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94 | SIGNATURE MONTANA TO YOUR HEALTH TEXT BY DR JUSTINE REDLIN Now that winter and the cold weather have arrived in Montana, do your eyes water whenever you go outside? If yes, you actually have a type of dry eye disease. Dry eye is a common term used to describe a range of ocular surface conditions that cause irritation to the eyes. Dryness and burning are generally the feelings most people associate with dry eyes. Still, there are a variety of other symptoms, such as watering, itching, feeling like something is in the eye, tired eyes, and blurred or fluctuating vision. For this reason, dry eye can be complicated to diagnose and treat because not everyone needs or responds well to the same treatment. Diagnosing the type of dryness a patient has is vital to geing the best treatment and symptom relief. ere are multiple layers to tears, but two layers, the watery and oily portions, account for the majority of dry eye disease. If your eyes are not making enough of the watery portion, artificial tears can help with the symptoms, and prescription drops can increase the tears your eyes produce. e more common type of dry eye is due to a lack of the oily portion of the tears. is layer is the top layer of your tears and holds your tears on the eye, so they don't evaporate too fast. When the oily layer is deficient, tears evaporate quickly, and the eyes compensate by producing more of the watery portion. is accounts for the watering and can also cause blurry vision due to an unsmooth surface on the front of the eye. e oily layer of the tears is produced by glands in the eyelids called meibomian glands. eir openings are located right behind the eyelash follicles and can be impacted by everything used around the eyes, including makeup, aesthetic lashes, and eyelid hygiene. Most people are familiar with brushing their teeth; however, it is equally important to clean your eyes too! Eyelid cleansers and in-office ocular hygiene treatments can make a big difference in overall visual comfort. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) causes a lack of the oily layer in tears. ese glands can become inflamed and obstructed, resulting in reduced flow. ere are ways to improve MGD. • Decreasing inflammation with intense pulse light (IPL) is a recently FDA-approved treatment for dry eye. • Optilight is an easy, in-office procedure that decreases inflammation over a few months. It's non-invasive and allows for a quick return to work following treatment. • Lipiflow is a treatment therapy that clears obstructions in the glands by using heat and pulsation to remove blockages and stagnant oil from poorly functioning meibomian glands, offering relief and ensuring a much healthier eye surface. Again, not everyone needs all these treatments, but a specific dry eye diagnosis and treatment plan can make a huge difference in eye comfort and improve daily activities and work. Chronic & How to Treat It For more information on dry eye or to schedule an appointment, contact Treasure State Eyecare in Great Falls. 406-727-9160 Dr. Justine Redlin, co-owner of Treasure State Eye Care. Residency trained in ocular disease management. Specializing in dry eye disease, comprehensive vision care, contact lens fittings and surgery co-management. S MT DRY EYES

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