Did you know that many millions of Americans suffer from chronic Dry Eye? That’s a great deal of people walking around with irritated, burning, red, fatigued eyes. Whether brought on by excessive screen time, allergies, certain medications, medical conditions or a combination of factors, Dry Eye is a bothersome condition that can be painful and persistent.
At Collins Vision, we have invested in the expertise and the technology to treat this common condition. At our Advanced Dry Eye Clinic, we can identify the underlying cause of your Dry Eye symptoms and offer a customized treatment plan. Treatment, in many cases, will include a combination of in-office testing, treatments and a personalized at-home regimen.
Dr. Nicole E. Alessi has worked with leading dry eye specialists around the country and serves as the director of the Collins Vision Dry Eye Specialty Clinic. Her interest in this area began during her residency training, where a strong emphasis was placed on the chronic condition of Dry Eye.
Our expert clinical team is dedicated to offering the most up-to-date, comprehensive care for patients with Dry Eye, blepharitis and other ocular surface disorders. During your first appointment, you will personally meet with Dr. Alessi for your evaluation and to discuss a customized treatment plan.
Your personal dry eye assessment may include tear volume measurement and evaporation rate, ocular allergy antigen testing, tear sampling for inflammation markers, meibomian gland imaging and more.
Dry Eye Treatments
BlephEx®
With this gentle, in-office treatment, we can precisely and safely clean and exfoliate your eyelids and lashes. This will almost immediately improve your Dry Eye symptoms. And by completely removing the exotoxin-laden biofilm along the lid margin, we can help you avoid the long-term inflammatory damage to your tear glands, preventing the development of chronic Dry Eye Syndrome.
Expression of Meibomian Glands
The meibomian glands are responsible for maintaining the oil layer in your tears. They secrete an oily substance called meibum, which is composed primarily of lipids and proteins. These secretions are expelled from the gland during blinking and prevent evaporation of the tear film. When these glands become obstructed, the oil layer becomes thin and your tears evaporate too quickly, resulting in Dry Eye. In-office, gentle expression of the meibomian glands works to re-establish healthy gland function.
Dry Eye treatment is highly individualized and other components of your custom treatment plan may include punctal occlusion, lubrication, hygiene and even prescription medication. Schedule your Dry Eye consultation today.
Allergy Relief Unlocked
Did you know that allergies and Dry Eye often go hand in hand? People with ocular allergies have an increased risk for developing Dry Eye. Conversely, Dry Eye can aggravate allergic signs and symptoms.
By taking a simple allergy test at your appointment, we will be able to determine if ocular allergies are to blame for your symptoms and can create a customized, effective treatment plan to help alleviate even your most stubborn allergy symptoms. Many of our patients even report that they are able to decrease their need for over-the-counter allergy medications.
See The Difference at Collins Vision
Collins Vision has proudly served Southwest Florida as a leading full-service eye care practice since 2004. With three convenient locations in Fort Myers, Naples and Punta Gorda, our loyal patient family continues to grow.
With a laser focus on safety, innovation and visual freedom, we look forward to helping every patient we serve See the Difference with the vision they deserve. From comprehensive eye care and cosmetic and functional eyelid and brow surgery to advanced cataract surgery and LASIK/laser vision correction, we are here for you. Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced providers today.
