Dry Eye Therapy in Denver

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Comprehensive Dry Eye Care

When your eyes are feeling irritated, scratchy, red, or watery, you could be experiencing chronic dry eye symptoms. Dry eye can be a frustrating condition that affects everyday activities and your overall quality of life.

If you think you may have dry eyes, Cherry Creek Eye is here to help. We can diagnose dry eyes during comprehensive eye exams with the help of specific diagnostic technology and provide a variety of treatments to help you experience relief. Our treatment options include OptiLIGHT by Lumenis, punctal plugs, Regener-Eyes, and more.

Visit our team to get started with an exam and learn more about your options for managing dry eyes.

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Dry Eye & The Tear Film

Dry eye symptoms can affect you when your eyes are not producing enough tears or your tears are evaporating too quickly due to a problem with your tear film.

Your tear film has 3 layers:

  • The mucus layer helps keep tears on your eye.
  • The water layer helps moisturize the eye and keep bacteria out.
  • The oil layer helps stop tears from evaporating too quickly.

If any or all of these layers are disrupted, your eyes can become red, dry, and irritated.

Dry Eye Diagnostic Technology

We utilize comprehensive tests and technology to diagnose dry eye disease. Each test is unique in what it analyzes, including your tear film, tear production, and tear breakup time. 

We may use a variety of tests during a diagnosis, or we may use just a single test. At our practice, the dry eye tests we use include an iTrace tear film analysis, automated and subjective TBUT (tear breakup time) testing, and Schirmer’s test. 

iTrace Tear Film Analysis

An iTrace tear film analysis assesses your tear film and the surface of your eyes. The iTrace device is able to create a tear film map using a high-definition camera that helps us understand where tear film dysfunction may be occurring on your eyes.

Tear breakup time (TBUT) is a measurement of how long your tears stay on your eyes. TBUT is often tested by adding dye to your tear film and measured through the number of seconds that pass between the last blink and when a dry spot appears in your tear film.

The Schirmer’s test assesses tear production. The test works by allowing tears to flow onto a paper strip for 5 minutes. We can assess how many tears your eyes are producing based on how much the test strip is affected by moisture from your eyes.

OptiLIGHT by Lumenis for Dry Eye

OptiLIGHT by Lumenis is a light-based, noninvasive treatment done in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye. The first and only IPL FDA-approved for dry eye management.

The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.

OptiLIGHT uses precise pulses of light to reduce the inflammation that is typically associated with dry eye disease, improve tear break-up time, and increase meibomian gland functionality. 

Our Dry Eye Treatments

We use technology to offer several in-office dry eye treatments and other pharmaceutical options, such as drops, wipes, and supplements.

Each treatment is unique, and finding the treatment that works for your case of dry eyes may take some trial and error. In some cases, different treatment options are combined to provide more comprehensive support for your eyes.

At Cherry Creek Eye, we are committed to finding the right dry eye treatment for your needs. We will take the time during our comprehensive eye exams to explain your options for treating dry eye—as well as monitor your progress in managing ongoing dry eye symptoms.

Homeopathic and pharmaceutical dry eye therapies are available for purchase at our office and can be shipped. Please call our office to place an order. Dry eye supplements made by PRN (Physician Recommended Nutraceuticals) are available here.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are small silicone or collagen devices placed into tear ducts to prevent tears from draining out of the eye. This helps keep moisture on the eye, which can relieve the symptoms of dry eye. Punctal plugs can either be temporary or permanent.

Regener-Eyes is a sterile biologic eye drop made of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. These proteins have been shown to reduce inflammation and help stimulate the ocular surface to heal, repair, and regenerate.

These proteins are necessary for cell function, overall health, and homeostasis. They are designed to work with the body to signal anti-inflammatory, healing, and regenerative responses. These types of proteins may alert the body to generate new and fresh cells for quicker, more effective healing.

Autologous serum tears are a blood-derived eye drop that can be used to treat a variety of ocular surface diseases. The mechanism of action of autologous serum drops is to mimic the biochemical properties of natural basal tears to heal the ocular surface epithelium.

An amniotic membrane can be used to help promote healing and reduce inflammation in the surface of your eyes, which can help repair and prevent damage caused by dry eye disease.

TearCare is a device that uses localized heat therapy to provide dry eye relief. The device helps release trapped oils from meibomian glands into the eyes, which can help decrease dry eye discomfort.

Our providers may recommend homeopathic therapies that can provide relief for dry eyes with at-home use.

Some of the homeopathic options we recommend include warm compress masks, omega-3 supplements, and eyelid wipes. These options don’t need to be administered in the office and can be used in between in-office treatments to maintain dry eye comfort, but you should always speak with an eye doctor before using them.

Eye drops prescribed by your doctor are sometimes also recommended for the long-term treatment of dry eye disease. Some examples of these medicated eye drops include RESTASIS, Xiidra and Miebo. Prescription eye drops for chronic dry eye can be administered daily on your own at home with guidance from an eye doctor.

Scleral Lenses for Dry Eyes

Scleral lenses vault over the cornea and rest on the white part of the eye. They can be a great alternative to traditional contact lenses for people affected by dry eye. This is because they help retain moisture in the eye with a fluid reservoir. 

Scleral lenses can be used in combination with some eye drops, as recommended by your eye doctor. For some people, they can also be more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

Let Us Help You Get Dry Eye Relief

Dry eyes can disrupt daily life—but they don’t have to. We want to help you find dry eye relief with a thorough examination and targeted treatments based on your eye health. 

Talk to us about your symptoms today, and let’s take the next step toward managing dry eyes.

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Our Location

Our Address

  • 4999 E. Kentucky Ave., Suite 202
  • Denver, CO 80246

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Why Choose Cherry Creek Eye?

Cataract Surgery Experience

Regain clarity and vibrancy in your vision with our comprehensive cataract surgery services. We use technology and personalized care to help guide you through the cataract surgery process.

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Dedicated Keratoconus Treatment

If you’ve been diagnosed with keratoconus, a condition that affects the shape of your cornea, we offer management options like scleral lenses and intacs to improve your vision and manage the progression.

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Regain clarity and vibrancy in your vision with our comprehensive cataract surgery services. We use technology and personalized care to help guide you through the cataract surgery process.

Cataract Surgery

If you’ve been diagnosed with keratoconus, a condition that affects the shape of your cornea, we offer management options like scleral lenses and intacs to improve your vision and manage the progression.

Keratoconus

Not all eyes are created equal. We specialize in fitting a wide variety of specialty contact lenses for complex vision needs, including keratoconus, astigmatism, and presbyopia.

Contact Lens Exams, Fittings, & Brands
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