Dry Eye Therapy in Belgrade, MT

Lasting Relief for Dry, Irritated Eyes

Millions of Americans are living with dry eyes that grate on them day after day. The dry Montana air can make your eyes feel even worse, and so can long hours spent on the computer.

For most people, their dry eyes are related to a problem with their tears. Commonly, it’s due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD happens when the glands in your eyelids, which are supposed to supply oil to your tears, are blocked.

We target the root cause of your dry eyes and create a treatment plan that works for you. Book an exam to get started.

Book a Dry Eye Exam

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment for Dry Eyes

While over-the-counter eye drops can provide brief relief from dry eye symptoms, many people need something more effective. That’s why we’ve invested in intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.

IPL therapy is a gentle, in-office treatment using light energy that is applied in several short sessions spaced out a few weeks apart. IPL works by addressing inflammation related to dry eyes, and by softening the oil in blocked meibomian glands.

State-of-the-Art Dry Eye Diagnosis

We want to treat the underlying cause of your dry eyes, and to do that, we need to learn about your symptoms and go further, by gathering data about your eyes.

We use the Oculus 5M Keratograph to analyze your tears, image your meibomian glands, and learn about the health of the surface of your eyes. This noninvasive test tells us how long your tears take to evaporate on your eyes and gives us other information about the health of your tears.

Based on the evidence we gather, Dr. Parks will provide a personalized diagnosis and develop a targeted treatment plan.

Treating Your Dry Eyes

The best treatment for your dry eyes depends on the cause of your symptoms, and what works for your lifestyle. Here’s an overview of the treatments Dr. Parks may suggest.

OptiLight IPL Therapy

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.

This application can significantly relieve dry eye indicators and has a multi-factorial effect, including:

Increasing tear break-up time
Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
Eliminating blood vessels that contribute to inflammation
Improving meibomian gland functionality

Learn More About OptiLight

Eye Nutrition

Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can provide significant relief from dry eye symptoms. You may get omega-3s from your diet—salmon is a great source—but we also recommend supplementing with Nordic Naturals fish oil capsules.

Eyelid Hygiene

Some patients’ dry eye symptoms are caused or worsened by a buildup of bacteria and other microscopic organisms on the eyes. This is known as blepharitis.

In these cases, we may recommend eyelid hygiene products, including cleansers and wipes.

Eye Masks

Eye masks can be a soothing part of your daily routine when you have dry eyes.

These warming eye masks can soften the oil in your meibomian glands. After use, you may find your eyes feel hydrated and refreshed thanks to more free-flowing oil.

Punctal Plugs

For some patients, their dry eyes are related to their tears draining too quickly from their eyes. In those cases, we may recommend punctal plugs.

These are tiny, rice-sized devices that are inserted into the tear gland to keep tears on the eyes longer, hydrating the eye and relieving the burn of dry eye symptoms.

Give Yourself Relief from Dry Eye Discomfort

You don’t have to put up with dry eyes. With a personalized plan catered to your symptoms, the cause of your dry eyes, and your lifestyle, relief is in sight.

Book an Exam