Dry Eyes Specialist Torrance, CA | Beverly Hills Institute of Ophthalmology

Dry eyes can develop if your body doesn't produce enough natural tears to create a healthy tear film. A normal tear film coats the lenses of the eyes to help ensure clear vision. When the tear film is insufficient, eye pain and discomfort and other symptoms develop.

What is dry eye treatment?

Treatment for dry eyes varies based on the severity of the symptoms. It may involve conservative treatments, such as dietary supplements, artificial tears, or prescription eye drops, to increase natural tear production. When conservative treatments fail to provide long-term relief, surgery may be indicated as a dry eye treatment.

Middle aged man applying eye drops to his eyes.

Am I a candidate for dry eye treatment?

You may be a candidate for dry eye treatment in Beverly Hills is you suffer from the following chronic symptoms:

Dryness of the eyes
Red eyes
Blurry vision
A grainy eye sensation
Eye pain or discomfort
Sensitivity to light

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Why choose Beverly Hills Institute of Ophthalmology for dry eye treatment?

We offer the latest advancements in treating eye conditions.
We are the longest, most well-established, and well-respected ophthalmology group in Beverly Hills.
We take a personalized approach to treatment, with a patient-first focus.

What can I expect with dry eye treatment in Beverly Hills?

If your symptoms are not too severe, they may respond to conservative treatments such as artificial tears, prescription eye drops, or dietary supplements.

If conventional treatments do not provide relief, we may recommend either of two surgical procedures:

Blocking the tear ducts: If necessary, our Beverly Hills ophthalmologist can perform surgery to block the tear ducts that drain away tears (puncta) with dissolvable or permanent punctal plugs. This procedure is designed to help you retain a healthy tear film. The tear duct is numbed, then the plug is inserted directly into the duct using small forceps. The entire process takes only a few minutes.
Permanent closure of the tear ducts: If punctal plugs irritate your eyes, our surgeon can use thermal cautery to close your tear ducts. Punctal cauterization is a minimally-invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia. The doctor applies heat to close the duct.

Other dry eye treatment options include:

iLux: A treatment in which light-based heat is applied to the eyelid, melting trapped oils within the glands, and focus-guided compression is performed to express oil out of the glands.
AB Max: An advanced five to eight-minute deep cleansing treatment to remove crust and debris from the eyelids.
Amniotic membrane: To keep the eye moist, protect its surface, control inflammation, and promote regeneration of corneal nerves.
Scleral lenses: Larger diameter, rigid, gas permeable scleral contact lenses that sit on the sclera (white part of the eye), leaving the cornea untouched, can be beneficial to individuals with dry eyes.

Is there any recovery time after dry eye treatment?

Punctal plug insertion is a minor procedure with little or no recovery. Once you adjust to the plugs, you can return to using your eyes as usual. Symptoms may return after temporary plugs dissolve. If you undergo punctal cauterization, your surgeon will likely prescribe antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection and instruct you to avoid touching the eye.

FAQ

What causes dry eyes?

Dry eyes develop for a variety of reasons. Common causes include:

Allergies
Certain medications
Inflammation of the eyelids
Wearing contact lenses overnight or for extended periods
Entropion (a condition in which the eyelids roll inward, touching the surface of the eye)
Ectropion (a condition in which the eyelids sag outward, creating a gap)

What types of dietary supplements can help dry eyes?

If you have dry eyes, we may prescribe omega-3 fatty acids to help you produce more natural tears.

How do punctal plugs provide dry eye relief?

The puncta are four small openings inside the edges of the upper and lower eyelids near the nose. Each eyelid has one punctum, which acts as a valve that allows the tears to drain from the eyes. Blocking the puncta with plugs can help slow tear drainage, allowing more moisture to remain on the surface of the eye.

What happens if my symptoms return when temporary punctal plugs dissolve?

If your dry eye symptoms improve with dissolvable punctal plugs and return when the plugs dissolve, this is an indication that punctal plugs are an effective treatment for you. The next step in your treatment may be to insert long-lasting punctal plugs.

Dry Eye Treatment