Dry eye — finding the cause first, then treating it
The short answer
Dry eye happens when too few tears are produced, when tears drain away too quickly, or when they evaporate from the surface too quickly. Because what needs doing depends on the cause, Gangnam Central Eye Clinic first identifies the cause with tests. When the meibomian glands in the eyelids — which release the oily layer of the tears — are blocked, the clinic uses a treatment programme called Clean-n-Therapy. If you are planning vision correction or cataract surgery and your dry eye is severe, the dry eye is treated before surgery is considered.
What causes dry eye?
| Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Reduced tear production | If not enough tears are made, the surface of the eye dries easily and you may feel grittiness or a dry, stiff feeling |
| Excessive evaporation | When the oily layer is lacking — for example because the meibomian glands are not working well — tears evaporate quickly |
| Environment and eye strain | Long hours on a smartphone or computer, dry indoor air, heating and air conditioning reduce blinking and can make it worse |
| Age, contact lenses and medication | Ageing, wearing contact lenses, and some medicines or general health conditions can upset the balance of the tear film |
What tests are done?
A single test is not enough to diagnose and assess dry eye. The tests below are combined according to the likely cause, and the exact set is decided at your visit based on your symptoms.
| Test | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Meibomian gland scan | How much of the oil glands remains and where they are blocked |
| Tear production measurement | How many tears you produce |
| Tear layer thickness analysis | The thickness of the tear layer and the oily film |
| Inflammation marker test | How much inflammation there is (if there is inflammation, the order of treatment changes) |
| Tear film analysis | How quickly and in what pattern the tear film breaks up |
How does Clean-n-Therapy work?
It is a treatment programme for when the meibomian glands are blocked and the oily layer cannot come out.
- Warm compress — softens hardened oil
- IPL laser — light applied around the eyelids helps the oily layer flow out (equipment: Aqua cell)
- Meibomian gland expression — the openings of the glands are pressed so the oily layer comes out
- Eyelid cleansing — a dedicated cleanser removes debris from the lid margins
- Soothing skin mask
It is offered as 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 sessions; how many you need depends on the state of your tear film and meibomian glands.
Why does dry eye matter before surgery?
- Vision correction surgery: if you want LASIK or LASEK straight away while your dry eye is severe, the doctor will advise treating the dry eye first.
- Cataract and presbyopia-cataract surgery: very severe dry eye before surgery can make glare and haziness more noticeable, so when dry eye is caused by a disease, the outcome is better in some cases if it is treated before surgery.
- Severe dry eye, such as with Sjögren's syndrome, is one of the factors that lean the timing of cataract surgery towards waiting.
Who treats dry eye?
Both of the clinic's ophthalmologists — Director Dr. Gye Hyeon Pung (풍계현) and Dr. 기현주 — treat dry eye.
How are costs explained?
Costs depend on your examination results and on the type of surgery, and fees for international patients are given after consultation. If you contact us by telephone or email before you travel, we will explain in advance so that nothing comes as a surprise when you arrive. — The cost depends on your test results and the number of sessions you need.
If you are travelling from abroad
- Clean-n-Therapy is given over several sessions, so how many can be done within your stay is decided with you at consultation after the tests.
- If you are also planning vision correction or cataract surgery, the dry eye tests come first — the results may change your surgery schedule.
- Contact: telephone +82-2-555-1369 · email gnceyecenter@naver.com · WhatsApp · consultation languages on the registration: Korean, English and Chinese
Side effects and individual differences
After the treatment there may be temporary redness of the eyelids, stinging, warmth or discomfort. The effect and the number of sessions needed differ from person to person, depending on the tear film and the meibomian glands. Please decide after an examination and consultation with your doctor.
Frequently asked questions (16)
What causes dry eye?
Too few tears being produced, tears draining away too quickly, or tears evaporating from the surface too quickly. There are several possible causes, including ageing, environment, inflammation, contact lenses and medication.
Can dry eye be diagnosed with one test?
One test is not enough. Depending on the cause, a meibomian gland scan, tear production, tear layer thickness, inflammation markers and tear film analysis are combined.
What is Clean-n-Therapy?
A treatment programme for blocked meibomian glands — the glands in the eyelids that release the oily layer of the tears.
What are the steps?
Warm compress → IPL laser → meibomian gland expression → eyelid cleansing → soothing skin mask.
What does the IPL laser do?
In this step, light is applied around the eyelids to help the hardened oily layer flow out. The equipment used is Aqua cell.
How many sessions will I need?
It is offered as 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 sessions, and how many you need depends on the state of your tear film and meibomian glands.
Is there any discomfort afterwards?
You may have temporary redness, stinging, warmth or discomfort in the eyelids. How much varies from person to person.
My dry eye is bad. Can I still have LASIK or LASEK?
If it is severe, the dry eye is treated first and surgery is considered again afterwards.
Does dry eye need treating before cataract surgery too?
Very severe dry eye before surgery can make glare and haziness more noticeable afterwards, so treating treatable dry eye first and then having surgery gives a better outcome in some cases.
Can wearing contact lenses for a long time cause dry eye?
Wearing contact lenses is one of the factors that affect the balance of the tear film. Tests are used to find the cause.
Can using my phone a lot give me dry eye?
Long hours on a smartphone or computer reduce blinking and can make dry eye worse.
What changes if there is inflammation?
Inflammation changes the order in which things are treated, so the level of inflammation is measured as well.
Who will treat me?
Both ophthalmologists — Director Dr. Gye Hyeon Pung and Dr. 기현주 — treat dry eye.
I'm only in Korea for a short time. Can I still have treatment?
After the tests, the number of sessions that can be done within your stay is decided with you at consultation.
Can international patients be treated here?
Yes. The clinic is registered as a medical institution for foreign patients (M-2021-01-08-6311), and the consultation languages on that registration are Korean, English and Chinese.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the tests and the number of sessions, and fees for international patients are given after consultation.