For Doctors - Chosing Dry Eye Treatments to Use

Ophthalmologists have specified that the two main goals in treatment of dry eye patients are rehydrating and protecting the ocular surface.

When selecting treatments for moderate/severe dry eye consider the treatments' ability to provide continuous relief, their ability to be used long-term, with a reasonable dosing frequency and longer length of time that they will stabilise the tear film.

1 Simple Lubricating Eye Drops

The temporary and mild sensations of dry eyes can often be addressed by inexpensive and easy to administer eye drops. The low side effect profiles are excellent for simple lubricating eye drops. If a patient uses the drops more that 4 times per day they should be upgraded to...

2 Gels, Ointments for Persistent Dry Eyes

Modern viscous gels are easy to administer, long lasting and sterility is maintained generally by gentle preservatives. This has made them increasingly popular with Ophthalmologists in recent years.
Ointments are a longer established treatment which are now useful only for for overnight protection because of the prolonged vision blurring that they cause.

In England the NHS prescription charge is now £7.20 per item for anyone not exempt. Most dry eye products can be obtained without prescription for much less.

If a patient wears contact lenses or shows any signs of sensitivity to preservatives they should be upgraded to...

3 Preservative-Free drops for Sensitive Dry Eyes

Approximately 15% of eye drop doses used in Great Britain do not contain preservatives because there is a growing understanding of the need to avoid preservative interactions in the eye.
Preservatives can be important to help eye drop bottles last for 28 days after first opening by killing the microbes that can infect the eye dop solution. However some preservatives could also harm the eye surface if they are continuously held in contact with it. This can occur with very frequent dosing of eye drops or with soft contact lenses which can absorb the preservative molecules and prolong their exposure to the eye surface.

4 Hot compresses, Lid Hygiene measures for Blepharitis

The importance of a healthy oily tear layer produced by the Meibomian Glands along the eyelid margin has focused attention on eye lid hygiene.
Easing of blocked and congested Meibomian Glands has been revolutionised by the warmable compress mask. Invented by Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Teifi James, this simple treatment accompanied by regular lid cleaning can make an important difference in restoring the essential oil balance in the tear film.

5 Referral to Ophthalmologists

Optometrists and GPs are increasingly empowered to manage general dry eye conditions. In persistent or complex cases though, referall to specialist Ophthalmologists is called for.

6 Surgery and Plugs

When all other approaches have failed the occlusion of Puncta may be helpful. Cautery or silicone plugging of the Puncta reduces drainage and may help to increase break up time to acceptable levels.

Full picture of the LUMECARE range