Dry Eye Inflammation Causes & Treatments

Inflammation plays a key role in dry eye disease by disrupting the normal function of the tear glands and tear film. When the ocular surface or tear-producing glands (like the lacrimal and meibomian glands) become inflamed, they produce fewer and poorer-quality tears. This leads to a breakdown of the tear film, causing dryness, irritation, and a self-perpetuating cycle of inflammation.

How Inflammation Causes Dry Eyes:

Inflammation can damage the cells that produce the watery, oily, and mucous layers of the tear film.
It can cause swelling and blockage in the tear ducts and Meibomian glands, reducing tear secretion and quality.
Inflammatory cells release cytokines and other mediators that disrupt the balance of the tear film, further aggravating dryness.

How Drugs Like Cyclosporine Help:

Cyclosporine (commonly sold as Restasis) is an immunomodulatory drug that suppresses the immune response, specifically targeting inflammation in the eyes.
It reduces the activity of T-cells, which are key drivers of the inflammatory process.
By lowering inflammation, cyclosporine helps restore normal tear production, improves tear quality, and prevents further damage to the tear-producing glands.
Over time, this helps stabilize the tear film and relieve dry eye symptoms.

Other drugs like lifitegrast (Xiidra) also target inflammation by blocking a specific protein (LFA-1) that contributes to the inflammatory response in dry eye disease.

TearLab Dry Eye Diagnostics

Our clinic is an accredited dry eye centre providing the latest and most accurate diagnostics in dry eye management. Dr. Skouras is one of the few eye doctors offering the TearLab Osmolarity System in Toronto.

What is Tear Lab ?

The TearLab Osmolarity System is the first objective and quantitative test for diagnosing and treating patients with dry eye syndrome. This system provides fast and accurate results that only requires a small amount of tear film to diagnose dry eyes.

How is Tear Osmolarity Measured with TearLab?

Tearlab is a a faster,more comfortable, non invasive tear film diagnostic than traditional testing. It requires no anesthetics and uses even less tear film than the size of the period at the end of this sentence. A technician will direct you to tilt your head to the side, allowing your tears to collect in the outer corners of the eye. She then uses a small handheld device that absorbs only 50-nanoliters of tears to provide accurate results of the content of your tears. You can watch the TearLab test here

Tearlab then generates an osmolarity number using a scale from normal, mild, moderate, to severe ,that gives accurate interpretation to the level of severity of your dry eye condition.

The osmolarity number provides Dr. Skouras with the best options for treatment, often eliminating the redundant preliminary diagnostic therapy associated with dry eye treatment in patients with severe dry eyes, and allowing treatment with more aggressive treatment options sooner. This allows Dr. Skouras to intervene early in the disease process and provide customized treatment options for individual care.

Once Dr. Skouras has evaluated your osmolarity number and provided you treatment options, a follow-up visit will be provided. Upon this visit, your tear osmolarity will be measured again providing Dr. Skouras with accurate results on your response to that treatment.

Radio Frequency Dry Eye Treatment

Radio frequency dry eye treatment, also known as radio frequency thermotherapy or RF heating, is a non-invasive procedure that can offer several benefits for individuals suffering from dry eye syndrome:

Improved Tear Production: RF treatment can stimulate the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of tears that prevent evaporation. By enhancing gland function, it can improve tear quality and quantity.
Reduced Inflammation: RF therapy can help reduce inflammation in the eyelids and around the eyes, which is often a contributing factor to dry eye syndrome.
Enhanced Comfort: Many patients report experiencing relief from symptoms such as eye irritation, burning, and discomfort following RF treatment.
Long-lasting Results: While multiple sessions may be needed initially, RF treatment can provide long-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms for many patients, reducing the need for ongoing medication or eye drops.
Non-surgical: RF therapy is a non-surgical procedure that is typically performed in-office. It does not require incisions or anesthesia, making it a convenient and relatively low-risk option for managing dry eye.
Minimal Downtime: Patients can typically resume their normal activities immediately after treatment, as there is usually little to no downtime associated with RF dry eye therapy.

It’s important to note that the effectiveness of RF treatment may vary depending on the individual’s specific condition and other factors. Consulting with an eye care professional is essential to determine if RF therapy is a suitable option and to discuss potential risks and benefits.