Dry Eye Therapy
Bellevue & Kirkland

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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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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

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

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

See What People Say About Us

Our Expert Blog

What Is iLux & How Does It Treat Dry Eye?

Dry Eye

When you think of dry eye disease, you should also think of your tear film.  Your tear film is at the center of your eye comfort—it hydrates and soothes your eyes while also protecting them from bacteria with the help of multiple unique ingredients. One of these ingredients is oil produced by your meibomian glands, […]

Read More…

August 19, 2024
Dr. David Kading

IPL vs. Lipiflow: What’s the Difference?

Dry Eye

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. Using innovative technology like intense pulsed light (IPL) and Lipiflow can help treat […]

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August 19, 2024
Dr. David Kading

What is Myopia Management?

Children’s healthMyopiaPediatrics

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, affects the ability to see objects in the distance clearly. It typically begins at a young age and often progresses into adulthood. Routine 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, or […]

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August 19, 2024
Dr. David Kading
Person receiving ilux dry eye treatment

When you think of dry eye disease, you should also think of your tear film.  Your tear film is at the center of your eye comfort—it hydrates and soothes your eyes while also protecting them from bacteria with the help of multiple unique ingredients. One of these ingredients is oil produced by your meibomian glands, […]

Read More…

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. Using innovative technology like intense pulsed light (IPL) and Lipiflow can help treat […]

Read More…

A young woman holding a pair of glasses in front of her

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, affects the ability to see objects in the distance clearly. It typically begins at a young age and often progresses into adulthood. Routine 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, or […]

Read More…

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