Summerland Optometry has a customized approach to diagnosing and treating dry eye disease with both in office procedures and at home treatment options.
Traditionally, we’ve provided many at home treatment options for our patients including; preservative free lubricating eye drops, warm compresses, prescription eye drops, eyelid cleaners, omega 3 fatty acids, and hypochlorous sprays. Many people find great relief from these options, but unfortunately, for many patients, these traditional treatments are not enough to alleviate their symptoms.
Fortunately, there are new treatments available. Our newest in office procedures include IPL (Intense-Pulse Light), RF (RadioFrequency) and BlephEx Lid Exfoliation.
TAKE THE DRY EYE QUIZ CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS
Dry eye disease is a common condition that occurs when your eyes aren’t producing enough lubrication to keep them moist and comfortable. If left untreated for long periods of time it can cause damage to the eyes and cause vision problems. The goal of our optometrists is to properly diagnose and treat your dry eye before this happens.
There are four main causes of dry eye disease: meibomian gland dysfunction (most common), insufficient tear production, corneal compromise, blepharitis and demodex and ocular rosacea.
Regardless of why your eyes are dry, the results are the same: discomfort, irritation, stinging or burning, red or watery eyes, sensitivity to light and discomfort while wearing contact lenses.
Dry eye disease is a multifactorial dysfunction of the ocular surface characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film. With a series of targeted diagnostic tests and a careful case history, we can better determine the cause(s) of your dry eye.
Our dry eye assessment includes:
After completing our Dry Eye Assessment, our team will work with you to find an individual treatment plan to help improve your symptoms and comfort.
Traditionally, we’ve provided many at home treatment options for our patients including: preservative free lubricating eye drops, warm compresses, prescription eye drops, eyelid cleaners, omega 3 fatty acid supplementation, and hypochlorous sprays.
For many patients, these traditional treatments are not sufficient to alleviate their symptoms. Our doctors have extensive training and are passionate about staying current with innovated technology and the best treatments available.
Fortunately, more advanced technology exists and we are excited to provide dry eye therapy from InMode to our patients – Forma-I Radiofrequency (RF) and Lumecca Intense pulse light (IPL). These are non-invasive, efficient and effective treatments using state of the art technology.
MODE Lumecca Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment works to control inflammation. IPL treats ocular rosacea, meibomian gland dysfunction, and inflammatory dry eye. IPL delivers high intensity light to the skin which is used by dermatologists to treat pigmented and vascular lesions.
For our dry eye patients, we use a custom designed handpiece which allows us to treat around the eyelids. When IPL is used around the eyelids, it directly targets the small blood vessels of the eyelids which are causing chronic inflammation. It has also been shown to decrease demodex and bacteria load on the eyelids. This increases the function of the meibomian glands, thereby leading to better oil production and a reduction in dry eye symptoms.
The benefits of IPL: reduction in age spots, reduced freckles, reduced sunspots, reduction in small blood vessels on the face ‘spider veins” commonly seen in rosacea and reduction in dry eye symptoms, targeting the inflammatory component of dry eye.
It has been recently approved by Health Canada as a safe effective treatment for blepharitis, ocular rosacea and dry eyes.
See Lumecca in Animation
Radio frequency (RF) is a non-invasive skin treatment that has been used in dermatology for decades.
It delivers targeted heat to the deeper layers of the skin. This reduces fine lines and wrinkles and stimulates new collagen and elastin production. Improving the skins overall appearance. For our dry eye patients we treat both the upper and lower eyelids. RF delivers targeted heat to the meibomian glands which melts away any blockages and greatly enhances their function. Poorly functioning meibomian glands are one of the biggest causes of dry eye disease.
The main benefits of RF are: safely heating meibomian glands for expressions, tightening existing collagen at the dermal level and stimulating the production of NEW collagen in the deeper dermis.
The Forma Eye has also been recently approved by Health Canada as a safe and clinically proven treatment for dry eye.
See Forma-I in Animation
Zest is an eyelid and eyelash deep gentle cleansing and exfoliating treatment that lifts and clears oils, debris, and bacteria biofilm from your eyelid margins (like a deep shampoo for your eyelids).
It also helps to calm and soothe inflammation caused by dry eye and blepharitis. The zest treatment is done by one of our ocular hygienists. During the ZEST dry eye treatment, we will first put on a warm eye mask for a few minutes while listening to relaxing music. Next an okra-infused gel is applied using a sterile cotton tip applicator to gently exfoliate the eyelid margin to remove debris and biofilm (bacteria and demodex). The procedure is painless and is similar to going to the dentist for a dental cleaning to remove plaque off your teeth. After the procedure, the biofilm, similar to plaque, can still build up on your eyelids and eyelashes. We recommend ongoing lid hygiene at home and periodic zest treatments every 6 months. “
BlephEx Treatment is a painless in-office procedure that cleans the eyelid.
It uses a spinning medical grade micro-sponge along the edge of your eyelids and lashes, removing scurf and debris and exfoliating your eyelids. It will commonly be added to your treatment plan if there is a bacterial or demodex mite infestation of your eyelids. It also does a great job of cleaning the meibomian gland openings, allowing the meibum (oil) to flow freely.
Demodex are tiny mites that commonly reside in our hair follicles and sebaceous glands.
The cause of chronic blepharitis can sometimes be secondary to a Demodex infestation of the eyelid follicles. Your optometrist will be able tell by examining your eyelashes if there is an overpopulation of the demodex mites.
The information below applies to all the information contained on the summerlandoptometry.ca Website.
The users of this Website agree to comply with the terms set out below.
Summerland Optometry owns and operates a Website at summerlandoptometry.ca (hereinafter referred to as the “site” or “Website”). Summerland Optometry® trademark except as otherwise noted on the site, which is accessible to all users (hereinafter referred to as the “user” or “users”). Refrain from using this Website unless you agree to comply with the conditions.
Information on this Website is intended for informational purposes only and has no contractual value. Summerland Optometry reserves the right to modify the content of this site. At any time, without prior notice. Summerland Optometry assumes no liability for errors or omissions in the content of this Website or for information reliability or completeness of said information.
Information published on this Website is based on marketing, statistical or commercial services or other sources the Summerland Optometry considers reliable and are the sole responsibility of their authors and not of Summerland Optometry. We do not assume any liability for the accuracy or completeness of said information and in no circumstance should this information be regarded as such. Opinions and information as presented on this site reflect our position as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice.
Summerland Optometry, its employees and directors will not be liable for damages incurred as a result of the information published on this site, for the views and advice published, expressed or implied regardless of its nature.
Summerland Optometry expressly refuses any and all responsibility for the manner in which the user of the site may use the information contained, in any decisions that may be made and in the actions that may or may not be taken based on said information.
Presentations made and contained on this site are the intellectual property of Summerland Optometry. Reproduction in whole or in part of this site on any other medium in prohibited without the express permission of Summerland Optometry.
User may solely use the information contained on this site for personal use. Reproduction in whole or in part of said information on paper may only be performed for personal use. Said information is not to be copied, distributed or transmitted to third parties nor may it be inserted in a document or other medium.
The links to external Websites and their content shall not be prejudged and Summerland Optometry will in no way be held responsible for any direct or indirect prejudice that may result from gaining access to and usage of said sites.
Summerland Optometry draws the attention of the user to the fact that all communication transmitted through this Website remains in the public domain and not the private domain. Summerland Optometry cannot accept responsibility for the security of the transmission of information.
The confidentiality and integrity of the information circulating over the internet cannot be ensured. Summerland Optometry cannot accept responsibility in the case that data contained on this site is intercepted.
Summerland Optometry site uses cookies. These cookies are small text files saved on the hard disk of a user's computer. These files are completely harmless and cannot contain viruses. These cookies are used to analyze visits to the site. Summerland Optometry calls upon Google Analytics to help track how users use the site. The number of visitors, path taken to access the site and length of each visit are measured. The cookies cannot, in any way, identify the user. All data is completely anonymous and compiled solely for the purpose of improving the site and tailoring the content to the needs of its visitors.
The person responsible for the protection of personal information is the owner of : Summerland Optometry
Summerland Optometry makes no representations that the content of this site is free of infections, viruses, worms, Trojan horses and/or other codes with contaminating or destructive properties. It is the user's responsibility to take protective measures.
Under no circumstances shall Summerland Optometry be held responsible for transmission errors of any sort, such as loss of or damage to data, or changes of any type whatsoever, including direct or indirect damage resulting from the use of the services provided on this site.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the province of British Columbia.
Any dispute arising of this Agreement shall be brought before the court in the judicial district of
Summerland Optometry's head office.
Address:
13225 N Victoria Road
Summerland, BC
V0H 1Z0;
Tel: 250 494-9266.
Summerland Optometry
13225 N Victoria Road
Summerland, BC
V0H 1Z0
Tel: 250 494-9266
Thank you for visiting summerlandoptometry.ca (the “Website”), provided to you by Summerland Optometry (“We”). We respect the privacy of every individual who visits the Website and are sensitive to privacy issues on the Internet. We believe it is important that you know how we deal with information received about you.
This privacy policy (the “Privacy Policy”) explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect the personal information of our customers and Website users ("you"), describes the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide to us, and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information. The Website is for general audiences and is not specifically targeted to or intended for use by children.
We will only use your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy unless otherwise required by applicable law. We take steps to ensure that the personal information that we collect about you is adequate, relevant, not excessive, and used for limited purposes. Privacy laws in Canada generally define "Personal Information" as any information about an identifiable individual, which includes information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person.
By accessing or using the Website, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy, and you are consenting to our processing of your information as set out in this Privacy Policy. We may modify or update this Privacy Policy from time to time; if we change this Privacy Policy in a manner that materially impacts your privacy rights, we will provide a notice to you. Your continued use of the Website or our services after any modification to this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such modification. However, when required by law, we will confirm your consent to the revised Privacy Policy terms. This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and considered a part of the Website Terms and Conditions of Use, located here
We collect and use several types of information from and about you, including:
The information we collect directly from you may include:
We use your information, including your Personal Information, to manage our business and to maintain and develop commercial relationships with you. We will collect, use, and disclose such information only to the extent that is necessary for those purposes.
We use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any Personal Information:
We will not rent or sell your information to third parties without your consent. We only share your data as specifically provided in this Privacy Policy.
In addition to any disclosure you may have consented to or permitted under the terms of this Privacy Policy, we may transfer your data, including Personal Information to third parties in the following limited circumstances:
We are committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, availability and privacy of your Personal Information. We have put appropriate physical, technological and procedural security measures in place designed to help prevent your Personal Information from being lost, used, modified or accessed in an unauthorized way, or improperly disclosed. Examples of such measures include restricted access to offices, training of personnel, using passwords and well-defined internal policies and practices. We also use encryption technology and Secure Socket Layers ("SSL") in all areas of the Website where your personal account information is required.
In addition, we limit access to your Personal Information to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need-to-know. They will be required to process your Personal Information only on our instructions and they are subject to an obligation of confidentiality. Our service providers are required to maintain adequate security protections in place designed to help safeguard your Personal Information and are not permitted to use it for any purpose other than fulfilling services to us.
If you have any questions about securing your personal data, please contact us in accordance with the “How to Contact Us” section below.
We will retain your Personal Information for as long as it is needed:
We may retain non-personal information that has been sufficiently aggregated or anonymized for a longer period.
Once the retention period is over, we will dispose of your Personal Information as provided for in our internal data retention and disposal policy.
We use facilities operated by "Amazon Web Services" and located in Canada as our information storage and processing infrastructure. Our service providers can also, from time to time, store your Personal Information in accordance with purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact us at 250 494-9266.