If you’ve been dealing with dry, irritated, or burning eyes, especially during Newmarket’s long, dry winters or high-pollen spring days, you’re not alone. Chronic dry eye is one of the most common eye conditions seen by optometrists, but many people are unaware of its complexity.
At Dr Elmalem and Associates, we use advanced dry eye treatments like IPL and LipiFlow® to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms.
What Is Chronic Dry Eye?
Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or when the tears you do make aren’t doing their job properly. That might mean they evaporate too quickly, or they’re missing key ingredients (like oil) that help keep your eyes comfortable and protected.
What makes it chronic? In short, it’s when the symptoms don’t go away, and in many cases, they get worse over time. Unlike occasional dryness from allergies or a long day of screen time, chronic dry eye is a medical condition that usually stems from inflammation, blocked tear glands, or underlying health factors.
What Causes Dry Eye in Newmarket?
Living in Newmarket means experiencing four distinct seasons, and unfortunately, each one brings its own dry eye triggers.
- Cold, dry winters are notorious for drying out your eyes, especially when combined with indoor heating that zaps moisture from the air.
- In spring and fall, allergens like pollen can irritate your eyes and make symptoms worse.
- Summers, while humid, often include extended AC exposure, which creates a drying effect, especially in office settings or vehicles.
On top of that, screen time is a major culprit, and most of us don’t even realize how little we blink while scrolling, working, or watching TV. Blinking helps spread healthy tears across your eyes, so when your blink rate drops, dryness sets in.
One of the most common medical causes of dry eye is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)—a condition where the tiny glands along your eyelids become blocked. These glands are supposed to release the oily part of your tears, which keeps them from evaporating too quickly. If they’re clogged, your tears can’t do their job properly, no matter how many drops you use.
Common Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye doesn’t always feel the same for everyone, and that’s part of what makes it so frustrating. Some people describe a gritty or sandy feeling, like there’s something stuck in their eye. Others experience stinging, redness, or blurry vision that comes and goes. Here are some of the most common signs of chronic dry eye:
- A burning, stinging, or scratchy sensation in the eyes
- Redness or irritation
- Sensitivity to light (especially outside or while driving)
- Blurry vision, especially when reading or using a computer
- A feeling like something is in your eye
- Excessive tearing (yes, dry eye can actually cause watery eyes!)
- Eye fatigue or discomfort after short periods of focus
If you’re experiencing these symptoms regularly or if they worsen with the seasons, it may be time to explore targeted treatment options.
Why Over-the-Counter Drops Aren’t Enough
Artificial tears can provide temporary relief, but they aren’t designed to address the root cause of dry eye. That’s a key reason why so many patients come into our clinic saying, “I’ve tried everything, but my eyes still feel dry.”
Most drops only replace moisture for a short time. They don’t clear blocked glands, reduce inflammation, or improve tear quality.
Dry Eye Treatments at Dr Elmalem and Associates
Our eye doctors use advanced technology to treat dry eye at the source. If you’ve been relying on eye drops with little to no relief, our non-invasive, in-office therapies may offer the long-term comfort you’ve been missing.
Lipiscan® Meibography
Before we treat your dry eye, we need to understand why it’s happening. Lipiscan Meibography is a fast, high-resolution imaging test that lets us view your meibomian glands.
Darwin IPL®
Darwin IPL® (Intense Pulsed Light) is a modern, high-precision treatment that targets inflammation—one of the key causes of chronic dry eye. It works by gently applying light pulses to the skin around the eyes, reducing abnormal blood vessels and improving oil gland function. This not only relieves inflammation but also encourages the glands to produce healthier tears.
Espansione Eye-Light®
For patients needing more intensive care, we offer Espansione Eye-Light®, which combines IPL with Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) in a single, streamlined session. It’s an ideal solution for moderate to severe MGD, especially when symptoms flare up seasonally or worsen with age.
LLLT (Low-Level Light Therapy)
LLLT uses soothing red and near-infrared light to gently warm the meibomian glands and reduce inflammation. It works deep beneath the surface of the skin to stimulate cell regeneration and unclog the glands that produce the lipid layer of your tears.
LipiFlow® Therapy
LipiFlow® is one of the most well-known, clinically proven treatments for MGD, and for good reason. It uses a combination of gentle heat and pulsed pressure applied directly to the inner eyelid to melt and clear gland blockages. The goal is to get your glands working again, so your eyes stay comfortable without the need for constant drops.
Dry eye relief isn’t one-size-fits-all, but with the right tools and the right team, it is absolutely possible.
Book Your Dry Eye Consultation in Newmarket
The Dr Elmalem and Associates team is here to help you see clearly, feel better, and live comfortably. With advanced diagnostics and cutting-edge treatments, we make dry eye relief a practical and real solution.
Serving patients across Newmarket from our locations in Thornhill and Maple.