INDUSTRY INSIGHT
EYE HEALTH
SPONSORED CONTENT
“ASSOCIATES IN OPHTHALMOLOGY PRESENTS
THE DRY EYE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE”
ADVANCING THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DRY EYE
DISEASE USING THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY.
Dr. Ryan McBee, Optometrist, is a native of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and comes to AIO with a vast
knowledge in all aspects of optometry. A graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Dr. McBee
graduated in the top fi ve percent of his class, obtaining honors in both clinical and applied science.
His wide span of experience includes the managing and training of employees for ocular-based
studies that he conducted. He also possesses knowledge and experience in credentialing and billing,
which he used to set up optometric practices in Nevada. Dr. McBee works closely at AIO treating
patients with many ocular diseases.
Q: WHAT CAUSES DRY EYE?
A: Dry eye is a lack of adequate tears and a
loss of homeostasis due to infl ammation on
the ocular surface relating to eyelid margin
disease. Tears are a complex mixture of water,
fatty oils and mucus.
This mixture helps make
the surface of your eyes
smooth and clear, and
it helps protect your
eyes from infection. For
some people, the cause
Dr. Ryan McBee, OD
of dry eye is decreased
tear production. For others it’s increased tear
evaporation and an imbalance in the makeup
of the tears.
Q: HOW IS IT MANAGED?
A: The goal is to treat any underlying systemic
conditions causing dryness along with treating
the eye itself. Treatment usually consists of OTC
drops, prescription eye drops, eyelid therapy
or a combination of multiple therapies.
Q: WHAT ARE THE USUAL
MANIFESTATIONS?
A: The most common symptom of dry eye
is watering eyes. However, patients also
experience burning, stinging, discomfort,
heaviness, eye fatigue, decreased vision and
even an increase in glare at night. When the
eye is dry it sends a signal to the brain to
produce more tears. However, the glands that
are used to produce more tears tend to be
salty and therefore evaporate much quicker
on the ocular surface. Therefore, the eye will
constantly water.
Q: WHAT IS THE EXAMINATION LIKE TO
DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEONE IS
SUFFERING FROM DRY EYE?
A: The examination for dry eye to the patient
might not look any diff erent than a routine
eye exam. However, a dry eye evaluation has
specifi c testing geared toward this disease that
will then help determine the proper treatment
protocol.
Q: ARE SOME PEOPLE MORE PRONE TO
HAVING DRY EYE THAN OTHERS?
A: There are defi nitely age and gender
predilections, with women over the age of 50
more adversely aff ected. However, a majority
of the oral medications people take these
days have a side eff ect of causing dry eye
and as computers/cell phones become more
widely used, the incidence of dry eye has also
increased. A recent study out of a dry eye clinic
in California found that children between the
ages of 4 and 18 were already showing some
signs of dry eye and eyelid margin disease due
to increased cell phone and computer use. I
think we are going to see a lot more people at
a younger age with dry eye disease and eyelid
margin disease in the practice within the next
few years.
Q: WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL TREATMENTS
USED TO HELP PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM
DRY EYE?
A: Treatment usually consists of a combination
of drops and eyelid therapy. As we learn more
about dry eye we are fi nding that the eyelids
play a more important role than we originally
thought. I fi nd myself treating lid margin
disease (i.e. blepharitis and meibomian gland
dysfunction) where I would have treated with
only drops in the past. If the dryness cannot be
managed eff ectively with OTC therapy, then
patients have
the option of
two prescription
drops, which
are Restasis
and Xiidra. Lid
margin disease is
iLux Device — Can be Used to Treat typically treated
Both Upper and Lower Eyelids
with some
form of heat along with a cleaning product.
If the disease progresses or if it cannot be
managed simply, then antibiotics are generally
prescribed both orally and/or topically. Certain
patients will need further treatment, including
eyelid debridement and expression through
devices like the BlephX and iLux respectively.
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR PEOPLE TO HELP THEM AVOID DRY
EYE ISSUES?
A: Unfortunately, no, since there are so many
variables that can aff ect patients with dry eye
disease. The best thing to do is to seek help if
any symptoms or changes are noted.
Q: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD
LIKE TO ADD ABOUT DRY EYE?
A: I think the hardest thing about treating
patients with dry eye and eyelid margin
disease is that nothing is instantaneous.
Patients need to understand that treatment
can often take months for symptom relief and
that a majority of therapy is chronic. The good
news is that the disease is treatable and that
there are many more things to come in the
next few years for dry eye therapy. For the past
10-plus years we have only had one eye drop
option for patients, and soon we will have
multiple drop options as well as a variety of
eyelid treatments to off er patients who have
been suff ering for so long.
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FALL 2019
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