat Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears to stay wet or produce tears of poor quality.
Your eyes need moisture to maintain clear vision, wash away bacteria or debris, and deliver essential nutrients.
Some symptoms are short-lived—like dryness on a windy day or when you’re dehydrated. But when left untreated, dry eye disease can result in worsening symptoms or impaired vision.
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Tear Quality vs. Tear Quantity
There are 2 main types of dry eye:
- Evaporative dry eye: This is the most common type. The tear film lacks the components to create quality tears, so tears evaporate too quickly to nourish the eyes.
- Aqueous deficient dry eye: This type occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears, usually of the watery layer. As a result, moisture can’t spread evenly across the eye, leading to dry patches.
By knowing which type of dry eye you have and assessing the tear film (the eye’s moisture layer), we can develop a precise treatment customized to your eye health.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye is a condition that can be worsened by various health factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle habits—such as dehydration or excessive screen time. Consequently, symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Some of the most common dry eye symptoms include:
- Burning or stinging sensations
- Blurry or fluctuating vision
- Tired or red eyes
- Gritty, scratchy eyes
- Increased light sensitivity
- Watery eyes or stringy mucus
Our Dry Eye Treatments
IPL Therapy
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is a noninvasive treatment that targets a common root cause of dry eye—meibomian gland dysfunction.
Pulses of light stimulate the meibomian glands to produce natural oils (meibum). These oils help surface moisture last longer and spread evenly, improving tear quality and reducing inflammation. While complete results can require multiple sessions, many patients experience rapid relief.
Demodex Treatments & Eyelid Sprays
The eye needs natural oils produced by the meibomian glands inside the eyelids to maintain a healthy tear film. Debris, such as dead skin cells, and inflammation caused by demodex mites can block these glands. However, using eyelid sprays and deep cleansers can help to restore dry eyes by opening up the glands.
Hypochlorous acid (HOCI) is a popular disinfectant in healthcare because it’s gentle yet potent. HOCI’s oxidizing properties can remove microorganisms, including demodex mites, while still preserving the skin’s bacterial diversity to promote overall health.
Meibomian Gland Expression
The meibomian glands (located inside the eyelids) produce the oil layer of your tears, which is crucial in preventing moisture evaporation. When these glands become blocked or inflamed, it’s common to experience dry eyes.
Meibomian gland expression helps unblock the glands and stimulates oil flow. It’s a safe, minimally invasive procedure that involves gently massaging the oil glands in the eyelids. This simple treatment can improve moisture retention and significantly reduce inflammation
Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs are tiny medical devices (about the size of rice grain) inserted into the tear ducts (puncta). The plugs are designed to improve surface moisture by preventing tear drainage.
The procedure is minimally invasive and can provide longer-lasting relief. The plugs can be temporary (made of collagen, which is naturally absorbed over time) or semi-permanent (made of medical-grade silicone).
By preventing tear drainage, moisture lasts longer and can lessen the reliance on eye drops.
Prescription Eye Drops
Patients with dry eye often turn to artificial tears and over-the-counter lubricants that provide temporary relief for symptoms. However, these non-prescription solutions don’t address the root cause.
Enter medicated eye drops like Restasis. These eye drops stimulate natural tear production and treat inflammation–a common cause of evaporative dry eye (tears of poor quality). Administered twice a day, at least 12 hours apart, Restasis can significantly improve dry eye symptoms.
Nutrition & Supplements
Maintaining a balanced diet benefits every aspect of our well-being, including our eye health. Proper nutrition is vital for supporting healthy, clear vision, while specific nutrients can help alleviate symptoms of dry eyes.
Omega-3 fatty acids stand out as a particularly effective nutrient for improving tear quality and reducing inflammation. By incorporating omega-3 through fish oil supplements or dietary changes such as consuming more fish or flaxseed, you’re taking a proactive step towards better eye health.
Evaluating Your Dry Eyes
At Eyesmate Vision Care, we understand that sometimes seeing is believing, especially in matters concerning the health of your eyes. That’s why we conduct thorough evaluations that allow us to give you personalized evidence about the state of your eyes.
By completing a comprehensive assessment, we can show you what’s going on with your eyes and suggest the appropriate treatment for your condition.
A Microscopic View
We can zoom on the microscopic level to show your eyelids in detail, including an up-close image of your skin’s demodex mites. It’s completely normal and healthy for bacteria and mites to live on your skin—but too many demodex mites can cause inflammation and block your eyelids from producing the oily layer of tears.
Schrimer’s Test
With a Schirmer’s test, we can assess how far your tears have traveled by placing a filter paper inside your lower eyelids.
This timed test measures aqueous tear production and generally takes about 5 minutes. A reading of 10 mm of moisture is typically considered normal tear production.
Epithelial Staining
With epithelial staining (a quick-acting dye) and a slit lamp examination, we can identify staining patterns on your cornea and conjunctiva. The patterns can help us evaluate how tears spread across the eye or if there are dry patches.
We assess your tear break-up time (TBUT) to determine the health of your tear film. Typically, a tear film lasts more than 10 seconds, whereas TBUT can be less than a few seconds in people with dry eye.
Reach Out Today for Dry Eye Relief
We understand the toll that dry eyes can take on your daily routine. Even the simplest tasks can feel daunting when your eyes feel tired, heavy, or scratchy.
That’s why we’re dedicated to bringing innovative eye care solutions with treatments tailored to your unique needs. Our personalized approach is designed to support your overall eye health, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalized.
Come visit us today to begin your journey towards healthier, happier eyes.
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Our Address
- 133-35 41st Ave.
- Flushing, Queens, NY 11355
Contact Information
- Phone: 347-732-4889
- Email: info@eyesmatevision.com
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Our Eyewear Brands
Life is too short to settle for boring glasses. We want you to enjoy the quality and style of your eyewear. Our wide range of frames and lenses caters to everyone—from trendy, high-end brands for the discerning eye to durable, adorable designs that make kids smile.
Discover the look that speaks to you.
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Eyesmate Vision Care
- 133-35 41st Ave.
- Flushing, Queens, NY 11355
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P: 347-732-4889
info@eyesmatevision.com