Do You Wake Up With Dry Eyes?

Millions of Canadians live with the gritty, burning discomfort of dry eyes day in and day out. If you’re one of them, we’d love to bring you relief from your symptoms.

Our comprehensive diagnostic testing can help find the source of your dry eyes so we can create a treatment plan that makes sense for you.

We use targeted light energy and gentle heat at our dry eye spa to stimulate tear production and tackle dry eyes at their root cause: inadequate tears.

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Dry Eye Quiz

What Causes Dry Eyes?

In most cases, dry eyes occur because your tears evaporate too quickly or you don’t have enough of them. Either way, this lack of tears leaves the sensitive surface of your eyes open to irritation and inflammation.

There are many potential causes behind this disruption to your tears, but the most common culprit is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). When we assess dry eyes, we take a detailed photo of your meibomian glands to see if they’re clogged or otherwise not producing the proper amount of oil.

We also look at the surface of your eyes through a slit lamp and use special eye drops to see how long your tears take to evaporate. We’ll also discuss your symptoms, overall health, and lifestyle.

Unsure if you have dry eye? Take the quiz below to find out!

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IPL+Red Light Therapy (LLLT)

Our eye spa uses proven technology to stimulate the production of better-quality tears to help relieve persistent, frustrating dry eye symptoms.

IPL therapy works by delivering a series of short, intense pulses of light to the skin around the eyes. This light energy is absorbed by the blood vessels and the surrounding tissue, which heats them up. The heat from the light therapy helps to improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the production of oil from the meibomian glands in the eyelids. By improving the function of the meibomian glands, IPL therapy can help to reduce the symptoms of dry eye disease, including discomfort, dryness, redness, and blurred vision. Following IPL we use a low-level red light (LLLT) which stimulates cellular metabolism, increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and promote healing

Vitamins for Dry Eyes

Omega-3 fatty acids are highly beneficial for relieving dry eye symptoms. Include omega-3s in your diet by enjoying cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring, and seeds and nuts like chia seeds, flaxseed, and walnuts.

Omega-3s are also available as supplements, both in versions derived from fish and vegetarian versions from algae.

Learn more about nutrition for your eyes.

Dry Eye Treatment FAQs

Which medications are contraindicated with IPL therapy for dry eye?

Some medications make your skin more sensitive to light, which raises the risk of burns during IPL. Common ones include oral isotretinoin (Accutane), tetracycline antibiotics like doxycycline, certain diuretics, and St. John’s Wort. Bring a full list of your medications and supplements to your consultation — in many cases we can still treat you with adjusted settings or timing.

Do I need to avoid sun exposure after IPL treatment?

Yes. Treated skin is more vulnerable to UV damage and pigment changes. Avoid direct sun and tanning beds for about two weeks before and after each session, and wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily. If you arrive with a fresh tan, we may need to reschedule.

How many IPL treatments are needed for dry eye, and how often?

At One Vision Eyecare, our standard protocol is four treatments spaced one to two weeks apart, followed by a single maintenance treatment at six or twelve months depending on the severity of your dry eye. Each session builds on the last, improving meibomian gland function progressively, so completing the full series gives you the best results.

Is IPL dry eye treatment covered by insurance in Ontario?

IPL isn’t covered by OHIP, but many private extended health plans do cover it. Call your provider and ask specifically about intense pulsed light therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction. We’re happy to provide detailed receipts, and IPL is typically an eligible Health Spending Account expense. See our Insurance & Payment Information page for more.