Dry, burning, watery, or irritated eyes can make everything from reading and driving to working on a computer less comfortable. If these symptoms keep returning despite using artificial tears, the problem may involve more than simply not producing enough tears. Dry eye can develop when your eyes produce too few tears, when tears evaporate too quickly, or when conditions such as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) interfere with a healthy tear film.
At his practice in Amarillo, TX, Dr. W. John Murrell provides comprehensive dry eye evaluations and personalized treatment for the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms. A board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Murrell combines his extensive knowledge of the eyes and eyelids with advanced dry eye technologies, including Envision and LipiFlow, to help improve tear-film health and provide lasting symptom relief when appropriate.
How Do Tears Work?
Dry, burning, watery, or irritated eyes can make everything from reading and driving to working on a computer less comfortable. If these symptoms keep returning despite using artificial tears, the problem may involve more than simply not producing enough tears. Dry eye can develop when your eyes produce too few tears, when tears evaporate too quickly, or when conditions such as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) interfere with a healthy tear film.
At his practice in Amarillo, TX, Dr. W. John Murrell provides comprehensive dry eye evaluations and personalized treatment for the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms. A board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Murrell combines his extensive knowledge of the eyes and eyelids with advanced dry eye technologies, including Envision and LipiFlow, to help improve tear-film health and provide lasting symptom relief when appropriate.
How Do Tears Work?
Tears keep the ocular surface lubricated. They do so with three key ingredients: oil, water, and mucus. The oil layer is the outermost layer of the tear film. This layer keeps tears from evaporating too quickly. The Meibomian glands produce the oil in tears.
Water makes up the middle layer of the tear film. It is the most substantial layer and cleanses the eye by washing away foreign particles. The water in tears comes from the lacrimal glands located in the eyelid.
The innermost layer of the tear film is made of mucus, which helps water and oil adhere to the ocular surface. This part of the tear film is made in the conjunctiva.
The layers of tears are produced by the appropriate glands in proportions that help maintain adequate moisture. When you blink, the tear film spreads across the eye and the glands involved in tear production are stimulated.
Why Does Tear Quality Matter?
Tears need all three layers to perform their function effectively. Without the right balance between oil, water, and mucus, your eyes can become irritated, and the ocular surface may not remain adequately lubricated.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eye can develop for many reasons. Tear production and tear-film stability can change as you get older. Hormonal changes may also contribute to dry eye, which is one reason symptoms can become more noticeable for women during and after menopause.
Healthy Meibomian glands release oils that help keep tears from evaporating too quickly. When these glands become obstructed or function poorly, the tear film may become unstable, allowing moisture to disappear from the eye’s surface more rapidly.
Certain medications may contribute to dry eye symptoms by affecting tear production or tear-film stability. These can include some antihistamines, blood pressure medications, diuretics, sleep aids, and other prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Dry eye generally involves one or a combination of problems with the glands around your eyes:
- Lack of tear water
- Lack of or dysfunctional Meibomian oil glands
- Both insufficient tear water and tear oil
Not All Dry Eye Is the Same
Dry eye is not a single condition with one universal treatment. Some people have aqueous-deficient dry eye, meaning their eyes do not produce enough watery tears. Others have evaporative dry eye, in which tears are produced but disappear from the eye’s surface too quickly. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is a common contributor to the evaporative form.
You can also have features of both types at the same time. This is one reason simply using more artificial tears may not provide lasting relief. Dr. Murrell evaluates the different components of your tear film and the health of your eyelids and Meibomian glands before recommending treatment. Identifying what is actually disrupting your tear film allows your care to target the underlying problem rather than relying exclusively on temporary symptom management.
What Are Symptoms of Dry Eye?
Symptoms of dry eye can include:
- Stinging or burning eyes
- Stringy mucus in or around the eyes
- Excessive tearing
- Increased irritation in windy or smoky conditions
- A scratchy or gritty sensation
- Discomfort while wearing contact lenses
Am I a Candidate for Dry Eye Treatment?
You may be a good candidate for LipiFlow if poor tear quality related to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is contributing to your dry eye.
When the Meibomian glands are not functioning properly, too little oil may reach the tear film. Without an adequate oil layer, tears can evaporate faster, contributing to burning, irritation, fluctuating vision, and other dry eye symptoms.
Before recommending LipiFlow, Dr. Murrell examines your tear film and Meibomian glands to determine whether gland dysfunction or obstruction is contributing to your dry eye symptoms.
Certain eye conditions or circumstances may mean LipiFlow is not appropriate. This can include ocular surgery or an eye injury within the previous three months.
LipiFlow may not be appropriate if you currently have an eye infection or have recently experienced certain ocular infections, including ocular herpes. Dr. Murrell will review your eye health and medical history before treatment.
Certain eyelid conditions, including significant entropion, ectropion, or ptosis, may also affect whether LipiFlow is appropriate for you. A comprehensive evaluation allows Dr. Murrell to determine the safest and most suitable approach.
Envision Treatment for Dry Eye
For appropriate cases, Envision provides another advanced option for managing dry eye associated with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and inflammation around the eyelids. The Envision platform uses technologies designed specifically for the delicate periorbital area, allowing treatment to address factors that may contribute to an unstable tear film.
Envision may be particularly useful when inflammation is part of your dry eye picture. Depending on your evaluation, Dr. Murrell may recommend Envision, LipiFlow, at-home care, or a combination of approaches based on the specific factors contributing to your symptoms.
Including Envision on the main dry eye page also gives you a clearer picture of the advanced options available at Dr. Murrell’s Amarillo practice rather than presenting LipiFlow as the only in-office technology.
LipiFlow Treatment for Dry Eyes
Dr. Murrell uses advanced technology to diagnose and manage dry eye associated with oil-gland dysfunction. By taking photos and videos of your eyes, he can evaluate the ocular surface and show you findings that may be contributing to your symptoms. He then works with you to create an individualized dry eye treatment plan.
Dr. Murrell completed his ophthalmology residency at Texas Tech University, which has a history of dry eye research. His extensive ophthalmology experience allows him to evaluate dry eye in the context of your overall eye health.
What Is LipiFlow?
LipiFlow is an FDA-cleared medical device for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System uses a single-use activator to apply controlled thermal energy to the inner eyelids while delivering gentle pressure.
The combination of warmth and pulsation helps address material obstructing the Meibomian glands.
By applying controlled heat and gentle pressure to obstructed Meibomian glands, LipiFlow is designed to help the glands release their natural oils more effectively and improve the quality and stability of the tear film.
The system is designed with features and sensors that help protect important structures of the eye, including the cornea.
What Are the Benefits of LipiFlow Treatment for Dry Eye?
LipiFlow may be particularly helpful if you’ve tried conservative treatments but continue to experience symptoms related to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Rather than simply adding moisture to the eye, LipiFlow addresses obstructed Meibomian glands that may be contributing to excessive tear evaporation. Improving oil flow can help create a more stable tear film and reduce dry eye symptoms for appropriate candidates.
How Is LipiFlow Different From Other Dry Eye Treatments?
Artificial tears and warm compresses can be useful parts of dry eye management, but their effects may be temporary when Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is driving your symptoms. LipiFlow directly targets obstructed glands to address this common source of evaporative dry eye.
The right approach depends on what is causing your symptoms, which is why a dry eye evaluation is important before choosing treatment.
Additional FAQs About LipiFlow
Schedule a Consultation for Dry Eye Treatment in Amarillo, TX
Persistent dry eye can have several causes, and finding the right treatment begins with determining what’s affecting your tear film. With decades of experience in ophthalmology, Dr. W. John Murrell can evaluate your eye health, identify factors such as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
To learn more about dry eye treatment in Amarillo, TX, schedule a consultation with Dr. Murrell by calling (806) 351-1177.
