If you are experiencing dry eye, our eye doctors recommend using warm compresses morning and night.
Hot or warm compresses are a simple, effective, and easy to use home care method for alleviating symptoms of dry eye, particularly for those with MGD-caused dry eye. As with any at-home treatment, however, it is advised to consult with our eye care professional before use.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please call us at (423) 710 3965 to schedule a dry eye evaluation.
Warm compresses are soothing for the eyes, and can quickly provide relief. The moisture hydrates the eyes, reducing grittiness, and the warmth from the compress relaxes the eye, relieving pain and muscle spasms which can be caused by dry eye. Additionally, the compresses can loosen clogged oil in your tear glands, which results in better quality tears, which in turn will reduce dry eye symptoms.
At home warm compresses are not a replacement for in office heating and expression of the meibomian glands. Warm compresses are a great additional tool in between treatments in the office. There are three main reasons why at home warm compresses are not as effective.
Some of these in-office treatment options include Systane iLux, Tearcare, Lipiflow, Ocusoft One Touch and Mibo Thermoflo, each of which utilises specially designed devices to precisely apply heat directly to the affected areas. These treatments are typically quick, and provide long-lasting relief.
At our office Amplify EyeCare Chattanooga we provide treatments using the Ocusoft One Touch. This is a non-invasive, pain free treatment that is administered by a technician and our optometrist. The patient wears the One Touch for 10-20 minutes, following which our optometrist will manually express the meibomian glands, freeing them up from clogged oil. Treatment will take place over 2-4 sessions as determined by our eye doctor, following which the patient will be sent home with a warm compress, eyelid wipes, omega 3 vitamins, and eye drops that are lipid based.
While warm compresses can be effective for treating your dry eye at home, there is more to it than simply soaking a washcloth in warm water. Using a compress like that for a few minutes is generally not so effective since it cannot sustain the warm enough temperature for long, while another common household item, rice bags, emit a dry heat when warmed that is less helpful for clogged meibomian glands. People who try these types of compresses are often disappointed with the results, and from that deem the entire concept ineffective.
Compress packs specifically designed for at-home use for dry eye, such as the Bruder warm compress, tends to be more effective while still being simple to prepare and apply. However as noted above, even specially designed warm compresses do not sustain the optimal heat like in office treatments.
Warm compresses have been found to be an effective at-home treatment for dry eye, if done correctly. The ideal use of warm compresses is when they are used in addition to in office treatment. Warm compresses alone are not as effective, especially long-term, as in-office treatment. If you are experiencing dry eye symptoms, contact us at Amplify EyeCare Chattanooga to schedule an appointment. Patients with dry eyes visit our clinic from all over Tennessee, and we are proud to be a leading provider of dry eye care for patients from Hixson, Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Middle Valley.
Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.
Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.
Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.
Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.
Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.
He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.
It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.
Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!
Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.
Thank you!
Seems much less frustrated with life
Reads non-stop and fast
Spelling abilities have been hugely improved
Seems much more confident
Thank You!!!
When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!
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