Take our short quiz to better determine if you suffer from dry eye
Do I Have Dry Eyes?
You may be surprised to learn that having dry eyes rarely means you do not have enough tears. While that can be the case for some people, most people with dry eyes are dealing with an imbalance of their tears. In fact, some people’s eyes get even more watery because of dry eye disease.
If you have dry eyes, you may experience 1 or more of the following symptoms:
- Gritty, scratchy, stinging, or burning eyes
- A feeling like you have something in your eyes
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Redness
- Light sensitivity
- Stringy mucus in the corner of your eyes
We can use our expertise to find a solution for dry eye symptoms that supports your comfort.
It’s time to kick dry eyes to the curb.
Relieving Dry Eyes is Our “Thing”
We love helping people with their dry eyes.
Patients from all over North America have traveled to see us for their eye problems—and we love hunting for individualized solutions for them.
If you have gritty, red, sore eyes, you have come to the right place. At Specialty Eye, we’ll combine years of optometry expertise with state-of-the-art technology and innovative treatment options to help you find relief from acute and chronic dry eye symptoms.
Your Dry Eye Symptoms Can Get Worse Without Treatment
Dry eye may seem like a minor annoyance at first, but leaving it untreated can have significant consequences for your long-term eye health. Here at Specialty Eye, we want to emphasize why addressing dry eye early is so crucial.
The issues that affect your tear film and cause dry eyes can lead to a cycle of irritation and inflammation. Without treatment, that cycle can worsen over time due to:
- Progressive Gland Loss: The meibomian glands in your eyelids are responsible for producing the oily layer of your tears. Chronic inflammation from dry eye can damage and even destroy these glands. The fewer glands you have, the less oil is produced, further worsening dry eye symptoms.
- Corneal Damage: Constant dryness can irritate and damage your cornea, the clear surface of your eye. This can lead to pain, blurry vision, and increased sensitivity to light.
- Increased Risk of Infections: Your tear film helps protect your eyes from bacteria and other pathogens. Without a strong, healthy tear film, your eyes can become more susceptible to infections.
Ignoring dry eye won’t make it go away. In fact, it can become a worsening condition that requires more intensive treatment later. Take our dry eye questionnaire below and schedule your appointment today.
Innovative Dry Eye Solutions
Finding your dry eye treatment plan begins with an assessment of your overall health and your eyes. Our dry eye specialists will measure the quantity and quality of your tears, the glands in your eyelids, and ask you questions about contributing factors like work, hobbies, and your environment.
After diagnosing the source of your dry eyes, we can use innovative treatments and solutions that are personalized to the care you need. Finding the right combination for your eyes will be just as unique as you are.
Artificial Tears
Artificial tears are designed to combat dry eyes either by increasing the number of tears in your eye or by promoting a healthy balance of tears that won’t evaporate as quickly. Our dry eye specialists can help you discover the best artificial tears for your dry eyes.
Serum Eye Drops
Autologous serum eye drops are custom-made from your blood and composed of growth-promoting factors, proteins, antioxidants, and lipids. These drops are similar to the components in your tears and can produce an effective replacement of your natural tears, generating tear fluid and mimicking their function.
Amniotic Extract Drops
Containing nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties, amniotic extract eye drops have proven to help alleviate advanced dry eye symptoms in many people. Amniotic extract eye drops typically contain pluripotent stem cells, organized collagen, anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory cytokines, immune-modulators, growth factors, and matrix proteins.
Amniotic Membranes
Amniotic membranes have been used in the eye care industry for a long time to help promote healing, especially after corneal injuries. They have also been shown to promote healthy tears, which combats dry eye symptoms thanks to their anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring effects.
Lipiflow
Lipiflow applies a gentle warm heat to the internal eyelids along with a thermal pulsation to gently, and safely, massage your eyelids. This combination of warmth and massage helps to unclog the glands that limit quality oil in the tears. Once flowing better, oils in the tear reduce evaporation and make the tears more slippery for your eyelids to move across. Lipiflow is comfortable and only takes 15 minutes to complete.
iLux
The Systane iLux system provides personalized treatment for dry eye symptoms. The thermal pulsation system gently massages glands in the eyelids while clearing them from obstruction. The iLux includes sensors that react to the patient’s glands, offering a treatment based on their individual needs. The iLux treatment takes 15 minutes to complete.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Specialty Eye is proud to offer OptiLight by Lumenis intense pulsed light (IPL) as a treatment for dry eye symptoms. IPL is applied to the areas around the eye to target glands that may be blocked. The light is emitted onto the skin’s surface and penetrates below to the eyelid glands, breaking up gland blockages and promoting healthy oil flow to the eyes. IPL has been shown to reduce pain and discomfort, reduce dry eye inflammation, and enhance the tear quality.
Our Dry Eye Center
Specialty Eye has been awarded as one of the top dry eye practices in the United States every year since 2018. We are proud of this legacy and it drives us to stay on the forefront of innovation and technology.
We know that your dry eye symptoms are not the same as the next person’s, and that’s why we offer so many different treatments. We are passionate about treating dry eyes.
We are passionate about treating dry eyes and would be honored to partner with you in finding dry eye relief. Come and talk to us today about how we can help.
Our Locations
Specialty Eye Bellevue
Steps away from beautiful Bellevue Square Mall, our office is conveniently located just off the I-405 on 106 Avenue NE.
- 225 106 Ave. NE
- Bellevue, WA 98004
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Specialty Eye Kirkland
Next to the Evergreen Hospital, our convenient location is on NE 128 Street, just off the I-405.
- 11830 NE 128 St., Suite 1
- Kirkland, WA 98034
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
The Mind’s Eye Center
You can find us on 122nd Avenue, located in the Jonesco Business Center, with plenty of parking available.
- 8750 122nd Ave NE
- Kirkland, WA 98033
Hours of Operation
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Our Specialty Eye Care
Our Brands
See What People Say About Us
“All the associates here are wonderful! Everyone is thoughtful and accommodating. I have to use a walker and ever single person was patient and helpful in maneuvering me to be comfortable with doing certain test. In addition, my doctor is amazing!”
Andrea Norton
“The office is very informative. The Dr’s and staff are great and we look forward to starting our vision therapy!!”
Cori Brundage Frandsen
“My son has been going here since he was 1. We’ve never had a bad experience, and we’ve had a lot of visits because of his vision problems.”
Deanna Dooley Stanley
Our Expert Blog
What Is iLux & How Does It Treat Dry Eye?
Dry EyeiLux is a handheld device that uses heat and gentle, massaging pressure to melt blockages in your meibomian glands and encourage oils to flow more freely to your tear film. It’s one of the treatments we offer for dry eye therapy. The iLux system is intended to address one of the most common causes of […]
IPL vs. Lipiflow: What’s the Difference?
Dry EyeDifferent Dry Eye Remedies for Certain Conditions Dry eye disease is an uncomfortable and often chronic condition affecting many people in the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully, there are ways we can slow the progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms of dry eyes. Innovative techniques like intense pulsed light (IPL) and LipiFlow can address dry eye […]
What is Myopia Management?
Children’s healthMyopiaPediatricsMyopia, also known as nearsightedness, affects a person’s ability to see objects in the distance clearly. It typically begins at a young age and often progresses into adulthood. Comprehensive eye exams are capable of diagnosing this issue, and early intervention can prevent it from progressing into more severe vision issues, like high myopia. Myopia management, […]
What Is iLux & How Does It Treat Dry Eye?
iLux is a handheld device that uses heat and gentle, massaging pressure to melt blockages in your meibomian glands and encourage oils to flow more freely to your tear film. It’s one of the treatments we offer for dry eye therapy. The iLux system is intended to address one of the most common causes of […]
IPL vs. Lipiflow: What’s the Difference?
Different Dry Eye Remedies for Certain Conditions Dry eye disease is an uncomfortable and often chronic condition affecting many people in the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully, there are ways we can slow the progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms of dry eyes. Innovative techniques like intense pulsed light (IPL) and LipiFlow can address dry eye […]
What is Myopia Management?
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, affects a person’s ability to see objects in the distance clearly. It typically begins at a young age and often progresses into adulthood. Comprehensive eye exams are capable of diagnosing this issue, and early intervention can prevent it from progressing into more severe vision issues, like high myopia. Myopia management, […]
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The Mind’s Eye Center
- 8750 122nd Ave NE
- Kirkland, WA 98033
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P: 425-800-5240
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Bellevue
- 225 106 Ave. NE
- Bellevue, WA 98004
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P: 425-454-2028
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Kirkland
- 11830 NE 128 St., Suite 1
- Kirkland, WA 98034
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P: 425-821-8900