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Dry Eye Syndrome is characterized by itching, burning, gritty, red eyes. There are many causes for Dry Eye and, consequently there are many treatments.

Your tears serve many important functions. They wash out debris, keep your eyes moist and have special enzymes that neutralize microorganisms that colonize your eyes. Tears are made up of three layers, the lipid, aqueous and mucus layers. The lipid layer is the outer oily section, the aqueous layer is the watery middle part, and the mucus layer is the inner section closest to your cornea. The layers are produced by different glands in your eyelid and a problem with any of them can cause dry eye syndrome. If left untreated, dry eye can cause tissue damage and scarring of the cornea, leading to major vision problems.

There are many factors that can cause dry eyes. Age, certain medications, insufficient blinking, chemical composition of tears and environmental factors like sunlight, wind, dust and smoke. Dry Eye is also the number one complaint of people who wear contact lenses. With all of these potential causes there are also a variety of ways to treat dry eyes.

Artificial tears drops can help simulate tears in your eyes, reducing redness and clearing vision. Wearing sunglasses, cleaning furnace and air conditioning filters, avoiding smoke and using a humidifier can also help you reduce dryness. If you are having problems with a medication or if you wear contact lenses and are experiencing dry eyes, consult with your eye care provider to explore other options.

Because of the wide array of causes and solutions for dry eye, make sure to visit with your eye care provider to determine the best solution for you.

Corneal Molding, also know as Ortho K or OrthoKeratology is a non surgical procedure used to temporarily reshape the cornea. Some mild cases of near sightedness and astigmatism can be treated by simply changing the shape of the cornea, to correct the way it refracts light. 

A specially designed contact lens, which is rigid and gas permeable, is made specifically for your eye. This lens can be worn during the day or overnight. The lens itself is fitted so that it places gentle pressure on the center of the cornea, causing it to change shape. The outer part of the lens surrounds your central visual zone and is further away from the surface of the eye. The combination of the pressure at the center and space around the outer part causes a reshaping of your cornea. With your cornea reshaped the light can now focus properly on the retina at the back of the eye.

The process is painless and not permanent, so retainer contacts must be worn periodically to maintain the shape of the cornea. This also makes the process completely reversible, simply stop wearing the retainers and your cornea will return to its natural shape.

Corneal Molding is a non-invasive alternative to corrective surgery. Ask your eyecare provider for information to see if you qualify for Corneal Molding.