Skip to main content


Dry Eye Technology in Boise, Idaho


Advanced diagnosis and treatment of dry eye.

Home » Eye Care Services » Common Eye Conditions » Dry Eye Treatment

What is Dry Eye Syndrome?

Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is the most common eye condition worldwide. Dry Eye Syndrome is a chronic condition that occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears, tears evaporate too quickly, or when the tears lack the essential oils to lubricate the eye’s surface and keep the eyes healthy.

While dry eyes typically occur as we age, there are many other factors that cause Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) at any age. Symptoms of Dry Eye range from mild to severe, and can be present occasionally or continuously. Dry Eye can not only affect your clarity of vision and eye health, but also your quality of life.

At Artisan Optics, our dry eye specialist, uses thermal imaging and specialized diagnostic tests to accurately diagnose the cause of your dry eye and prescribe effective treatment.

dry eye square 300.jpg
dry eye square 2 640.jpg

What Causes Dry Eye?

Dry Eye causes and symptoms are different for everyone. The most common causes of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) can include:

  • Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
  • Tear insufficiency
  • Allergies or environmental conditions (wind, smoke, dry air)
  • Hormonal changes (birth control, pregnancy, and menopause)
  • Systemic disorders including auto-immune diseases, endocrine disorders, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis
  • Aging
  • Some medications such as antihistamines, acne medications, hormonal medications, and depression / anxiety medications

Common Symptoms of Dry Eye

Patients with DES experience a number of symptoms that can disrupt their daily activities or cause chronic pain.

The most common signs of DES include the following:

  • Blurriness
  • Burning
  • Dryness
  • Feeling as if something is in your eye
  • Irritation
  • Itchy eyes
  • Pain
  • Red eyes
  • Stinging
  • Watery eyes

Those who suffer from DES often try to alleviate the pain by blinking either less or more often, rubbing their eyes, or by using over-the-counter artificial tears.

Why is blinking important? Blinking is healthy because it naturally moisturizes the eyes and gets rid of tiny particles that may enter the eye. Less blinking can increase dryness, itching, or redness, making DES symptoms even more acute.

Rubbing your eyes, especially when they’re already irritated, can intensify your symptoms. This is because the added pressure can make the pain worse. If your hands aren’t 100% clean, you can unintentionally spread germs or bacteria into your eyes when you rub them. Rubbing the eyes can also cause tiny blood vessels to break, increasing the redness of your eyes.

Artificial tears provide some temporary relief by lubricating the eyes with a medicated solution. These can be quite effective at alleviating soreness and itchiness, however, excessive use isn’t recommended. Many brands include preservatives, which aren’t good for your health in the long-term. Other preservative-free brands can, over time, fail to relieve the basic Dry Eye symptoms. Patients may find that having to continuously purchase artificial tears can become costly, and consistently using them throughout the day disrupts their daily activities.

Dry Eye Treatments Testimonials

Dry Eye Treatments

Most eye doctors recommend over-the-counter eye drops or microwaveable eye pads, temporarily treating the symptoms but never addressing the underlying cause. At Artisan Optics we take a different approach. Our doctor tests for and treat the root cause of dry eye.

Because there are different individual factors that contribute to Dry Eye Syndrome, each treatment plan is customized to you. Treatment can consist of at home care, in-office treatment, or a combination of both.

At home care can include prescribed temperature-controlled heat masks and preservative-free artificial tears, or Restasis or Xiidra – which are topical emulsions to treat the inflammatory changes that accompany dry eyes. For more severe cases, Autologous Serum Tears are prescribed. The serum is compounded by using your own blood and removing the red blood cells and clotting factors, and then diluted using a sterile, preservative-free solution.

In-office treatment can include punctal plugs or probing and irrigation of the nasolacrimal ducts. Punctal plugs are used to reduce the flow of tears from the surface of the eye. The insertion of the punctal plugs is quick, painless, and reversible. Probing and irrigation is performed when there is a blockage in the nasolacrimal duct.

For dry eye caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, we offer in-office FDA approved MiBo Thermoflo imaging and treatment.

dry eye square 3 640.jpg

Dry Eye Technology

Advancements in medical technology and scientific breakthroughs have made treatment for Dry Eye more effective with longer-lasting benefits. At Artisan Optics we offer in-office FDA approved MiBo Thermoflo treatment, bringing real relief to those who suffer from dry eye.

Research shows MiBo Thermoflo treatment is highly effective in treating Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), which is a blockage in the meibomian glands that causes Evaporative Dry Eye. 86% of all dry eye cases are due to Evaporative Dry Eye.

MiBo Thermoflo is a medical device that offers an alternative therapy for dry eye and blepharitis. In just 12 minutes per eye, the device gently massages the margins of the eyelids where the meibomian glands are located, using controlled heat to liquefy the secretions that block the glands. Once the blockages are removed, the complex oils can once again flow to the surface of the eye, restoring a more balanced tear film, which prevents tears from evaporating too quickly.

MiBo Thermoflo treatment has many benefits, including:

  • Nothing touches the eyeball
  • Pain-free treatment
  • No downtime
  • No associated risks or side effects
  • Relieves eye strain
  • Instant relief
  • Has a 98% patient satisfaction rate

To learn more about MiBo Thermoflo treatment for blepharitis and dry eye, or to schedule your dry eye evaluation – please give us a call today. Real relief from dry eye is a phone call away.


Learn More About:

  • mibo thermoflo treatment
    The MiBo Thermoflo is a therapeutic medical device providing a safe and effective alternative therapy for dry eyes.
  • woman suffering from allergies 640.jpg
    Many things may cause an allergic reaction. At Artisan Optics in Boise our eye doctors provide eye allergy treatments. Call for an appointment -  208-377-8899.
  • girl wearing contact lenses 640×350 1.jpg
    Contact lens wearers are at a higher risk of developing dry eye. Whether your contact lens is blocking oxygen from entering the eye, or the tear film breaks up, causing the contact lens to irritate the surface of the eye, you can get relief. Read on to learn more about contact lens-induced dry eye and to prevent and treat it.
  • happy woman blue eyes 640×350 1.jpg
    Evaporative dry eye and aqueous deficient dry eye both harm the quality and quantity of the tears our eyes rely on for hydration and comfort. The causes and symptoms of dry eye are wide-ranging, but solutions are at hand.
  • woman suffering from dry eyes 640×350 1.jpg
    Dry eye disease can develop as a result of several factors, such as age, genetics, environment, lifestyle, medications, and overall ocular health.
  • blond woman dry eyes 640×350 1.jpg
    Women are susceptible to developing Dry Eye Syndrome due to lifestyle choices (such as makeup use) and hormonal changes that occur over a lifetime. Post-menopausal women can further increase their chances when using hormonal replacement therapy.
  • man looking out the airplane window 640×350 1.jpg
    Is flying tough on your eyes? Our eye doctors give over their top 4 best tips for how to prevent dry eyes on the way to your next vacation destination!
  • woman holding a tablet smiling 640×350 1.jpg
    Do your eyes become irritated and itchy when you wear contacts? Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time can also cause dry eyes.
  • lttle girl browsing her smartphone 640×350 1.jpg
    Although the condition is rarer in kids, it is just as painful and irritating for our younger patients.