Dry Eye Suite in Philadelphia, PA

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition that happens when your eyes do not produce enough healthy tears or when tears evaporate too quickly. At Modern Optometry, our Dry Eye Suite in Philadelphia, PA is designed to identify the cause of your symptoms and create a treatment plan that supports lasting comfort, clearer vision, and healthier eyes.

What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye can affect the way your eyes feel, see, and function throughout the day. The two main types are aqueous-deficient dry eye, which happens when tear production is too low, and evaporative dry eye, which often occurs when the oil glands in the eyelids are blocked or not working properly. Many patients have a combination of both, which is why an accurate diagnosis is important.

Recognizing Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye symptoms may include:

Burning
Stinging
Redness
Watering
Gritty or sandy sensation
Blurry or fluctuating vision
Light sensitivity
Tired eyes
Contact lens discomfort
Irritation during screen use

Common Causes Of Dry Eye

Dry eye may be linked to poor tear quality, decreased tear production, inflammation, eyelid disease, or meibomian gland dysfunction, also called MGD. Common causes are aging, blepharitis, Demodex blepharitis, previous eye surgery, contact lens use, allergies, certain medications, and medical conditions that affect inflammation or tear production.
Because dry eye syndrome has many causes, treatment should begin with a careful diagnosis. Our Philadelphia eye care team evaluates the tear film, eyelids, ocular surface, and oil glands to better understand what is contributing to your symptoms.

Dry Eye Consultation Services

At Modern Optometry, we use the Optase® MX-2 Dry Eye Camera to provide a more detailed look at your eyelids and ocular surface. This technology helps us evaluate meibomian gland health, including blocked, inflamed, or damaged oil glands. It also helps assess tear film quality, eyelid inflammation, blepharitis, and areas of ocular surface irritation that may need treatment.
With this information, we can recommend a more comprehensive and personalized dry eye care plan instead of relying only on artificial tears for short-term relief.

In-Office Dry Eye Treatments

Our Dry Eye Suite offers advanced in-office dry eye treatments in Philadelphia to address the underlying causes of discomfort, including inflammation, poor eyelid hygiene, tear evaporation, meibomian gland dysfunction, and ocular surface damage.

Punctal Plugs

Punctal plugs are tiny biocompatible devices placed in the tear drainage openings to help your natural tears stay on the eye longer. This quick in-office treatment may be recommended for patients who need longer-lasting moisture.

Benefits may include:

Helps retain natural tears
Reduces dryness, burning, and stinging
Supports comfort during reading and screen use
May reduce the need for frequent artificial tears
Allows most patients to return to normal activities right away

Amniotic Membrane Therapy

Amniotic membrane therapy may be used for severe dry eye or significant ocular surface damage. The membrane works like a therapeutic bandage, helping calm inflammation and support healing on the surface of the eye.

Benefits may include:

Supports healing of damaged ocular surface tissue
Helps reduce inflammation and irritation
Promotes healthier corneal cells
May improve vision affected by surface damage
Can be helpful for advanced or severe dry eye cases

NuLids Eyelid Hygiene Therapy

NuLids® Eyelid Hygiene Therapy gently cleans and exfoliates the eyelid margins, where debris, bacteria, oils, and Demodex-related buildup can contribute to inflammation and blocked glands.
Benefits may include:

Removes buildup along the eyelids and lashes
Helps reduce blepharitis-related inflammation
Supports healthier meibomian gland function
Helps clear debris associated with Demodex
Improves eyelid hygiene and day-to-day comfort

InfinityPro Low-Level Light Therapy

InfinityPro Low-Level Light Therapy, or LLLT, is a comfortable, non-invasive treatment that uses targeted red light to support cellular repair and improve meibomian gland function.
Benefits may include:

Stimulates natural healing
Supports healthier oil gland function
Helps improve tear quality and stability
Reduces chronic eyelid inflammation
Offers a drug-free treatment option with little to no downtime

iProX IPL Intense Pulsed Light

iProX IPL is an advanced light-based treatment that targets inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction, two common contributors to evaporative dry eye.
Benefits may include:

Helps treat the source of evaporative dry eye
Reduces inflammation around the eyelids
Improves meibomian gland function
Helps stabilize the tear film and reduce tear evaporation
May support relief from blepharitis, ocular rosacea, bacteria, and Demodex
Offers added cosmetic benefits, such as improved skin tone and reduced facial redness

Dry Eye Prescription Drops

Prescription drops may be recommended when dry eye is linked to inflammation, decreased tear production, Demodex blepharitis, or tear film instability. At Modern Optometry, your doctor will determine whether Xdemvy®, Restasis®, Xiidra®, or another option is best based on your diagnosis.

Xdemvy

Xdemvy is an FDA-approved prescription drop for Demodex blepharitis. Demodex mites can live along the eyelids and lashes, causing itching, crusting, redness, inflammation, and chronic dry eye symptoms.
Benefits may include:

Targets Demodex mites at the source
Helps reduce eyelid inflammation
Decreases itching, irritation, and lash debris
Supports healthier eyelid hygiene
May improve tear film stability
Typically prescribed as a 6-week treatment course

Restasis

Restasis helps increase natural tear production by addressing inflammation in the tear-producing glands. It may be recommended for chronic dry eye, reduced tear production, autoimmune-related dry eye, or ongoing burning and gritty sensations.
Benefits may include:

Helps the eyes produce more natural tears
Reduces chronic inflammation
Supports long-term eye comfort
Helps protect the ocular surface
May reduce dependence on artificial tears
Safe for long-term use when prescribed

Xiidra

Xiidra is a prescription dry eye drop that targets inflammation associated with dry eye disease. It may be used for moderate to severe dry eye, screen-related dryness, burning, stinging, eye fatigue, or fluctuating vision.
Benefits may include:

Helps reduce dry eye inflammation
Relieves burning, stinging, and irritation
Supports better tear film stability
May improve fluctuating vision caused by dryness
Can provide symptom improvement within a few weeks
Offers convenient twice-daily dosing

Our Approach To Dry Eye Care

At Modern Optometry, dry eye care starts with finding the cause of your symptoms. We use advanced diagnostic technology to evaluate the tear film, eyelids, ocular surface, and meibomian glands, then create a personalized treatment plan based on your diagnosis and lifestyle.

Our Dry Eye Suite offers effective options for lasting relief, including in-office therapies, prescription drops, eyelid hygiene treatments, light-based technology, and ongoing care. We monitor your progress and adjust treatment as needed to support long-term comfort and ocular surface health.

Take The First Step Toward Lasting Dry Eye Relief

Schedule a consultation at Modern Optometry to find the cause of your dry eye symptoms and explore personalized treatment options for lasting relief. Contact our office at 3300 Grant Avenue, Suite 21, Philadelphia, PA 19114, by calling or texting (215) 335-9090.