Dry Eye Treatment in Temple Fortune

Dry, gritty, tired or watery eyes? The right treatment starts with understanding why your eyes feel that way.

At Barnard Levit Optometrists, our team assesses the surface of your eyes, your tears and your eyelids to recommend a plan suited to you. We offer dry eye care at our Temple Fortune practice, including advice for managing symptoms at home and in-practice treatments where appropriate.

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Why can dry eyes water?

Your tears do more than make your eyes wet. A thin oily layer helps stop them evaporating too quickly. This oil comes from glands along your eyelids called **meibomian glands**.When those glands are not working well, tears may evaporate quickly and leave your eyes uncomfortable. Your eyes can then water in response, even though the underlying problem is dry eye.

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Signs it may be time for an assessment

Dry eye symptoms can include:

• A gritty, burning or sore feeling
• Eyes that feel tired after screen use
• Blurred vision that comes and goes, especially between blinks
• Redness or irritation
• Excess watering

These symptoms can have different causes. An assessment helps us work out what is happening before recommending treatment.

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What happens at a dry eye appointment?

We’ll ask about your symptoms, daily routine, health and any treatments you’ve already tried. We’ll then examine your eyes and eyelids and assess your tear film. This helps us identify whether poor tear production, rapid evaporation, eyelid inflammation or a combination may be contributing to your symptoms.

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Your treatment options

Your plan may include lubricating drops, a warm compress, eyelid cleaning and gentle lid massage. These steps often need to become a regular routine. As Professor Simon Barnard explains in our conversation, looking after your eyelids is much like looking after your teeth: an in-practice treatment does not replace daily care.For some patients, we may discuss in-practice options such as **LipiFlow** or **intense pulsed light (IPL)** treatment. Suitability depends on your assessment. We’ll explain what a treatment involves, what you may feel and whether a course of appointments is recommended. Results vary, and ongoing home care may still be needed.

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Why we offer Lumenis IPL for dry eye

Eye drops can ease dryness, but some patients continue to struggle because their tears evaporate too quickly. This often happens when the oil-producing glands in the eyelids are not working as they should.

**Lumenis OptiLIGHT uses intense pulsed light (IPL)** as part of a treatment plan for dry eye associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. It gives us another option when an assessment shows that the eyelid glands and inflammation are contributing to your symptoms.Treatment is usually delivered over a series of short appointments. We’ll first examine your eyes and explain whether IPL is suitable for you, what the course involves and which daily care steps may still help.

Our aim is to improve your comfort with a plan based on the *cause* of your dry eye.

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A conversation with Professor Simon Barnard

In our interview, Professor Barnard explains why watery eyes can still be dry, how the eyelid glands affect tear quality, and why simply buying another bottle of drops may not address every cause of discomfort

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About Professor Simon Barnard

Professor Simon Barnard is Principal Optometrist and Partner at Barnard Levit Optometrists. An independent prescriber with decades of clinical experience, he has a particular interest in dry eye care and helping patients understand the options available to them.

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Let’s find out what your eyes need

If your eyes are regularly uncomfortable, or your current routine is not helping, contact us to arrange a dry eye assessment.

**Call 020 8458 0599** or **email reception@barnardlevit.com**.

Barnard Levit Optometrists

Zamenhof House, 58 Clifton Gardens

London NW11 7EL

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