Dry Eye Symptoms & Affordable Treatment | Seattle

How do you know if you have dry eye disease?

Patients at our Seattle eye clinic commonly report these key symptoms of dry eye disease:

• Gritty sensation: A sandy or gritty feeling upon waking up or after prolonged screen time (common in Seattle’s dry climate).
• Foreign body sensation: Persistent dryness, irritation, or discomfort, as if something is stuck in your eye.
• Excessive tearing: Ironically, watery eyes while reading, driving, or in Seattle’s windy weather can signal dry eyes.
• Contact lens intolerance: Discomfort or dryness when wearing contacts, even for short periods.
• Blurry vision: Temporarily unclear vision that improves after blinking, especially during tasks like computer work.
• Redness or stinging: Eyes that appear red or burn later in the day, often linked to screen use or Seattle’s seasonal allergens.

Dry Eye Disease (DED): A Chronic, Underdiagnosed Condition

Dry Eye Disease (DED) is both a common and chronic condition, affecting countless individuals, including many in Seattle, who remain unaware they have it. Patients often report eye discomfort that worsens late in the day (or persists all day), yet most don’t recognize these signs as chronic dry eye or know how to treat it effectively.

At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, our experienced optometrists specialize in diagnosing and managing dry eye disease using advanced, personalized tools. While terms like ocular surface disease, superficial keratitis, or meibomian gland dysfunction are sometimes used interchangeably with DED, they represent specific facets of the same complex condition.

Why Early Intervention Matters

• Progression Risk: Like most chronic conditions, untreated dry eye disease often worsens over time.
• Our Approach: Our Seattle eye doctors focus on halting this decline by addressing root causes, reducing inflammation, and helping eyes heal naturally.
• Long-Term Goals: We aim to phase out treatments gradually, ensuring care remains affordable and sustainable for our patients.

Myth-Busting: Dry Eyes in Seattle’s Rainy Climate
You might wonder: “Does dry eye disease even exist in rainy Seattle, Washington?” While arid regions like New Mexico or Arizona have higher rates, DED remains prevalent here due to factors beyond humidity:

• Screen time & indoor heating
• Seasonal allergens
• Aging populations
• Contact lens use

Thousands in Western Washington suffer silently with undiagnosed dry eyes. At Cannon EyeCare, we prioritize non-invasive therapies to restore ocular balance (homeostasis) and reserve long-term medications as a last resort.

Dry Eye causes and treatment:

Dry Eye Disease arises from multiple factors, and effective management requires restoring function to affected tissues, not just masking symptoms. At Cannon EyeCare in Seattle, we prioritize root-cause solutions over temporary fixes like artificial tears. Our multifaceted approach addresses the complexity of ocular surface diseases, including meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Primary Causes of Dry Eye

1. Insufficient Tears: Often linked to dehydration.
2. Poor Tear Quality: Caused by clogged meibomian glands (oil-producing glands in eyelids).
3. Exposure: Incomplete blinking (common with screen use) or sleeping with eyes open leads to tear evaporation.

Why We Skip LipiFlow

While LipiFlow (a $1,100+ treatment) is popular in Seattle clinics, we avoid it due to high costs and single-use waste. Instead, we use proven, affordable methods:

• At-Home Warm Compress & Lid Massage (Dr. Cannon’s protocol).
• NuLids Technology: A $50 in-office treatment to boost healing.
• Thermal Expression: Now offered at our Pike Place office (summer 2023).

Dr. Cannon’s Two-Step Treatment for Clogged Glands

Background: Clogged meibomian glands (50 per eyelid) cause poor oil flow, leading to rapid tear evaporation, irritation, and blurry vision.

Step 1: Warm Compress

• Use a hot washcloth (shower-temperature water) or a Bruder Mask.
• Apply heat for 5–10 minutes to melt stagnant oil. Avoid microwaves/kettles to prevent burns.

Step 2: Lid Massage

• Roll your index finger like a “rolling pin” from the outer to inner lid edge (toward the pupil).
• Apply firm, pain-free pressure. Focus on upper/lower lids (3 rolls per section).
• Pro Tip: Think of squeezing toothpaste from a tube!

Frequency: Twice daily for 2 weeks, then once daily for maintenance.

Key Supporting Strategies

• Hydration: Drink 2+ quarts of water daily.
• Artificial Tears: Use as prescribed.
• Prescription Drops: For severe cases (determined by your Seattle optometrist).

Why Choose Cannon EyeCare?

• Affordable Care: Skip costly devices like LipiFlow with our $50 NuLids + at-home protocols.
• Local Expertise: Serving Seattle patients since 2006, Dr. Cannon’s methods target meibomian gland dysfunction sustainably.
• Science-Backed: Combines thermal expression, hydration, and lid hygiene for lasting relief.

Finally, here is some info on NuLids from NuSight Medical:

Cannon EyeCare in Seattle now offers NuLids, an FDA-cleared, doctor-guided device for treating dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), blepharitis, and Demodex mites—all in just 1 minute per day.

How NuLids Works

• Spa-Like Therapy: Gently exfoliates eyelids, unclogs oil glands, and reduces bacterial biofilm—like an “electric toothbrush for your eyelids.”
• Versatile Use: Applies solutions (artificial tears, antimicrobial gel, or tea-tree oil) based on your diagnosis.
• Fast Results: Many Seattle patients report relief after 1 session, though optimal improvement may take 3–6 weeks.

Why Choose NuLids?

1. At-Home Convenience: Compact, travel-friendly, and easy to use (even with eyes closed!).

2. Clinically Proven: Used at Cannon EyeCare since 2020 to restore gland function and reduce inflammation.

3. Affordable: $300 one-time cost includes:

• The NuLids device
• Training session with our Seattle optometrists
• 10ml NuLids Revitalize Gel (ideal for MGD)

In-Office Trial: Try Before You Buy

• $50 Lid Deep-Clean: Experience NuLids during a dry eye evaluation at our Pike Place clinic.
• No Pressure: We recommend NuLids only if our doctors confirm it’s right for you.

Conditions NuLids Treats

• Dry Eye Disease (with/without mites)
• Blepharitis (crusting, redness)
• Demodex Mites (itchy lashes, styes)
• Chronic MGD (clogged oil glands)

Please note: NuLids pricing is accurate as of this writing, June 2023.