Bringing You Comprehensive Dry Eye Relief
Dr. Watson and her team at Watson Dry Eye Center are dedicated to finding your ideal dry eye treatment. No two people have the same dry eye condition. We know it’s essential to understand each individual’s unique condition and how it affects their overall wellbeing.
When you visit us, we work with you to diagnose and treat the exact cause of your dry eye discomfort—not just your symptoms. This ensures the best chance of bringing you long-term dry eye relief, not just a short term fix.
Visit us and discover how our passion for bringing you dry eye relief can benefit you.
Who Can Get Dry Eye?
Anybody can get dry eye disease. People of all ages, genders, and racial backgrounds are at similar risk of developing dry eye. However, dry eye risk is increased for those who:
- Spend a lot of time using digital screens
- Wear contacts without proper care
- Use eye makeup every day
- Have skin conditions like rosacea
- Have used medications like Accutane
Your risk of developing dry eye disease depends largely on your environment. If you live in a windy, dry place your eyes are more likely to become dry.
Teens & Dry Eye
As teenagers spend more and more time on screens, their risk of developing dry eye increases. Why? Because when they focus on screens for so long, sometimes hours at a time, they don’t blink enough.
When teens don’t blink enough, they don’t give their eye surface the moisture it needs to remain healthy and moisturized. Without that essential delivery of tear film, the eye surface dries out and can be vulnerable to developing dry eye disease symptoms.
You can protect your teen’s long-term eye health by encouraging reduced screen time and teaching them the 20–20–20 rule: for every 20 minutes of screen time, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Dry Eye Causes & Symptoms
Dry eye disease is mainly caused when your tears don’t properly lubricate your eye surface, which typically means you aren’t producing enough of them or your tears aren’t high quality. An estimated 16 million Americans experience dry eye disease.
Causes
Dry eye disease is mainly caused by two different conditions affecting your tear glands.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is a condition affecting the production or distribution of meibum oil to your tears. Your tears need meibum as part of their oily outer layer which prevents the tears from drying too quickly. Without healthy meibomian glands you can experience dry eye.
Blepharitis causes your eyelids to become inflamed and irritated due to a buildup of bacteria along the eyelid and eyelash lines. Blepharitis can clog the tear glands around your eye that deliver tear film, which can cause dry eye over time.
Symptoms
Dry eye can cause severe discomfort, irritation, and eye pain. Symptoms of dry eye include:
- Itchy eyes
- Red eyes
- Burning sensation
- Blurry vision
- Stinging eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Contact lens discomfort
More Than Eye Health
Dry eye disease is about more than your eye health. If you experience chronic dry eye, you understand how it can interfere with your everyday life. The constant gritty feeling, difficulty focusing, and eye pain can have a negative impact on your mental health.
At Watson Dry Eye Center, we understand that your eye health is part of your overall health. We take a comprehensive approach to understand every aspect of your particular condition to help bring you relief, physically and mentally.
Dry Eye Treatment Options
After we diagnose your dry eye, the next step is to start your comprehensive treatment plan. Dr. Watson and the rest of our team at Watson Dry Eye Center are dedicated to building you a personalized treatment plan featuring the latest technological advancements in the field.
OptiLight
The OptiLight by Lumenis is an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy device that uses small bursts of light to impact the skin just under the eyes. This helps reduce blockages in the meibomian glands and help tears flow more freely.
LipiFlow
LipiFlow uses gentle heat and a precise amount of pressure simultaneously. This device helps treat blockages in your meibomian glands that cause meibomian gland dysfunction, so your eyes stay lubricated and your tears remain healthy.
TempSure Envi
We use skin tightening treatment when your dry eye disease is caused by bacteria and dirt entering your eyelid due to sagging skin on your eyelids. TempSure Envi delivers precise radiofrequency waves to tighten skin and support collagen production.
BlephEx
If your dry eye is caused by blepharitis, we can use BlephEx to bring you relief. BlephEx is a device that helps us clear the bacteria and debris buildup along your eyelash line to reduce dry eye symptoms.
Get the Relief You Need
You don’t have to live with dry eye disease. Dr. Watson has dedicated her career to understanding dry eye treatments and causes, and has selected high quality treatment options to bring you relief based on understanding the underlying cause of your dry eye. Visit us to get your personalized treatment plan and find relief from irritating, painful dry eye disease.
Our Location
Watson Dry Eye Center is located in Raleigh, right on the corner of Forest Pines Drive and Common Oaks Drive. There’s lots of parking available right in the lot right in front of our practice.
Our Address
- Suite 120
11081 Forest Pines Dr. - Raleigh, NC 27614
Contact Us
- Phone: 252.231.0424
- Email: [email protected]
Clinic Hours
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Help Your Teen See & Be Seen
(Comfortably)
Our teenagers are spending more time every day on their screens. Dry eye symptoms can be exacerbated by excessive screen time which is becoming increasingly common among teenagers and young adults.
Your teen doesn’t have to struggle with dry eye symptoms. At Watson Dry Eye Center, we have an incredible team that specializes in dry eye treatment and management.
Their education and social life are the center of their world and dependent on clear, comfortable vision. Allow them to focus on it with dry eye treatment.
Get ahead of dry eye by booking an appointment with our team.
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Our Blog
What to Do If You Have Blocked Meibomian Glands
Dry Eye DiseaseIf you suspect you have blocked meibomian glands, the first step is to consult with an eye care professional. Blocked meibomian glands, often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), can lead to dry, irritated eyes.
Fortunately, many treatments, such as specialized therapies and lifestyle changes, are available to help restore the proper function of your glands and alleviate your discomfort.
[…]
Is Blepharitis Contagious?
Dry Eye DiseaseBlepharitis is a common eye condition in which the eyelids become inflamed, causing discomfort and irritation. It can have a variety of causes, including infections, blocked meibomian glands, and sensitivity to eye makeup. If you’ve been diagnosed with blepharitis or know someone who has, you might be wondering whether it’s contagious and what steps you […]
What Is IPL Treatment for Dry Eye?
Dry Eye Disease, IPLMany people wake up with eyes that feel dry, gritty, or irritated. As dry eyes linger through the day, they can interfere with tasks and vision health. Enter IPL treatment, a promising solution for persistent dry eyes. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment for dry eye is a non-invasive procedure that uses bursts of light to […]
What to Do If You Have Blocked Meibomian Glands
If you suspect you have blocked meibomian glands, the first step is to consult with an eye care professional. Blocked meibomian glands, often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), can lead to dry, irritated eyes.
Fortunately, many treatments, such as specialized therapies and lifestyle changes, are available to help restore the proper function of your glands and alleviate your discomfort.
[…]
Is Blepharitis Contagious?
Blepharitis is a common eye condition in which the eyelids become inflamed, causing discomfort and irritation. It can have a variety of causes, including infections, blocked meibomian glands, and sensitivity to eye makeup. If you’ve been diagnosed with blepharitis or know someone who has, you might be wondering whether it’s contagious and what steps you […]
What Is IPL Treatment for Dry Eye?
Many people wake up with eyes that feel dry, gritty, or irritated. As dry eyes linger through the day, they can interfere with tasks and vision health. Enter IPL treatment, a promising solution for persistent dry eyes. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment for dry eye is a non-invasive procedure that uses bursts of light to […]
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Watson Dry Eye Center
- Suite 120
11081 Forest Pines Dr. - Raleigh, NC 27614
- Phone: 252.231.0424
- Email: [email protected]
