Refresh Your Vision. Relieve Your Dry Eyes.
Advanced, personalized relief from our dry eye specialists at Coastal Vision Center (CVC). Do not just manage symptoms - treat the root cause.
Understanding Dry Eye
Dry eye is a multifaceted condition that affects your quality of life. It occurs when tear production
and drainage are not in balance, resulting in tears that are either insufficient in quantity or poor
in quality.
Led by Dr. Katie Cwikla, our dry eye clinic offers medical-grade diagnostics to identify whether
your discomfort is environmental, hormonal, or structural. We provide customized treatment
plans depending on the results of clinical tests and examination findings.
Common Symptoms
If you experience the following, you may be suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome:
- Excessive tearing or redness
- Stinging, burning, or eye fatigue
- Blurred vision and sensitivity to light
- Foreign body sensation ("grittiness")
Do You Have Dry Eye
Take Our OSDI Dry Eye Quiz. Our simple OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) test provides an immediate score to help determine the severity of your symptoms.
Layers of the Tear Film
A healthy tear film consists of three essential layers working together:
- Lipid (Oily) Layer: Produced by the Meibomian glands to reduce evaporation.
- Aqueous (Water) Layer: Cleans the eye and washes away particles.
- Mucus Layer: Lubricates the eye surface and helps tears stick to the eye
Our Advanced Treatments
While dry eye is a chronic condition, our office provides several in-office and prescription
therapies to manage symptoms effectively.
Featured Treatment: The TearCare® System
We are proud to offer the TearCare System by Sight Sciences. This wearable, open-eye technology applies gentle, targeted heat to the eyelids to liquefy hardened oils. Combined with a specialized manual expression by Dr. Cwikla, TearCare clears blockages and restores the natural flow of oils, providing long-lasting relief from Evaporative Dry Eye.
Other Specialized Procedures
- iLux2: A device that warms and massages the Meibomian glands to unblock oil ducts.
- BlephEx: An in-office treatment that cleans the eyelid margins to remove debris and
bacteria. - Rinsada: Gently cleans deep under the eyelids to flush out allergens and pollutants.
- Punctal Occlusion: A minimally invasive procedure using temporary or permanent
plugs to help your eyes retain natural moisture.
Recommended Products & Therapeutics
Based on your clinical exam, our specialists may recommend specific over-the-counter (OTC) or
prescription options.
Dr. Cwikla’s Recommended OTC Products:
- Preservative-Free Artificial Tears: For maximum lubrication without harsh
chemicals. - Hydrating Warm Compresses: To soothe tired eyes and melt oil blockages.
- Lid Hygiene Cleansers: Keeps the eyelid margin clear of bacteria and debris.
- Gels and Ointments: For extended relief, often used overnight.
Prescription RX Options: If appropriate for your condition, we may prescribe advanced
therapeutics such as Vevye, Xiidra, Restasis, Cequa, Tyrvaya, Miebo, or Eysuvis to reduce
inflammation and improve tear production.
Your Comprehensive Evaluation
Every dry eye evaluation at Coastal Vision Center includes advanced diagnostics such as
InflammaDry, Tear Osmolarity, and Meibography to visualize your oil glands and measure
the health of your ocular surface
