Dry eye can make everyday tasks uncomfortable, from reading and driving to working on a computer or wearing contact lenses. At Kissel Eye Care, we provide dry eye treatment in Lititz, PA focused on finding the cause of your symptoms, not just temporarily masking irritation.
Dry eye happens when your eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. Healthy tears help keep the eyes lubricated, clear, and comfortable. When the tear film is unstable, the surface of the eye can become inflamed, irritated, and sensitive.
For many patients in Lititz, dry eye is not a simple one-cause condition. It may be linked to eyelid inflammation, tear gland dysfunction, lifestyle factors, or underlying health concerns. That is why a thorough evaluation is important before starting treatment.
Dry eye can develop for many reasons, and identifying the source helps guide the right care. Common causes include:
Aging
Meibomian gland dysfunction
Blepharitis
Eye surgery
Contact lens use
Allergies
Medications
Medical conditions
Meibomian gland dysfunction, also called MGD, is one of the most common causes of evaporative dry eye. These glands help produce the oil layer of your tears. When they become blocked or inflamed, tears may evaporate too quickly, leaving the eyes dry, gritty, or irritated.
Dry eye symptoms can range from mild to disruptive. Some patients feel dryness, while others experience burning, watering, redness, or fluctuating vision. Common signs include a gritty or sandy feeling, eye fatigue, light sensitivity, stringy mucus, discomfort with contact lenses, and blurry vision that improves with blinking.
Dry eye treatment in Lititz, PA starts with a detailed diagnosis. At Kissel Eye Care, the goal is to identify the root cause so treatment can be targeted and more effective.
During a dry eye evaluation, our doctors may look at tear quality, tear volume, eyelid health, inflammation, oil gland function, blink patterns, and the surface of the eye. They may also review your contact lens history, medications, allergies, medical conditions, past eye surgery, screen habits, and daily environment. This helps determine whether your dry eye is related to MGD, blepharitis, inflammation, aqueous tear deficiency, allergies, or another underlying issue.
Treatment depends on what is causing your dry eye. Some patients may need eyelid hygiene, prescription drops, artificial tears, lifestyle changes, or contact lens adjustments. Others may benefit from advanced in-office therapies designed to address inflammation and eyelid gland function.
Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL, may be recommended for patients with inflammatory dry eye or meibomian gland dysfunction. IPL uses controlled light energy around the eyelids to help calm inflammation, improve oil gland function, and support a healthier tear film.
During treatment, gentle pulses of light are applied to targeted areas around the eyes. Protective shields are used for safety, and the treatment is typically comfortable and performed in-office. Some patients may need a series of sessions for the best results, depending on the severity of their dry eye and the underlying cause.
The benefits of IPL may include reduced redness, less burning or irritation, improved tear stability, and better long-term comfort for patients whose dry eye is linked to inflammation or blocked oil glands.
NuLids Eyelid Treatment may be used to help clean and exfoliate the eyelid margins. This treatment can be helpful for patients with blepharitis, buildup along the lashes, clogged glands, or eyelid inflammation that contributes to dry eye symptoms.
During the treatment, the eyelid area is gently cleaned using a specialized device designed to remove debris, biofilm, and buildup from the lash line. The process is quick, in-office, and focused on improving eyelid hygiene so the eyes can feel more comfortable.
The benefits of NuLids may include cleaner eyelids, reduced irritation, less crusting or buildup, improved gland function, and better support for ongoing dry eye management.
Because dry eye can have many causes, treatment should be tailored to each patient’s needs. At Kissel Eye Care, personalized dry eye care begins with a detailed evaluation to better understand what is causing your symptoms. This may include checking tear quality, oil gland function, eyelid health, inflammation, and the surface of the eye.
Once the root cause is identified, our doctors can recommend a targeted treatment plan. For some patients, this may include at-home eyelid care, artificial tears, or prescription drops. For others, advanced treatments like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or NuLids Eyelid Treatment may be recommended to address inflammation, MGD, blepharitis, or eyelid buildup.
Schedule your dry eye evaluation with Kissel Eye Care to find the cause of your symptoms and learn which treatment options may help you feel lasting relief. Contact our office at 1170 Erbs Quarry Rd #4, Lititz, PA 17543, by calling (717) 625-4989 today.