Restore Your Eye’s Natural Moisture
If you feel like your eyes just aren’t getting enough moisture, you may have dry eye disease. Dry eye is quite common with about 30% of people over 50 years old affected by it. There are many symptoms and causes of dry eye, and at Bluewater Optometry, we’re committed to finding a treatment that can help soothe your dry eye and provide relief.
Book an appointment with our team today to discuss dry eye causes and treatments and help restore moisture to your eyes.
About Dry Eye
Dry eye occurs when your eye doesn’t produce enough tears or enough quality tears to properly lubricate the surface of the eye. Dry eye can be caused by your environment, certain conditions, medications, and even family genetics.
The symptoms of dry eye can include redness, stinging, burning, grittiness, light sensitivity, or feeling like there is a foreign object in the eye.
Access Your CEQUA Savings Card Online
Patients can access the CEQUA savings cards virtually (and easily) by visiting http://www.cequa.ca and selecting the “Enroll in CEQUA Patient Benefit Program” on the homepage.
OR
You can go directly to https://www.cequapatientbenefitprogram.ca/ to enroll.
It will only take you around 2 minutes to fill out, and it can be done on your mobile device or the clinic desktop at Bluewater Optometry before you leave the office. The CEQUA Savings Card provides patients with a virtual rather than physical savings card that they can show to their pharmacist.
Patients will need to select “No” when asked if they have a physical card and will be asked to input their CEQUA DIN #: 02512629. This number never changes.
For more information, feel free to ask our team.
Take Our Dry Eye Pre-Screening Quiz
Take our dry eye pre-screening questionnaire to understand if your symptoms require a dry eye assessment at our practice.
Digital Eye Strain & Dry Eye
Digital eye strain refers to the feeling of irritated and tired eyes that comes with extended digital screen time. This is because we tend to look at our screens at close range, causing the muscles in our eyes to work harder.
Dry eye is a common symptom of digital eye strain since we tend to blink less often when viewing our screens due to starring. In fact, during screen use, we blink on average about 4 times a minute instead of the normal 17 times a minute. This decrease in blinking can lead to decreased moisture in the eye and symptoms of dry eye developing.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition that can cause dry eye. MGD occurs when the oily layer of the tear film disappears or the quality of the layer changes due to problems with the meibomian gland. Without this oily layer, the tears evaporate quickly and the eyes become dry.
This happens because the meibomian glands get clogged and oil cannot reach the eye’s surface. MGD can cause inflammation in the eye as well as irritation and burning.
In-Office Treatments
We offer a wide range of in-office dry eye treatments to help you find relief. Following the diagnostic stage, our team works with you to explore different treatment options that can help address your dry eye symptoms.
We encourage any questions or concerns you may have, and our team is always happy to chat with you about your options.
Visit us at our practice for dry eye treatment using modern technology to treat dry eye.
Radiofrequency treatment can address meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and dry eye. During this treatment, a radiofrequency applicator sends currents through the skin that heat up gland blockages in the eye and release the oils back onto the surface.
The Lipiflow Thermal Pulsation System uses a mixture of heat and massage to release meibomian glands in just 12 minutes. This device eliminates the need for manually expressing the glands by clearing blockages while the device is placed over your eyes. This noninvasive treatment can feel spa-like and relaxing.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) uses pulses of light to express the meibomian glands and release oils back into the eye. This can be combined with manual gland expression as well and has been successful for those who have not had luck with other treatment methods.
In a recent study, 58% of patients’ MGD improved by 25–50% after the IPL treatment when combined with meibomian gland expression.
ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment) is designed to help with eyelid debridement and help relieve dry eye symptoms. ZEST works by helping to remove bacteria, debris, oil, and residue from the eyelids with gentle exfoliation.
At-Home Treatments
In-office treatments are effective, but we also want to send you home with options to get relief from your dry eye symptoms.
At-home dry eye treatments can be helpful for relieving mild cases of dry eye or can be paired with our in-office treatments for maximum effectiveness.
Our online store features many of these products. We can help you restock and find the right products for your needs.
Omega-3 supplements can help those with dry eye build up the oily layer of the tear film. Physician-Recommended Nutriceuticals (PRN) Omega-3 is the only clinically proven omega-3 supplement that improves the symptoms of dry eye.
Thealoz Duo eye drops use a combination of sodium hyaluronate and trehalose to treat moderate to severe dry eyes. One study found that after using Thealoz duo 62% of patients were symptom-free within 84 days.
Thealoz Duo drops are clinically proven to increase film thickness for up to 4 hours, with Thealoz Duo gel increasing tear film thickness for up to 6 hours.
Bruder masks are patented moist heat eye compresses that deliver gland relief at home. You can microwave these masks at home and apply them to the eye area. These masks are self-hydrating and help your eyes to feel refreshed.
OCUNOX Eye Ointment is a nighttime treatment for dry eye. It works by using vitamin A to improve the tear film and protect the eye’s surface.
ZocuFoam is a natural eyelid cleanser formulated with okra complexes to address the root cause of irritated and dry eyes. ZocuFoam provides a soothing and calming action. With its gentle foaming formula, this product efficiently removes debris on the lids and lashes, helping to manage dryness and discomfort.
ZocuFoam can also help treat Demodex issues, which can cause blepharitis, resulting in inflammation of the eyelids and severe dry eye.
ZocuFoam is recommended to be used 1 time daily for 2 months, then 2 times per week ongoing after that.
Zaspray is a 3-in-1 solution for soothing, hydrating, and relieving dry eyes caused by allergies. With its unique formulation and natural plant extracts, Zaspray provides long-lasting relief from itchy, irritated, and red eyes.
This easy-to-use spray contains sodium hyaluronate, offering a lubricating effect to keep your eyes moisturized and comfortable throughout the day.
BiHoCL features powerful active ingredients and an innovative formula and provides fast and effective relief from the discomfort of dry eyes.
This eye drop solution works to moisturize and soothe your eyes, promoting hydration and comfort.
Blephaclean wipes are preservative-free individual sterile lid wipes. These wipes can help to reduce signs and symptoms of blepharitis.
Blephaclean wipes are used about 1 or 2 times daily per week.
Blephagel Duo is a preservative-free cleansing gel that helps maintain optimal ocular hygiene. Blephagel Duo is recommended to be used 1 or 2 times daily as needed.
Start Finding Relief from Dry Eye
Dry eye can be uncomfortable and impede your everyday life. Our team is here to assess your eyes and offer a variety of in-office or at-home treatments to help you feel the relief that you need.
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More of Our Services
Explore the different eye care services we have to offer at Bluewater Optometry.
Laser Eye Surgery Consultations
Our team is with you every step of the way during your laser eye surgery journey. A consultation is the first step to exploring your options, like LASIK and PRK. We provide co-management for your pre and post-operative care with your surgical team.
Eye Disease Diagnosis & Management
Eye disease can come in different forms, like cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Our office helps diagnose and manage the different forms of eye disease. Learn more about how we can help.
Emergency Eye Care
An eye emergency can happen at any moment, and we want to provide you with support. If you or a loved one has an eye emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 226-784-2210.
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Come Visit Us
You can find us on the corner of Exmouth Street and Napier Street, right across from Norm Perry Park.
Our Address
- 251 Exmouth Street
- Sarnia, ON N7T 5M7
Contact Information
- Phone: 519-336-4544
- Email: [email protected]
