By: Rafael Medina, M.D.
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist at Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region

My eyes are red and itchy feeling. I think I may have dry eye. Is there something I can do besides drops I buy at the store?

A. One of the most common complaints we hear at our office during winter relates to dry eyes. Even patients who have never suffered from dry eyes in the past can suddenly be bothered when the weather becomes chilly.

Dry eyes can have many underlying causes from medical to environmental conditions.

A large portion of people with dry eye suffer due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), also known as evaporative dry eye or lipid deficient dry eye.

Evaporative dry eye occurs when the water in the tears evaporates faster than normal, due to an insufficient lipid (oil) layer on the tear film. This deficiency of oil may result from a blockage in the oil-producing glands in the eyelids.

At Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region, we use LipiFlow ®to help unblock the meibomian glands.

LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation technology applies heat to the inner eyelids and gentle pressure, releasing lipids from the meibomian glands. This procedure is quick and takes place right in our office.

Lipiflow might be the answer if you are suffering symptoms of dry eye. After LipiFlow treatment, many patients do not need to use dry eye drops as frequently or they can eliminate the eye drops completely.

If you think you have dry eye, make an appointment with our office. We’ll test your tears and get you on your way to relief. Dry eye may seem just a bother but left untreated, it can cause permanent eye damage. It’s important to seek treatment.

Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region is an Accredited Dry Eye Center

Call today to schedule an appointment.