Dry eye disease affects up to one in three people and can significantly impact day-to-day eye comfort and vision. It’s a complex, multifactorial condition so understanding the cause is key to finding lasting relief.
At Richard Petrie Optometrists, we offer dedicated dry eye appointments using specialist diagnostic tools to thoroughly assess your symptoms and identify the underlying issues. From there, we tailor a personalised treatment plan to help manage and ease discomfort.
Whether your symptoms are occasional or persistent, we’re here to help you see and feel better with expert care and advanced solutions.
Book your dry eye consultation now
Book online or by phone with one of our experienced team members. All eye examinations are carried out with expert care and attention to detail to ensure the best experience for you.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further details
FAQs
Do you suffer from dry, sore, red or gritty and irritated eyes?
At Richard Petrie Optometrists, we offer dedicated dry eye appointments using advanced diagnostic tools to identify the cause and develop a personalised treatment plan. Our dry eye treatments include a combination of heat therapy, lubricating drops, tailored lifestyle advice, and in-practice procedures such as ZEST and Blephasteam. These treatments act like professional eyelid hygiene sessions—designed to gently cleanse the eyelid margins, remove debris, reduce inflammation, and improve overall eyelid health.
Each treatment session lasts around 45 minutes and begins with a consultation in our dry eye clinic to determine the most suitable approach. If treatment is recommended, we take detailed pre- and post-treatment images to monitor progress.
To prepare the eyes, we often begin with a 10-minute warm-up using Blephasteam goggles. This gentle, moist heat helps loosen debris on the eyelids and lashes, making the treatment more comfortable and effective
What is blepharitis?
Blepharitis is a common condition where the edges of the eyelids become inflamed often leading to symptoms such as redness, itching, irritation, crusting around the lashes, or a gritty feeling in the eyes. It can be caused by a buildup of bacteria, blocked oil glands, or skin conditions like rosacea. Demodex may be present which is a tiny microbe that is present on our skin.
Although it’s a long-term condition, blepharitis can be managed effectively with good eyelid hygiene and professional treatment. At Richard Petrie Optometrists, we offer tailored care plans, including in-practice eyelid cleaning treatments and advice for at-home maintenance to help control symptoms and keep your eyes comfortable. We also offer IPL therapy which can assist with Demodex and Blepharitis management in more persistent cases to prevent long term meibomian gland damage.
Do you sell eye drops?
We stock a range of eyedrops that can help with dry eyes. Whether you need a barrier to reduce evaporation, keep them fresh whilst using screens or more intense lubrication to protect the cornea we advice based on what we find in our clinical assessment.
What is IPL?
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is an advanced treatment for dry eye disease, especially when caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)—a leading contributor to dry, irritated eyes.
IPL uses pulses of light applied to the skin around the eyes to reduce inflammation, improve gland function and improve the natural oil layer of your tears. This helps relieve symptoms such as dryness, burning, and discomfort, and can significantly improve tear quality over time and can give more long lasting relief than eyedrops.
We’re proud to be the first practice in Derby to offer IPL specifically for dry eye, launching the service in April 2025. The treatment is non-invasive, performed in-practice, and tailored to your needs as part of our comprehensive dry eye care programme.