Dry Eye Treatment
Dryness, grittiness, or watery eyes? I ask every patient this, because dry eye only gets worse if it's left untreated.
I offer entry-level dry eye treatment that's natural and conservative, and it's had a lot of success for my patients. Dry eye disease is on the rise: it affects up to 73.5% of people over 40, and Australia's ageing population means it's only becoming more common. But it isn't just an older person's condition. More screen time means less blinking, which pushes up dry eye symptoms across every age group.
Dry eye doesn't cause blindness, but it can seriously affect your quality of life, comparable in some studies to living with severe angina. Symptoms vary: vision that fluctuates or blurs after reading or screen time, grittiness, wateriness, stinging, or a foreign-body sensation. Understanding your specific symptoms is what shapes the treatment plan.
Treatment options
Hylo-Forte lubricant drops
My top pick, gentle, preservative-free, and dosed through a pump bottle that gives you the right amount each time.
NovaTears oil-based drops
A great add-on for evaporative dry eye, where moisture evaporates off the eye almost immediately. NovaTears adds an oil component to hold moisture in place for longer.
Optimel Manuka Honey Gel
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, with studies showing improvement in evaporative dry eye after a month of twice-daily use. Only available through select optometry practices, not pharmacies, and it does sting on insertion.
Hot compresses
Specially designed eye masks that heat the glands in your eyelids to improve meibomian gland dysfunction.
Lid debridement
Removes keratinised or dead skin cells from the eyelid margin that block your oily tear glands from secreting properly.
Meibomian gland expression
Clears out unhealthy, blocked oils from your glands so the healthy oils can flow and improve comfort.
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl)
A natural, gentle disinfectant your own immune system produces to fight bacteria. Useful for dry eye, styes, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction, and gentler than Sterilid eyelid cleanser.
Omega-3 nutrition
Improves tear quality and reduces inflammation. Oily fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, trout), chia seeds, and flax oil are good natural sources, or a pharmaceutical-grade supplement like Lacritec if diet changes aren't practical.
Meibomian gland expression, explained
What about eyewear for dry eye?
If windy weather or air conditioning affects your comfort, moisture chamber eyewear is worth trying. Ziena glasses use a replaceable magnetic silicone gasket, in frost or black, that protects your eyes from wind and dust, and 7Eye's AirShield collection pairs a similar seal with a fast-drying fabric lining. EyeEco's TranquilEyes range is a lighter, more affordable alternative, using a small piece of foam that releases moisture to improve humidity around your eyes. This eyewear is also worth trying if you have Sjögren's Syndrome or another condition that causes chronic dry eye. I'm the sole stockist of 7eye, Ziena, and EyeEco west of Sydney CBD. It's best to book a dry eye assessment and try a few on to find what suits you.
Read more about eyewear fitting →Let's take care of your eyes!
By appointment only
Book your eye test with Carina
No referral needed. Medicare rebates apply.