Dry Eye Treatments
If you suffer with dry, gritty, watery or sore eyes, our dry eye treatments can help to make your eyes feel more comfortable and get rid of any dry or flaky debris that may have built up in your eyelashes or in the corners of your eyes.
We deliver Zest, Nulids and BlephEx treatments depending on your needs. Treatments are like eye 'hygiene' visits, designed to give your eyelids a thorough clean, removing debris from the lash line, reducing the inflammation and improving your overall eyelid health.
Treatment sessions lasts roughly 45 minutes and need to be assessed with a consultation beforehand in our dry eye clinic. If a treatment is indicated we examine and capture 'pre' and 'post' treatment images to assess the success. To best prepare the eye area we often recommended our pre-treatment heat application by wearing a pair of goggles which will gently emit warm heat onto your eyes for 10 minutes, the heat helps to gently loosen and debris from the eyelids and eyelashes to make the treatment more effective.
After your treatment we will discuss best aftercare and follow up with a report which we email or print out for your daily hygiene routine based on the examination.
Most patients benefit from a 6 monthly hygiene visit for their eyes and some opt for more frequent visits.
Dry Eye Assessments
With studies showing that least 1 in 3 of us suffer from chronic dry eye disease, we offer a dedicated specialist evaluation of your Ocular Surface to identify whether you have ‘Dry Eye’, which can actually lead to watery eyes.
Our practitioners have undertaken specialist Dry Eye education and training to assess and identify issues that can affect the surface of the eye. If left, this can lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as red, sore, gritty eyes
Effective treatment plans now offer help to the vast majority of patients with these symptoms
Aftercare
It is important to maintain your treatment aftercare with the use of lid wipes, eye drops and heat mask, all of which we stock in at the practice. It is also recommended that you repeat the treatment every 4-6 months or as frequently as required.
Book your eye test now
Book online or via the phone with one of our experienced specialists. All eye examinations are carried out with the highest hygiene standards to keep you and our team safe.
Book an ExamFrequently Asked Questions
What is Blepharitis?
In simple terms, Blepharitis is when your eyelids become inflamed. Oils and other products that are secreted by the eyes and the eyelids can build up on the lid and the eyelashes, causing irritation and redness.
Symptoms of Blepharitis include eye irritation, burning, watering, foreign body sensations, dry debris, dryness and redness.
You may be more susceptible to dry eyes if you have another dermatological condition, like Psoriasis or Eczema. It’s more likely to occur in the winter months, when you’re going from the cold air outside into warm rooms with the central heating on. It can be more common in older people, too.
Unfortunately, there is no cure, but the condition can be treated and managed successfully.
How Can You Stop the Effects of Blepharitis?
Blepharitis can be managed with a good eyelid hygiene routine.
Because symptoms can recur, it’s a really good idea to get into a good routine and stick to it, like you would with brushing your teeth, combing your hair or cleaning your glasses!
Where Can I Get Help With my Blepharitis?
Lots of GP appointments are used by patients looking for advice for their dry eyes. As with many eye conditions, a visit to the optometrists is more useful. Because we specialise in eyecare, we’ve got lots of training to spot conditions like Blepharitis and we’ve invested in new treatments to help people along.
We have recently started a brand new Dry Eye Clinic which is like a deep-clean for your eyelids and we offer products that you can take home to keep up a good lid hygiene routine.
What Happens at The Dry Eye Clinic?
The Dry Eye Clinic at Richard Petrie Optometrists is an assessment of the ocular surface. If you could benefit form a treatment you can have a 'hygiene' visit for your eyelids and lashes. Think of it like a routine scale and polish at the dentist or a wash and blow-dry at the salon!
The treatment is are Zest, Nulids or BlephEx and your optometrist will recommend the relevant treatment depending on the examination. Treatments give your lids a really deep clean to get rid of any build-up of debris and then you can take some products home so that you can keep up a good lid hygiene routine with a report for your reference.
Depending on the severity of your dry eyes, you can choose to repeat the procedure every 4-6 months or as frequently as required.
Here’s what happens during a treatment for dry eyes:
- Arrive at the practice and get a nice cup of tea.
- You will be taken to the treatment room and given a special pair of goggles to wear. The goggles emit a gentle, warm heat onto your eyes for 10 minutes. This helps to loosen any debris from your lashes.
- Your eyelids are cleaned using a gentle scrub, to get rid of any debris that’s still hanging on.
- A final wipe and the debris is gone!
- You can choose from drops and an eye mask or lid wipes that best suit your ongoing routine.
How Much Does the Treatment Cost?
A Dry Eye Clinic appointment at Richard Petrie costs £86 and the initial appointment lasts around 45 minutes including an array of diagnostic assessments and tests to investigate the surface of the eye.
Treatment costs vary and are payable in addition to the initial assessment.
For more information on Blepharitis, treatments for dry eyes, or to book an appointment for our Dry Eye Clinic, give us a call on 01332 291010, or fill in our enquiry form online.