What Is Dry Eye | Cowichan Eyecare

Helping You Understand Dry Eye

Dry, gritty, irritated eyes can make even simple tasks uncomfortable. Whether you’re struggling to focus on a screen, spending less time outdoors, or constantly reaching for eye drops, you’re not alone. Our team looks beyond the surface to understand what’s really causing your discomfort.

With diagnostic technology and a personalized approach with treatments like IPL, LLLT, radiofrequency, plasma pen, and more, we can identify the root of your symptoms and create a treatment plan that brings lasting relief.

Don’t let dry eye disrupt your day. Book your dry eye assessment with Cowichan Eyecare today.

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What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye occurs when your eyes do not produce enough quality tears to stay lubricated and nourished. This can cause symptoms such as:

Burning or stinging
Grittiness or foreign body sensation
Blurry or fluctuating vision
Irritation
Excessive tearing (your body’s response to dryness)

Dry eye is usually chronic and progressive, but it is manageable with the right treatment plan tailored to your needs.

The Role of Your Tear Film

Your tears are made up of 3 layers that work together to protect and nourish the eyes:

Lipid layer: The outermost, oil-based layer that prevents evaporation.
Aqueous layer: The watery middle layer that hydrates and carries nutrients.
Mucin layer: The innermost layer that helps tears spread evenly across your eye.

When one or more layers are not functioning properly, your eyes can become dry, irritated, or inflamed.

Common Types of Dry Eye

Aqueous Tear-Deficient Dry Eye

Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye happens when your lacrimal glands don’t produce enough of the watery (aqueous) layer of your tears. It’s often linked to systemic conditions such as:

Sjögren’s syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis
Thyroid disease
Lupus or scleroderma
Diabetes
Vitamin A deficiency
Certain medications

Evaporative Dry Eye (ED)

Evaporative dry eye is more common and typically results from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). These glands, located along your eyelids, produce the oily layer of your tears. When blocked or inflamed, your tears evaporate too quickly, leading to dry, uncomfortable eyes.

Our team can diagnose and manage MGD in-office using modern imaging and noninvasive therapies that help restore oil flow and reduce evaporation.

Diagnosing Dry Eye

At Cowichan Eyecare, we use a variety of diagnostic tools to determine the type and severity of dry eye you may be experiencing. Your dry eye assessment may include:

LipiView imaging to evaluate lipid layer thickness and gland health
Tear osmolarity testing to check for tear stability
Noninvasive tear break-up time (NITBUT)
Eye surface staining using fluorescein or lissamine green
Blink pattern analysis
Eyelid margin evaluation for signs of blepharitis or Demodex
Patient questionnaires to assess lifestyle and symptom impact

These tools help us build a clear picture of your tear film and guide the most effective treatment options.

Dry Eye Relief Starts with the Right Care

Dry eye is treatable, and you do not have to live with discomfort. Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, our team will walk you through a personalized care plan to help restore your comfort and protect your long-term eye health.

Our dry eye treatments and dry eye spa can help you get relief from dry eye and put your eye health first.

Contact us to schedule your dry eye assessment today!

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