What is Dry Eye Disease? | Salisbury Eyecare & Eyewear

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Eye comfort is one of those things you might never really think about until it’s been affected. One of the leading causes of eye discomfort is dry eye disease. Dry eyes are incredibly common, but depending on your eye health history, medical conditions, or the climate you live in, you might be at a higher risk of experiencing its symptoms.

So, what can we do to help? Salisbury Eyecare & Eyewear is proud to feature a stunning variety of dry eye treatment options, some of which are designed to treat issues like meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis.

Dr. Denton has always had a desire to practice medicine in a way that allows her to be personable with her patients and get to know them, which is what led her to optometry. When opening her optometry practice in downtown Salisbury, she vowed to offer the best patient experience and the best products for her patients, which led her to bringing advanced treatment therapies to her practice. Dr. Denton has treated dry eye syndrome for 12 years, but quickly grew tired of only being able to offer medicated drops and artificial tears as a band aid solution. As a result, Salisbury Eyecare and Eyewear now offers many different treatment modalities for its dry eye patients, including options from each of Dr. Denton’s “3 buckets” (at-home therapies, insurance-eligible in-office treatments, and advanced treatments). Having so many different options for treatment available and a kind, caring team who really listens to their patients all at one office allows Salisbury Eyecare to make sure patients are truly heard and provide them with solutions that make a noticeable improvement in their daily life. Dr. Denton refers to this method of treating patients as Interventional Dry Eye and is working with other specialists in her field to pave the way for better, more complete care for her patients and dry eye sufferers across the country.

Dr. Denton has brought some of the most advanced dry eye solutions to Salisbury and is known internationally for her work managing complex dry eye cases. So if you’re ready to see what the patient journey may look like for you, we suggest following the links below to our patient process page, our treatments page, or book your appointment today!

The Dry Eye Exam Process

Our Dry Eye Treatments

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Dry Eyes & Your Tear Film

Dry eyes predominantly affects the stability your tear film. Your tear film is responsible for providing your eyes with the hydration and comfort you need to enjoy your vision. However, some conditions can affect your tear film’s integrity, causing to dry eye disease.

There are 2 common types of dry eye you can experience: aqueous tear deficiency (which is the lack of quality tears) or evaporative dry eye (which is a lack of lipids preventing evaporation).

The tear film is made of 3 distinct layers:

Mucus Layer

Mucus is the innermost layer of a person’s tear film. It helps the rest of the film adhere to the eye’s surface and spread evenly across it. Goblet cells, conjunctival epithelial cells, and, to a lesser extent, lacrimal glands, all help produce this layer.

Aqueous Layer

Sandwiched between the mucus and lipid layer is water, scientifically known as the aqueous layer. Water is essential for keeping your eyes hydrated while also washing away foreign particles on the surface of your eye. The lacrimal glands are responsible for producing this layer and are located just above your eyelid area.

Lipid Layer

Lipids, or oils, make up the outermost layer of the tear film. They help seal in the rest of the layers and prevent them from evaporating. This layer is produced by meibomian glands located around the edges of your eyelid. Still, some medical conditions prevent the production of a stable lipid layer, leading to dry eye disease.

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Causes & Symptoms

Causes

There are many different causes for this condition, including:

Aging
Medical conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
Medications with dry eye side effects
Allergies
Poorly fitted contact lenses
Side effects from laser eye surgery (however, this is a common occurrence during the healing process)
Eye conditions like meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis

Symptoms

Some of the more common symptoms include:

Light sensitivity
Blurry vision
Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Redness
Wateriness
A feeling of burning, stinging, or even grittiness on the surface of your eye

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction & Blepharitis

Some of the most common causes of dry eyes are conditions like meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and blepharitis. These issues directly affect your meibomian gland’s ability to create a sustainable lipid layer for your tear film, causing instability in the other tear layers.

These issues could lead to hyperosmolarity, inflammation, swelling, crusting, and possible surface damage. Certain medical conditions can also increase the chance of developing MGD, including:

Conjunctivitis
High cholesterol
Eyelid infections
Skin conditions (rosacea, acne, and seborrhoeic dermatitis)

Medications for glaucoma management, estrogen replacement, and acne can also contribute to MGD development. However, you can manage these symptoms with simple eyelid hygiene techniques that we can happily supply if you’re struggling with these symptoms!

What Should You Do Next?

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms described on this page, we highly suggest contacting Dr. Denton and her team at Salisbury Eyecare & Eyewear to book an appointment. Her time treating dry eye disease has earned her a spot as one of the leading optometrists specialized in dry eye in the country, and she’s ready to serve you!

If you want to take a peek at what the dry eye process could look like for you, you can take a look at our dry eye process page for more information!

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How To Find Us

We are located at the corner of Council and Jackson Street in a Victorian home. Our office is nestled behind St. John’s church and next to First Baptist church.

Parking Options

There is street parking available on Council street in front of our office. There is also a parking lot available across Jackson street in the First Baptist church lot.