If you’re tired of your eyes feeling irritated, watery, and uncomfortable, find out how our team can help.
Aurora Eye Care’s dry eye clinic in Grande Prairie offers medically-focused treatments including Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy, Radio Frequency (RF) treatment, and pharmaceutical options for patients with chronic dry eye disease.
Book an appointment with our team today.
Dry eye disease develops when your tear film, the thin tear layer that covers your eye’s surface, doesn’t have the ingredients it needs to keep your eyes comfortable.
There are 3 different ingredients in your tears, including:
Several factors can contribute to dry eye disease, including age and overall health. Our team can develop a relief plan based on what’s causing YOUR symptoms using various diagnostic technologies.
The risk of developing dry eye disease can increase in several different ways. Some of the most common risk factors include:
Dry eye symptoms can vary from person to person. Over time, severe dry eyes will adversely affect your cornea. The most common dry eye symptoms include:
Dry eye disease is often caused by an imbalance in the tear film, leading to discomfort and irritation. There are 2 types of dry eye: evaporative dry eye and aqueous tear deficiency. Evaporative dry eye is the most common, with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) being its leading cause.
Some other factors contributing to dry eyes include environmental conditions, prolonged screen time, and certain medications.
One of the most common causes of dry eye disease is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
MGD is a condition characterized by blockages in your meibomian glands, which line your eyelid margins. Your meibomian glands are responsible for producing the oil content used for sealing in your tear film. Without oils, your tear film evaporates more quickly than normal, leading to dry eye disease.
Before we can begin treating your dry eye disease, we have to take a thorough look at your eyes and determine what may be causing your symptoms.
Dry eye disease is often chronic, and the issues causing your symptoms may develop again over time without regular treatment. We’re committed to finding the most comprehensive solution for your dry eye symptoms. With the help of our diagnostic technology, we can develop a relief strategy custom to your needs.
Did you know IPL & RF also treat fine lines and wrinkles? Learn more below.
Our first step is always an eye exam. During an eye exam, we’ll get a complete view of your eye health using technologies that examine your retina, cornea, eyelids, and more.
The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) is a 12-item questionnaire designed to help our team get a clear understanding of your symptoms and how they may be affecting your vision.
Schirmer testing is a technique we use to help measure the tears present on your eye surface.
The test involves a thin piece of filter paper being placed on the inside of your lower eyelid. Over a short period, your tears wet the paper, and we measure the moisture content to determine the extend of your dry eye.
Measuring your tear osmolarity is a common technique we may use to determine what is causing your dry eye symptoms.
Osmolarity refers to the salt content in your tears. If your tears have too much salt content, they may not be lubricated enough, or your tears evaporate too quickly.
Meibography is an imaging technique that helps us get a clear view of your meibomian glands.
Observing your meibomian gland structure can help us develop treatments for meibomian gland disease.
Aurora Eye Care is committed to providing medically-focused, research-based dry eye management strategies. Many ways exist to help alleviate dry eye symptoms, but we can recommend the right strategy when you visit us for a dry eye consultation.
Book your consultation today!
Pharmaceutical treatments include various medications we can offer to help manage your dry eye symptoms.
These treatments come in eye drops, gels, wipes, and heat masks. Pharmaceutical treatments can also be performed safely at home, bringing convenience and comfort to your dry eye treatment.
Take a look at our treatments below, or give our team a call to book a consultation. We can help determine which treatment may be best for your eyes.
Thealoz Duo is a preservative-free eye drop we can recommend to help manage moderate to severe dry eye cases.
These drops alleviate dry eye symptoms by using a unique combination of trehalose (a type of sugar) and hyaluronic acid, chemicals that work together to hydrate your cornea and conjunctiva.
Recent research has discovered that omega-3 fatty acids can help stimulate oil production in your meibomian glands, managing symptoms associated with evaporative dry eye.
TG Gold Omega 3’s are a medical grade supplement, which is critical to ensuring the body receives the proper dose of Omega 3 in a form that is easy to absorb. Most Omega 3 supplements are not medical grade. While they do no harm, our bodies do not absorb enough to make them an effective treatment option.
Liposic tear gel is a clear gel that spreads over your cornea and conjunctiva, managing irritation caused by dry eye symptoms.
The I-MED I-RELIEF mask is a heat mask that you rest/place over closed eyes. The mask is designed to melt away blockages in your meibomian glands and provide relief from evaporative dry eye.
I-MED Lid n’ Lash Wipes is a product to help clean away dirt and bacteria that builds up on your eyelid margins, causing meibomian gland dysfunction.
Cleaning your meibomian glands can help reduce the risk of eyelid issues like blepharitis, styes, and chalazion.
I-MED I-DROP PUR is a preservative-free eye drop we may recommend to help treat mild to moderate dry eye symptoms.
I-MED I-DROP PUR GEL is an eye gel we may recommend to help treat moderate to severe dry eye. This gel contains more hyaluronic acid than the I-MED I-DROP PUR eye drops, which can help stabilize the tear film in severe dry eye cases.
At Aurora Eye Care in Grande Prairie, we provide comprehensive medical treatments for dry eye disease, tailored to alleviate discomfort and restore your eye health.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy is a treatment for dry eye disease that utilizes broad-spectrum light to target and reduce inflammation and abnormal blood vessels in the eyelids. This therapy helps to improve the function of the meibomian glands, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy tear film. IPL therapy can reduce symptoms such as redness, irritation, and discomfort associated with dry eye by enhancing tear production and stability.
Radio Frequency (RF) therapy for dry eye uses electromagnetic waves to generate heat, which stimulates the meibomian glands in the eyelids. This heat helps to liquefy and release trapped oils, improving the quality of the tear film and reducing dry eye symptoms such as irritation and discomfort. RF therapy promotes better gland function, enhancing tear stability and eye lubrication. This heat will also help to stimulate collagen production, skin regeneration, and promote anti-inflammatory mediators. One side effect of this treatment is the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles.
Combine your dry eye treatment with relaxing aesthetics technologies and enjoy a newfound confidence boost, all at Aurora Eye Care.
That’s right—there are several aesthetics treatments we can offer in conjunction with our dry eye treatment. Find out if these options are right for you when you book an appointment with our team today.
Aesthetics technology targets deep layers of your skin to help stimulate collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and blood vessels. These issues can also happen around the eye area, which we could treat in conjunction with your dry eye treatment.
There is also the option to add-on our aesthetics treatments for the whole face and not just the eye area.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is also a popular aesthetic treatment for the face, chest, and hands. It targets pigmentation, sun damage, and vascular lesions, promoting a more even skin tone and texture. IPL also stimulates collagen production, reducing fine lines and improving skin elasticity. This non-invasive treatment can rejuvenate the skin, giving it a clearer and more youthful appearance with minimal downtime.
Radio frequency (RF) can be used for aesthetics by using the same electromagnetic waves to heat the deeper layers of the skin on the face and neck. This stimulates collagen and elastin production, leading to tighter, smoother, and more youthful-looking skin. RF therapy effectively reduces wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging, enhancing overall skin tone and texture without the need for invasive procedures or significant downtime.
Vivier is an innovative skincare brand with over 20 years in the industry. Their products are manufactured in North America, use high quality ingredients, and are medical grade. It can only be sold by a medical director, doctor, or nurse.
The products work very well and have been tested (and loved) by the partners at our clinic. We don’t bring in products unless we have tried it and loved it!
If you’re ready to make a change, call Aurora Eye Care to book your consultation at our dry eye clinic in Grande Prairie today! We look forward to helping you find more comfort and ease in your daily life.
Dry Eye Disease is a common condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears, or when the tears evaporate too quickly. When the tear film becomes unstable, it can lead to symptoms such as: Burning , Gritty or sandy sensation, Fluctuating or blurred vision, Redness, Excessive watering.
The most common cause is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), where oil glands in your eyelids become blocked. Other factors include aging, medications, contact lens use, digital eye strain, and Alberta’s dry climate.
In addition to a thorough dry eye questionnaire, we perform comprehensive diagnostic testing. This includes meibography to assess the health of your oil glands, evaluation of tear film stability, and examination of the cornea to identify any damage caused by dryness. We also carefully review your medical history and current medications to help determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan.
Intense Pulsed Light therapy uses broad-spectrum light to reduce inflammation and abnormal blood vessels in the eyelids, improving meibomian gland function and tear film quality.
RF therapy uses electromagnetic waves to generate heat that liquefies and releases trapped oils in meibomian glands, improving tear quality while also stimulating collagen production and reducing fine lines.
Yes! Our IPL and RF treatments reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and vascular lesions around the eyes and face while treating dry eye. We offer full-face aesthetics add-ons with these treatments.
We offer Thealoz Duo preservative-free drops, TG Gold Omega-3 supplements, Liposic tear gel, I-MED I-RELIEF heat masks, I-MED Lid N’ Lash wipes, and I-MED I-DROP PUR drops and gel.
Yes, Grande Prairie’s cold, dry northern climate can worsen dry eye symptoms, especially in winter when indoor heating further reduces humidity. Our treatments are designed to provide relief in these conditions.
Treatment duration varies by the type of therapy. IPL and RF sessions typically take 30-45 minutes. Pharmaceutical treatments are ongoing at-home care. We’ll create a customized plan for you.
Yes! Vivier is a medical-grade skincare line with over 20 years in the industry, manufactured in North America. It’s only available through medical professionals and has been tested and loved by our clinic partners.
Yes, screen time reduces blinking rates, leading to tear evaporation and dry eye symptoms. We offer computer glasses with blue-blocking coatings to help reduce both digital strain and dry eye.
Dry eye is often chronic, requiring ongoing management. However, with proper treatment including IPL, RF, and pharmaceutical therapies, most patients experience significant long-term symptom relief.
Yes, contact lens wear is a common dry eye risk factor. Lenses can reduce oxygen to the cornea and increase tear evaporation. We offer specialized contact lenses for dry eyes and dry eye treatments to help contact lens wearers stay comfortable.
Yes! Our medically-focused, research-based treatments including IPL therapy, RF treatment, and pharmaceutical options provide significant relief for most patients. We identify the root cause of your dry eye and create a customized treatment plan.
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