TearCare® Dry Eye Treatment
in Shelton & Waterbury, CT
Experience long-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms with TearCare® dry eye treatment.
Dry eye can leave your eyes burning, gritty, red, watery, or uncomfortable — especially during screen use, reading, driving, or contact lens wear. When these symptoms are related to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), treating the blocked oil glands in the eyelids may help improve tear quality and comfort.
At Vision Center LTD and Waterbury Eye Associates, TearCare® is one of several dry eye treatments we may recommend after a thorough evaluation.
What is TearCare®?
TearCare® is an in-office dry eye treatment for eligible adults with evaporative dry eye disease caused by MGD. Meibomian glands line the eyelids and produce the oil layer of your tears. This oil helps prevent tears from evaporating too quickly.
When the glands become blocked or the oil becomes thick, tears may not remain stable on the eye’s surface. This can contribute to dryness, burning, redness, fluctuating vision, and a persistent feeling that something is in your eye.
TearCare® uses controlled, localized heat followed by manual gland expression to help soften thickened oils and clear blockages.
What to expect during TearCare® treatment
Your eye doctor places flexible SmartLids™ on the outside of your upper and lower eyelids. These wearable devices deliver consistent heat to the eyelid area while allowing you to keep your eyes open and blink naturally.
After the heating portion of the treatment, your doctor uses specialized instruments to gently express the meibomian glands. This helps release oils from the glands and assess how well they are functioning.
The treatment generally takes about 15 minutes. Your doctor will explain what to expect, answer questions, and recommend follow-up care based on your examination findings and response to treatment.
Is TearCare® right for me?
TearCare® may be considered for adults with symptoms of evaporative dry eye related to MGD. However, dry eye can have more than one cause. An evaluation is important to determine whether your symptoms are related to tear evaporation, low tear production, eyelid health, or a combination of factors. We may assess your tear film and use tools such as tear osmolarity testing and meibography to evaluate the health of your meibomian glands.
Your care plan may also include at-home eyelid hygiene, artificial tears, prescription therapies, or additional in-office options. Equinox® light therapy may be recommended as part of a broader treatment plan, while custom scleral lenses can help select patients with significant ocular-surface dryness.
Get help for MGD-related dry eye
Persistent dry eye symptoms deserve more than temporary relief. Schedule an appointment to find out whether TearCare or another treatment option may be right for you.