Dry eye is a condition that causes itching, burning, redness and light sensitivity

We can help you manage dry eye disorders

Dry eyes is a condition that causes itching, burning, redness and light sensitivity

We can manage dry eye disorders

Get comfortable eyes again and live a limitless life

Quickly discover more about this condition and how we treat it
Dry eye incidence / prevalence
  • Dry eye disease is one of the most common eye conditions worldwide. However, it can lead to severe complications if left untreated.
  • The name “dry eye” can be a little confusing since one of the most common symptoms is excessive watering. It makes more sense, though, when you learn that the eye makes two different types of tears.
  • The first type of tear, called the lubricating tear, is produced slowly and steadily throughout the day. Lubricating tears contain a precise balance of mucous, water, oil, nutrient proteins, and antibodies that nourish and protect the eye’s front surface. If your eye is not producing enough lubricating tears, you have dry eye.
  • The second type of tear, called a reflex tear, does not have much lubricating value. Instead, reflex tears serve as a kind of emergency response to flood the eye when suddenly irritated or injured. For example, when you’re cutting onions, when you’re around smoke, or when you accidentally scratch your eye. The reflex tears gush out in such large quantities that the tear drainage system can’t handle them all, and they spill out onto your cheek.
  • Symptoms of dry eyes
    • Watery eyes
    • The feeling that there’s sand in your eyes
    • Eyes that itch and burn
    • Vision that becomes blurred after periods of reading, watching TV, or using a computer
    • Red, irritated eyes that produce a mucus discharge.
  • Causes of dry eye include:
    • Age: As we get older, glands in the eyelid produce less oil. The oil keeps tears from evaporating off the eye. Decreased oil production allows tears to evaporate too quickly, leaving the eye too dry.
    • Diseases including diabetes, Sjogren’s and Parkinson’s.
    • Hormonal changes, especially after menopause
    • Prescription medications: These include some high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, sleeping pills and pain medications. Over-the-counter medications, including some cold and allergy products, motion sickness remedies, and sleep aids, can also cause dry eyes. Eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma can also cause dry eye.
    • Hot dry or windy conditions: High altitude, air-conditioning and smoke can also cause dry eyes.
    • Certain activities: Reading, using a computer or watching TV.
    • Contact lenses
    • Eye surgery: Some types of eye surgery and the postoperative eye drops used may temporarily interrupt the tear film and cause a limited form of dry eye.
    • Inflammation: Recent research suggests that dry eyes may be caused by inflammation on the surface of the eye and the eyelids. Anti-inflammatory medications are often helpful in treating dry eyes.
  • We can check for dry eyes by examining your eyes with magnifying instruments, measuring your rate of tear production and checking the amount of time it takes for tears to evaporate between blinks.
  • We can also check for pinpoint scratches on the eye’s front surface caused by dryness using special, coloured eye drops.
  • The type of treatment we recommend will depend on the underlying cause. At your first appointment, we will perform a thorough dry eye assessment to find a treatment that we think would be the most appropriate to help you with your symptoms.
  • Treatments include:
    • Artificial tears
    • Eye inserts
    • Eye drops
    • ​​Eye drops made from your own blood
    • Tear-stimulating drugs
    • Lid cleaning
    • Lipiflow
    • BlephEx
    • IPL and LLLT
    • Special contact lenses
    • Punctal occlusion.

Say goodbye to your vision problems and start seeing life in a whole new way

Take your first step today in exploring all that you can do for healthy, vibrant eyes.

Say goodbye to your vision problems and start seeing life in a whole new way

Take your first step today in exploring all that you can do for healthy, vibrant eyes.

Gain visual freedom in 3 easy steps

Eye treatment options can be confusing. We’ve made the journey as straightforward as can be

Get in touch

Not everyone is suitable for reading glasses treatment. The first step is to get a clear answer on whether there is a treatment option that can help you or not. Give our friendly team a call on 07943 872888 or book a free assessment online now.

We’ll meet

At your consultation, we’ll answer your questions and give you a clear and honest recommendation based on your lifestyle. You’ll leave with a confident understanding of the best reading treatment option for your unique eyes.

ENJOY FREEDOM

After treatment, people across the country tell us how surprised they are by how quickly their life changed and how young they feel. Reading a restaurant menu, scanning their phone or seeing the dials on the car dashboard are all possible once more. Most people say that they wish they had done it years earlier!

What our patients say…

We’ve helped thousands of happy patients in Surrey and Kent gain freedom with eye surgery

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I would like to thank you all for looking after me so well. This was the first time I had ever had any treatment to my eye and whilst somewhat tense about the procedure I can honestly say that it went like clockwork.”

Mr J.OP

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Thank you and your team very much indeed for looking after me during my initial visit and the day of cataract surgery.
I didn’t know what to expect, you put me at ease and everyone was very professional-excellent job!”

J, Tunbridge Wells

We have replaced the images of real patients who provided these testimonials to protect their privacy.

Say goodbye to your vision problems and start seeing life in a whole new way

Take your first step today in exploring all that you can do for healthy, vibrant eyes.

Say goodbye to your vision problems and start seeing life in a whole new way

Take your first step today in exploring all that you can do for healthy, vibrant eyes.

Academic resources on dry eyes

Learn more about dry eye conditions from authoritative sources. These links will take you off our website.

This post provides all you need to know about dry eye, from its symptoms, conditions and causes to the risk factors and possible treatments for dry eye. Click here to read more.

Dry eye syndrome is a chronic and typically progressive condition. Depending on its cause and severity, it may not be completely curable. The following is a list of dry eye treatments that are commonly used to reduce the signs and symptoms of dry eyes. Click here to learn more.

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Hello, I’m Lucia Pelosini MD, your eye surgeon in Surrey & Kent

My vision is to provide my patients with warm and personalised guidance through their cataract surgery journey from start to finish. I run a highly individualized service to treat discerning patients with presbyopia (aging eyes) and cataracts who want the best treatment and technology available.

Ms. Lucia Pelosini

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon,
MD, MRCSEd, FRCOphth, CertLRS