Dry Eye Clinic
Dr. Abdalrahman Alabsi
Dry Eye FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Dry eye: symptoms and causes
1. What is dry eye?
Dry eye is a common, chronic, multifactorial disease of the ocular surface, caused by a problem with the quantity or the quality and stability of the tears. This raises the salt concentration of the tears, which leads to chronic inflammation of the ocular surface, bothersome symptoms and sometimes blurred vision.
2. What are the symptoms of dry eye?
The most common are: a burning or hot feeling in the eye, a sandy or foreign-body sensation, redness, the urge to rub the eye (itching), intolerance to screens, sensitivity to light, and vision that fluctuates during the day and improves temporarily with blinking or lubricating drops. Symptoms usually get worse with air conditioning, screen use and dry weather.
3. Why do my eyes water so much if I have dry eye?
Because excessive tearing is often a reflex reaction to irritation of the dry ocular surface. These tears are watery and fast, and they lack the balanced composition of normal tears, especially a sufficient outer oil layer that stabilizes the tear film and reduces evaporation, so they evaporate quickly and do not stay on the surface of the eye.
4. What causes dry eye?
There are two main types: evaporative dry eye caused by meibomian (oil) gland dysfunction in the eyelids (MGD), which is the most common, and dry eye caused by reduced tear production. Factors that contribute to causing or feeling dry eye include screens, air conditioning, contact lenses, LASIK surgery, some medications, hormonal changes, and autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome.
5. What is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)?
It is a blockage or malfunction of the glands at the eyelid margin that secrete the oil layer of the tears. Meibomian (oil) gland dysfunction affects about 86% of dry eye patients and makes the tears evaporate faster. MGD treatment focuses on opening the glands, melting the blockages and improving gland secretion with devices such as LipiFlow and IPL.
6. Does the Riyadh climate make dry eye worse?
Yes. Dry air, dust, heat and long hours in air-conditioned spaces speed up tear evaporation, which is why dry eye is widespread in places with a dry climate. It is therefore advisable to avoid direct air-conditioning drafts and to wear sunglasses when exposed to the sun and in dusty conditions.
7. Do screens and phones cause dry eye?
They contribute a lot, because blinking becomes less frequent and incomplete while focusing on a screen. So it is important to keep blinking while using screens, and the 20-20-20 rule helps: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (6 meters) away for 20 seconds.
8. Why are women more prone to dry eye?
Because of hormonal effects on the oil and tear glands, especially with age and with some contraceptives, and because autoimmune diseases are more common in women. Makeup and false eyelashes can also affect the oil glands and may cause allergy and irritation of the ocular surface.
9. Is dry eye dangerous?
Most cases do not threaten sight, but they clearly affect quality of vision and quality of life, work, reading and driving. Severe, neglected cases can cause corneal ulcers or infections and need follow-up with a specialist.
Diagnosis and tests
10. How is dry eye diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with a symptom questionnaire, followed by an examination of the ocular surface and eyelids. In the clinic we use the TearCheck device to measure tear stability and break-up time and to image the oil glands in 2D and 3D, in order to determine the type and cause of dryness and to follow the improvement.
11. What is the TearCheck device?
A device for examining and analyzing dry eye that combines a symptom questionnaire, non-contact measurement of tear stability and imaging of the oil glands (meibography). It helps identify the cause of dryness quickly and clearly and compare results before and after treatment.
12. What is the OSDI test?
An international 12-question questionnaire that measures the severity of dry eye symptoms and their impact on daily life over the last week. You can take it for free on our website in a few minutes and get a result that classifies your condition (normal, mild, moderate, severe).
13. Is the dry eye examination painful?
No. Most tests do not touch the eye and take only a few minutes.
14. When should I see a dry eye doctor?
If your symptoms are bothersome and persistent, or affect your daily activities (reading, driving, screen work), a comprehensive examination is recommended to determine the exact cause and set an appropriate treatment plan.
15. What other tests are available for dry eye?
The Schirmer test, which measures the level of the aqueous (watery) layer of the tears, and the dry eye inflammatory marker test MMP-9. All are available at the Dry Eye Clinic of Dr. Abdalrahman Alabsi.
Treatments and technologies
16. Can dry eye be cured permanently?
Dry eye is a chronic disease in most cases, and improvement depends on how much the glands that secrete the tear layers are affected. When the underlying cause is treated, such as blocked oil glands or eyelid inflammation, symptoms ease and the need for frequent drops decreases.
17. What are the latest dry eye treatments?
Dry eye treatment is based on treating the affected tear layer. Among the latest treatments for the oil layer: intense regulated pulsed light sessions (E-eye IRPL), melting the oil blockages in the eyelids with the thermal pulsation device (LipiFlow), and the moist heat device, along with improving the aqueous layer and the ocular surface with anti-inflammatory drops. These technologies, and other procedural and medical treatments, are available at our clinic in Riyadh.
18. What is IPL treatment for dry eye?
It is an intense pulsed light treatment applied to the skin below the eye. It reduces inflammation and the blood vessels that feed the inflammation, and it stimulates and improves the function of the oil glands. We use the E-eye IRPL device; a session takes a few minutes and needs no anesthesia.
19. How many IPL sessions do I need?
Usually 3 to 4 sessions, 2 to 4 weeks apart. The doctor decides the number based on the severity of the condition and the examination results, and sessions can be repeated after 6 months depending on the case.
20. What is the LipiFlow device?
A medical device that melts the secretions accumulated in the oil glands and opens their ducts using heat (42.5 °C) and pulsed pressure from the inner side of the eyelid. The session takes 12 minutes for both eyes, and about 70% of patients need one session a year.
21. Is LipiFlow available in Riyadh?
Yes, LipiFlow is available at the Dry Eye Clinic of Dr. Abdalrahman Alabsi at the Specialized Medical Center (SMC) in Al Olaya, Riyadh, along with IPL, TearCheck and the moist heat device.
22. Is a LipiFlow or IPL session painful?
Usually not. With LipiFlow a topical anesthetic drop is used and the patient feels warmth and light pressure on the eyelids; with IPL the patient feels warm flashes on the skin. Patients return to their normal activities right after the session.
23. When will I notice improvement after treatment?
Many patients notice gradual improvement within weeks of starting treatment, and the greatest improvement appears 6 to 8 weeks after a LipiFlow session and once the IPL sessions are completed.
24. What are punctal (tear duct) plugs and when do I need them?
Small plugs that partially or completely close the tear drainage duct, which allows natural tears and the drops used to stay on the surface of the eye longer. They help in cases of reduced aqueous tear production and after vision correction surgery, and their types differ by where they are placed and how long they stay.
25. What is the best eye drop for dry eye?
There is no single drop that suits everyone; the choice depends on the type of dryness and the affected tear layer. Preservative-free drops are better for frequent use, and our website has a guide to the most common lubricating eye drops and gels with their ingredients and uses.
26. How much does dry eye treatment cost in Riyadh?
The cost varies with the treatment plan and the number of sessions, and is determined after examination and diagnosis. For prices, contact us on WhatsApp at 0510232233.
Dry eye after LASIK, surgery and contact lenses
27. Is dryness after vision correction surgery such as LASIK, surface laser PRK, Femto-LASIK or Femto SMILE normal? And how long does it last?
Yes, dryness is common after all types of vision correction surgery (surface laser PRK, LASIK, Femto-LASIK and Femto SMILE Pro) because the corneal nerves are cut during the surgery. It usually improves within 3 to 6 months, depending on the corrected measurements, as the nerves regenerate, but it may last longer in some patients and need specialized treatment.
28. Should dry eye be treated before LASIK or cataract surgery?
Yes, because dryness affects the accuracy of the measurements before surgery and the visual result after it. Preparing the ocular surface in advance reduces symptoms after surgery and improves clarity of vision and the accuracy of the tests.
29. Do contact lenses cause dry eye?
Yes, they can cause it or make it worse, because the lens splits the tear film and speeds up its evaporation. Reducing wearing hours and using drops suitable for lenses help, and treating the oil glands helps many patients return to wearing lenses comfortably, but it does not cancel the negative effect of lenses.
30. Can some medications cause dry eye?
Yes, such as acne medication (isotretinoin / Roaccutane), antihistamines, some antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and glaucoma drops that contain preservatives. Do not stop any medication without consulting your doctor, and see the medications and dry eye page on our website.
The clinic, the doctor and booking
31. Where can I get dry eye treatment in Riyadh?
The Dry Eye Clinic of Dr. Abdalrahman Alabsi is a clinic specialized in diagnosing and treating dry eye, at the Specialized Medical Center (SMC) in Al Olaya, Tower 3, second floor. The clinic has TearCheck, LipiFlow, IPL (E-eye), the thermal pulsation device and other examination and treatment technologies in one place.
32. Who is Dr. Abdalrahman Alabsi?
An ophthalmologist (eye physician and surgeon). He holds the Fellowship of the International Council of Ophthalmology (London) and a Master’s degree in Ophthalmology from Cairo University, and he is a member of the European Dry Eye Society, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Saudi Ophthalmological Society.
33. What makes the Dry Eye Clinic different?
It starts with an accurate diagnosis of the cause of dryness, then a targeted treatment plan for each patient. It brings modern diagnostic and treatment devices together in one place, with continuous follow-up through the “Tear Quality Journey” program.
34. How do I book an appointment? What are the clinic hours?
You can book online through the SMC hospital website or contact us on WhatsApp at 0510232233. Hours: Saturday 9 am–5 pm; Sunday, Monday and Tuesday 2–10 pm; Wednesday 10 am–4 pm; Thursday 1–7 pm.
35. Does the clinic receive patients from outside Riyadh or from the Gulf countries?
Yes. The examination and the first session can be arranged in a single visit when possible.