Dry Eye
Burning, gritty, watery eyes? We'll find the cause and build a plan that actually helps.
What is dry eye?
Dry eye happens when your eyes don't make enough tears, or the tears they make evaporate too quickly. Tears aren't just for crying. Every blink spreads a thin layer that lubricates and protects the surface of the eye. When that layer breaks down, the eye becomes irritated and vision can come and go.
It's one of the most common conditions we see. More than two million Australians live with dry eye. It can be temporary or long-term, and the usual causes are:
- Screens: we blink far less when we stare at them
- Contact lens wear
- Age: tear production drops as we get older
- Air-conditioning, heating, and dry or windy weather
- Medications such as antihistamines, antidepressants and blood-pressure tablets
- Blocked oil glands in the eyelids (meibomian gland dysfunction), so tears evaporate too fast
Do these sound familiar?
Dry eye doesn't always feel dry. If any of these are familiar, it's worth an assessment.
Eyes that feel dry, gritty or sandy
Burning or stinging
Itchy eyes, often in the corners
Tired, heavy eyes by the end of the day
Watery eyes. Overflow tears are a common sign, not the opposite of dry eye
Sensitivity to light
Red or inflamed eyes
Crusting or mucus around the lids, especially on waking
Vision that blurs, then clears when you blink
Recurring styes or sore eyelids
Needing to take contact lenses out during the day
Discomfort that gets worse with screens, reading or air-con
You don't have to live with it. Left untreated, dry eye makes reading, driving and screen work harder than they need to be, and blocked eyelid glands can deteriorate over time. Book an assessment and we'll find the cause.
Book nowBlephasteam: a warm bath for tired, dry eyes
Blocked eyelid glands are the most common cause of dry eye, and a warm face washer rarely gets hot enough to clear them. Blephasteam does. Ten minutes of gentle, moist heat softens the blocked oil, then we express the glands. Most people simply close their eyes and relax.
- 10 minutesMost people just close their eyes and relax.
- No downtimeDrive home or head straight back to work.
- $150 first visitIncludes your eyelid assessment and gland expression. Ongoing treatments $100.
Call to book · (08) 9399 5346
Blephasteam is booked over the phone, not through our online booking.
Ready?
Relief is closer than you think.
No referral needed. Book directly with us at the Armadale practice.