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New Location Coming Soon in North York: 31 Rexdale Blvd., Unit 3112, Toronto ON M9W 0G5

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Dry Eye Specialists in York, Toronto

We are committed to providing you with healthy, clear and comfortable vision. We are proud to offer the Dry Eye Treatment Centre at Dr. Pink Sidhu and Associates. Our personalized treatment plans are tailored to your unique condition and lifestyle with the ultimate goal of helping you manage your condition.

Dry Eye is a long-term chronic disease that takes years to develop and may worsen if it left untreated.

Dry Eye occurs when the eye does not want to produce tears properly, or when the tears are not of the correct consistency or evaporate too quickly.

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If you suffer from any of these symptoms you may benefit from a visit to our Dry Eye clinic:

  • Dryness or sandy, gritty sensation
  • Discomfort and irritation
  • The feeling of a foreign body
  • Redness
  • Tiredness or heavy eyelid feeling
  • Fluctuations in vision or
  • Sensitivity to light

Watch this YouTube Video on Dry Eyes and its Symptoms.

  • Excessive tearing
  • Fatigue/Eyelid Asymmetry
  • Blepharitis
  • Hordeolum
  • Episodes of Blurred Vision
  • Stinging and Burning


There are Primarily 3 Forms of Dry Eyes

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Evaporative Dry Eye (MGD) +

Dry Eye, primarily the Evaporative form, affects 80% of cases due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). This arises from inadequate tear surface oil caused by blocked Meibomian glands, leading to faster evaporation. MGD, the leading cause of dry eyes, results from malfunctioning oil-secreting glands along the upper and lower eyelids. Roughly 25-40 glands exist in the upper eyelid and 20-30 in the lower. These glands produce meibum, an eye-surface oil, crucial for tear stability and prevention of evaporation. Malfunction leads to low oil output and poor secretions, resulting in dry eyes from an unstable tear film. MGD encompasses Evaporative and Inflammatory Dry Eye.

Causes of MGD:

  • Blinking: When blinking, upper and lower eyelids exert pressure, causing Meibomian glands to release oil. This is vital for stable tear film. Unfortunately, increased screen time and digital device use lead to partial blinking, where eyelids don’t fully touch. Incomplete blinks lead to underutilized and subsequently clogged and dysfunctional Meibomian glands. Prolonged reading or computer use reduces blink rate.

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Aqueous Deficient +

Blinking helps distribute tears across your eye’s surface, maintaining moisture, cleanliness, and overall health. Insufficient tear production leads to a condition called aqueous tear-deficient dry eye, characterized by eye pain, redness, and vision issues.

Causes include:
  • Age: Tear gland function tends to diminish with age.
  • Sjogren’s syndrome: This autoimmune disease affects tear and saliva glands, resulting in both dry eyes and mouth. It involves the immune system mistakenly attacking the body. Women are more commonly affected, and it’s often linked with rheumatoid arthritis, another autoimmune condition. About 10% of dry eye cases are associated with Sjogren’s syndrome.

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Combination Evaporative Dry eyes & Aqueous Deficiency +

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In Combination Evaporative and Aqueous Deficiency Dry Eye, the patient experiences symptoms of both types, which may include dryness, discomfort, redness, itching, and blurred vision. The condition can be more challenging to manage since it involves addressing issues with both the oil and watery components of tears. Treatment may involve a combination of strategies to improve tear production and reduce evaporation.


We customize treatment plans specifically for you!

It is important to treat the underlying disease as early as possible. If left untreated, meibomian gland dysfunction can become meibomian gland atrophy, which can most likely cause permanent irreversible damage to your glands. Thus, leaving you powerless and living with a poor quality of life.

We do Meibography at your Dry Eye Consultation. It is a test for evaluating meibomian gland health, crucial for assessing dry eye syndrome. It uses infrared imaging to capture detailed pictures of these glands in the eyelids. This helps diagnose meibomian gland dysfunction, a common cause of dry eye. The images guide tailored treatment.
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FDA and Health Canada approved RF Forma and IPL Lumecca +

MGD with Forma RF:

Forma I RF (Radiofrequency) is a technology developed by In Mode that has shown promise in addressing dry eye symptoms. It involves the application of controlled radiofrequency energy to stimulate the production of collagen in the tissues around the eyes. This treatment aims to improve the function of the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oily layer of tears that prevents evaporation and keeps the eyes lubricated. By promoting collagen production and improving the health of the meibomian glands, Forma I RF seeks to alleviate the discomfort associated with dry eyes. The procedure is non-invasive and is intended to enhance tear film stability, reduce inflammation, and relieve dry eye symptoms.

IPL Lumecca:

Experience the transformative power of light with Inmode IPL Lumecca, a cutting-edge Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment designed to address a wide range of skin imperfections and enhance your skin’s natural radiance. Lumecca’s advanced technology targets pigmentation irregularities, redness, and sun damage, promoting a more even complexion and revitalized skin.

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Amniotic Membrane +

The Amniotic membrane introduces growth factors that will improve the compromised corneal feedback loop system to allow for better ocular surface management. This in turn, should allow for other dry eye treatments to work better too ( the use of eyedrops, prescriptions, orals and/or expressions). Think of it as a way to “boost” or upregulate the cornea to “ do better”.

Therapeutic Benefits:

  • Anti-fibrotic
  • Anti-angiogenic
  • Promote re-epithelialization
  • Anti-microbial (Anti-viral & Anti-bacterial)

A membrane is applied to the front corneal surface, much like a contact lens would be inserted. A contact lens would be inserted to secure the membrane in place. It is removed 3- 7 days later. Your doctor will likely prescribe an eye drop to use for the next few days. The degree to which the membrane breaks down is in proportion to the degree of corneal compromise. Your cornea will take as much as it needs from what the membrane has to offer.

Tears in Chronic Dry Eye:

Dry Eye+IPL+RF+Membrane

  • Decrease in many proteins
  • Decreased growth factor concentration
  • Altered cytokine balance promotes inflammation
  • Soluble mucin 5AC greatly decreased
    • due to goblet cell loss
    • Impacts viscosity of tear film
  • Proteases activated
  • Increased electrolytes

Healthy Tears:

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  • A complex mixture of proteins, mucin and electrolytes:
    • Antimicrobial proteins:
      • Lysozyme, lactoferrin
      • Growth factors & suppressors of inflammation: EGF, IL-1RA
    • Soluble mucin 5AC secreted by goblet cells for viscosity
    • Electrolytes for proper osmolarity
Punctal Plug

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Dry Eye Punctal Plugs +

Punctal Plugs are small devices that are inserted into the tear ducts to block drainage of tears to allow your own tears to stay on the eye surface for a longer time, to increase the amount of tears in the eye.

Types of Plugs:

  • Dissolvable Plugs – These are made from collagen and can last from a few days to a few months
  • Temporary/Semi-Permanent Plugs – Made from silicone or hydrogel and last for years, these plugs can be used after laser correction or for seasonal sufferers

Supplements, Vitamins Flat Icon.

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Nutritional Supplements +

Supplementing with Omega-3 can decrease dry eye symptoms and the inflammation that is found in dry eyes. It is important to know that not all Omega-3 supplements are the same. The amount of the important ingredients (DHA and EHA) can be significantly different from one brand to another, and some forms of Omega-3 are made to absorb better in the body. Click here to buy Omega-3

Eye Drop (1)

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At-Home Treatments +

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Artificial tears provide Dry Eye relief by lubricating and providing moisture to the surface of the eye. Artificial tears come in a variety of formulations, strengths and preservatives.

Depending on your dry eye condition, certain eye drops will work better than others. Preservative free eye drops are the best at relieving dry eye symptoms. Click here to buy Artificial Tear Supplements

  • Preservative Free Drop – Preservative free artificial tear eye drops provide Dry Eye relief by lubricating and providing moisture to the surface of the eye. Artificial tears come in a variety of formulations, strengths and preservatives.
  • Nighttime Ointment: Using a nighttime ointment or gel for dry eyes before bed can be very effective. These thicker formulations provide longer-lasting lubrication and can help protect your eyes overnight when you’re not blinking as frequently.
  • Warm Compressions – Applying warm compressions with a heat mask can help unclog blocked oil glands and improve tear quality.
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Restasis (Cyclosporine) +

Restasis (cyclosporine), a prescribed topical medicine that influences the lacrimal glands to produce more tears via increasing mucin production and decreasing inflammatory cells.

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Prescription Pharmaceuticals +

Dry Eye is often caused by systemic inflammatory conditions. steroid-based drops are effective at treating the inflammatory condition by targeting the underlying inflammatory mediators in the eye. Steroid- Based eyedrops and/or Oral medications may be used to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Ortho K

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Scleral Lenses +

Standard contacts can aggravate an extreme case of dry eye, making them almost unbearable to wear.

Scleral lenses leave a space between the surface of the cornea and the lens which acts like a tear reservoir, preventing moisture from evaporating and keeping the eye hydrated throughout the day.

Scleral lenses can also be used to treat high astigmatism and irregular corneal surfaces like keratoconus.

Click here to learn more about Scleral Lenses.

Click Below For Our Patient Resources

I-LID 'N LASH INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
HOT AND COLD THERAPY EYE MASKS WITH THERMABEADS INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

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New Location Coming Soon in North York: 31 Rexdale Blvd., Unit 3112, Toronto ON M9W 0G5