If you are struggling with dry, irritated, watery or uncomfortable eyes, professional dry eye treatment may provide lasting relief. At Huxter & Davy, we offer advanced dry eye treatments, including Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Blephex eyelid cleaning and personalised care plans designed to address the underlying causes of dry eye disease.
Our experienced optometry team provides comprehensive assessments to identify conditions such as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), one of the most common causes of dry eye symptoms. By treating the source of the problem rather than simply managing symptoms, we help patients achieve greater comfort and improved eye health.
Dry eye disease is a common condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears or when the tears evaporate too quickly. Tears play a vital role in keeping the surface of the eye lubricated, comfortable, and healthy. When the tear film becomes unstable, it can lead to symptoms such as stinging, burning, redness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and a persistent feeling that something is in the eye.
The condition can affect people of all ages, although it is more common in older adults and those who spend long periods looking at digital screens. Environmental factors such as air conditioning, central heating, wind, and dry climates can also contribute to dry eye symptoms. In some cases, underlying health conditions, hormonal changes, medications, or eyelid problems may be responsible.
At Huxter and Davy, our team, led by expert optometrist Danielle, is highly experienced in the effective management of dry and watery eyes. We are committed to using the latest advancements to offer you the best long-term care and treatment. Our aim is to significantly reduce your symptoms and discomfort, and help you to keep the condition under control. We will carefully assess your tear profile and develop a tailored management plan to treat and relieve your symptoms and reduce the damage to your eyes caused by the condition.
Blepharitis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) are common causes of dry eye symptoms. The meibomian glands, located along the eyelids, produce an oily layer that helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly. However, when these glands become blocked or inflamed, often due to blepharitis, the tear film becomes unstable and the eyes can become dry, irritated and uncomfortable. As a result, you may experience symptoms such as burning, grittiness, redness, blurred vision and watery eyes.
Because these conditions are closely linked, treating blepharitis and MGD is often an important step in managing dry eye disease and improving long-term eye comfort.
Blepharitis is a common, chronic condition that causes inflammation of the eyelid margins, often resulting in red, swollen, itchy, or irritated eyelids. It can also lead to crusting around the eyelashes, a burning or gritty sensation in the eyes, and watery eyes. Blepharitis is frequently linked to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), where the oil-producing glands in the eyelids become blocked or do not function properly, contributing to dry eye symptoms.
Blepharitis is a common and often uncomfortable condition where the edges of your eyelids become inflamed. This frequently results in symptoms like dryness, grittiness, and redness.
A cornerstone of effective blepharitis management is professional eyelid hygiene, and we are pleased to offer Blephex. This in-practice treatment provides a level of deep cleaning that is simply not achievable with home methods. Blephex uses a precise, gentle exfoliation tool to safely remove the accumulated bacteria, stubborn biofilm, and debris from your eyelid margins and the base of your lashes – directly addressing a primary cause of inflammation and irritation.
For ongoing management, we typically recommend regular follow-up appointments, often every 6 months. During these visits, we can perform the Blephex treatment and attend to other factors like clearing your essential oil-producing meibomian glands if necessary. If your blepharitis is linked to Demodex mites, we also provide targeted treatments, including a very effective Tea Tree Oil formulation. This comprehensive approach, including our Blephex service, is available through our Dry Eye & Lid Hygiene Plan, making it simple to access the care you need at Huxter & Davy.
MGD happens when the meibomian glands, located in your eyelids, don’t work as they should. These glands are crucial because they produce the oily layer of your tear film. This oily layer acts like oil in a car engine, preventing your tears from evaporating too quickly and keeping the eye’s surface well-lubricated. Patients with MGD often have tiny, abnormally dilated blood vessels (called telangiectasia) along the edges of their eyelids, which can be a source of increased inflammation.
Common symptoms of MGD include dry, irritated or gritty eyes, redness, burning, watery eyes, and blurred vision. Symptoms often worsen when reading, using digital screens or spending time in air-conditioned environments.
MGD can often be managed with eyelid hygiene, warm compresses and lubricating eye drops. For more persistent cases, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy can help reduce inflammation, improve gland function and provide longer-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms.
MGD is a long-term condition that benefits from ongoing management. Following your recommended aftercare routine and attending regular reviews can help maintain results, improve comfort and prevent symptoms from returning.
Understanding the cause is the first step to managing blepharitis. It can stem from factors such as microscopic Demodex mites, an overgrowth of natural eyelid bacteria, or other related skin conditions.
We are committed to using the latest advancements to offer you the best long-term care and treatment. Our aim is to significantly reduce your symptoms and discomfort, and help you to keep the condition under control.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses controlled pulses of broad-spectrum light applied to the skin around the eyelids to help manage Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and associated dry eye symptoms. IPL works by reducing inflammation, improving the function of the meibomian glands, and helping to liquefy thickened oils so they can flow more freely into the tear film. This improves the quality of the tear film’s oily layer, reducing tear evaporation and relieving symptoms such as dryness, burning, irritation, and fluctuating vision. IPL can also help address underlying conditions such as ocular rosacea, which is a common contributor to MGD and chronic dry eye.
Many patients report feeling an improvement in their dry eye symptoms within just a few hours after their first treatment. Depending on how severe your condition is, we usually recommend a course of 3-4 treatments, spaced over 2-3 weeks. The benefits of these initial treatments can last for up to a year, and typically, patients require just one ‘top-up’ treatment annually to maintain the results.
IPL works by using pulses of light. It helps to close these abnormal blood vessels through a process called photocoagulation and is also thought to stimulate the cells in the area. Additionally, IPL treatment helps to open up the meibomian glands and gently liquefy the thickened oil within them. This enables us to express the glands, allowing the glands to function more effectively going forward.
We offer an easy way to spread payment for this revolutionary treatment through our IPL and Complete Care Dry Eye Plan.
Sometimes the surface of the eye needs extra help to heal and recover. At Huxter & Davy, we offer treatment with Omnigen, a natural ‘biological bandage’ made from amniotic membrane.
Amniotic membrane is a special tissue from the innermost layer of the tissue which keeps the baby safe during pregnancy. This is usually discarded after birth. However, not only do the cells within mimic corneal cells, they also contain powerful natural properties that help protect and heal tissues, reduce inflammation, and support regeneration – making it very useful in eye care. The membrane used for Omnigen is safely collected from consenting mothers and prepared to high medical standards – screened, sterilised and preserved to reduce any risk.
Applied to the eye’s surface, Omnigen acts like a protective dressing:
Promotes Healing: It provides a supportive environment and natural factors to help your eye’s own healing process.
Reduces Discomfort: It protects the damaged surface from blinking, offering pain relief.
Calms Inflammation: Helps to reduce redness and swelling.
Supports Recovery: Facilitates healing and can help prevent scarring.
For conditions like dry eye disease, we primarily use Omnigen as a temporary patch, held in place by a specially designed soft contact lens (Omnilenz). This cover protects your eye while it heals underneath, providing relief and helping restore the eye’s surface, typically over about one week.
Applying Omnigen with OmniLenz is a simple and quick process done in our practice – usually taking only a few minutes. It avoids the need for costly or complex surgery. We use anaesthetic drops to ensure your comfort during the application.
Omnigen offers a natural boost to your eye’s healing, limiting inflammation and facilitating recovery in a straightforward, outpatient procedure.
Our Dry Eye Care Plans offer great value from £22 a month via direct debit. View our plans below and contact us for more details.
Full dry eye assessment and treatment plan
2 follow up checks per year
2 Blephex treatments per year
20% Discount on any dry eye products
Additional Blephex treatment at reduced rate
Full dry eye assessment and treatment plan
2 follow up checks per year
IPL Treatment (Cycle of 3)
Meibomian Gland Expression
20% Discount on any dry eye products
Additional IPL treatment at a reduced rate
Full dry eye assessment and treatment plan
2 Follow up checks per year
IPL Treatment (cycle of 3)
Meibomian gland expression
2 Blephex treatments per year
20% Discount on any dry eye products
Additional IPL treatment at reduced rate
Additional Blephex treatment at reduced rate
We offer an easy way to spread payment for this revolutionary treatment through our IPL and Complete Care Dry Eye Plan. Contact us for more information today.
