Dry eye syndrome (DES) occurs when tear production and drainage are
not in balance. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or their tears are of
poor quality. The result? Unpleasant symptoms, including itching, burning, redness, watery eyes,
excessive tearing—and even eye pain.
Dry eyes can also increase your risk for more serious eye problems
like corneal ulcers.
Our doctors at Thompson Family Optometry can
diagnose the cause of your dry eyes and provide long lasting soothing relief.
Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for dry eye syndrome.
However, there are a number of effective ways to prevent or treat symptoms. Make an
appointment today with our trusted optometrists in Brampton for evaluation and
personalized treatment options.
Dry eye syndrome commonly occurs because your eyes are not
producing enough tears, or the tears being produced don’t contain the proper
components to keep the eyes hydrated. An eye doctor can perform tests to determine
what is causing your dry eyes, and how to treat the symptoms.
Yes. In extreme circumstances, dry eyes can result in scratches
on the eye that leave scars on the cornea. This scarring can make it difficult for
the eye to focus incoming light, obscuring vision. This may eventually result in
permanent vision damage or blindness if not treated properly.
Treatments
Dry Eye Treatment
At Thompson Family Optometry
During a dry eye examination at our eye care center in Brampton, we will recommend dry eye
treatments tailored to treat your symptoms and provide lasting relief. We are dedicated to
ensuring that you enjoy clear and comfortable vision so that you can live your best life.
Whether you have chronic dry eye or a recent dry eye issue, we have the right treatment plan for
you.
Let our doctors and the talented, experienced staff help get you started on the path to real
long-term relief from dry eye.
Masking a mild case of DES by using redness-reducing eye drops (also called
decongestant eye drops) won’t address the underlying source of the redness. In
fact, decongestant eye drops have been shown to exacerbate DES symptoms in the
long run.
What’s more, your eyes can eventually become [desensitized] to the effects of
OTC eye drops after repeated use. This eventually leads people back to the
drugstore in search of even stronger eye drops, perpetuating the never-ending
“eye drop cycle.”
Effectively managing a health condition like dry
eye
syndrome (DES) requires a thorough diagnostic and treatment process. Knowing
exactly what’s causing your symptoms and how to treat the condition at its
source is the only way to attain long-lasting relief. At Thompson Family
Optometry, we do more than just treat the symptoms — we determine the underlying
cause of your DES and get to the root of the issue.
Even if you have a mild case of dry eye syndrome,
now
is the perfect time to start treatment, before symptoms worsen. If you’ve sought
help in the past but were told nothing else could be done to treat your eye
condition, speak with Dr. Greg Thompson regarding the latest and most effective
dry eye treatments.
Hot Compress Eye Masks
If you are suffering from mild to moderate dry eye
symptoms, such as itchy and gritty eyes, this low tech solution may be just what
you need. Hot compress eye masks are easy to use and a natural way to treat
blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and specifically – chronic dry
eye disease.
A hydrating hot compress eye mask contains special
beads that continuously absorb and store water molecules from the air. When the
mask is warmed up in the microwave, the clean, natural moist heat immediately
begins to provide soothing relief for your eyes. A heated eye mask helps
stabilize the tear film, improves oil gland function, and slows tear
evaporation.
After using the mask, your hydrated and lubricated eyes will be able to expel
bacteria and debris more efficiently so your eyes feel refreshed and
rejuvenated. The heat from the mask also helps unblock meibomian glands and
produce more tears.
Contact us to discuss your dry eye symptoms and to determine whether hot
compress eye masks are the right treatment for you.
Vitamins and Foods That Relieve Dry Eye Syndrome
Approximately 16 million Americans have dry eye
syndrome. Symptoms of dry eye—other than the obvious eye dryness—include
grittiness, burning, irritation and difficulty reading or looking at a screen
for long periods of time. Studies have shown that certain foods help the eyes
stay properly hydrated.
Specific vitamins, fatty acids and trace elements are good not only for our
overall health but also for our tear film.
Below is a list of
vitamins that help with dry eye and boosts general eye health :
Vitamin A (retinol) helps protect the surface of the eye. Vitamin
A deficiency, which usually occurs in developing countries, can cause an
increase in dry eye. By adding foods rich in Vitamin A, like carrots,
pumpkins, apricots, spinach, tomatoes, dairy products and liver, you can
prevent the development of this condition.
Vitamin B2 protects your eyes from cell damage. It is found in
broccoli, avocados, dairy products and whole-grain products.
Vitamin B6 is needed for a healthy tear film. Foods such as kale,
potatoes, goose, mackerel, salmon and sardines contain high doses of
vitamin B6.
Vitamin B12 is also important for lubricating the eyes. It’s
typically found in mackerel, beef liver, calf’s liver and pork liver. It
is also found in dairy products and eggs, though in smaller amounts.
Vitamin C protects against oxidative stress and plays an
important role in maintaining a functioning tear film. It can be found
in peppers, broccoli, rosehip, acerola berries and brussels sprouts.
Vitamin E is necessary to protect your eyes against cell damage
as well as dry eye. This vitamin is prominently found in sunflower oil,
mackerel, wheat germ oil, peppers, spinach, mangos and redcurrants.
I-DROP® MGD is a premium, preservative-free, artificial tear that helps relieve symptoms
associated with evaporative dry eye. It is the most advanced eye drop for hydrating and lubricating the
cornea.
The formulation contains 0.20% viscoadaptive hyaluronan, as well as superior osmoprotectants and
bioprotectants that stabilize and enhance the lipid layer while reducing evaporation of the tear film.
This unique formulation offers the patient unparalleled ocular hydration and comfort. It is a
long-lasting artificial tear that re-coats the surface of the eye with every blink, resulting in a lower
therapy cost to the patient with fewer daily applications.
I-DEFENCE® is a long-lasting, lubricating ointment that delivers superior moisturizing and
protection of
the ocular surface. Containing 0.40% sodium hyaluronate, I-DEFENCE®’s formulation is
extremely effective
at providing maximum, long-lasting relief of dry eye symptoms and is well tolerated by the patient.
The unique viscous properties of I-DEFENCE® enable a prolonged contact-time with the ocular
surface. This
hydrating ointment provides soothing relief of dry eye symptoms, such as soreness, irritation or a
gritty sensation on the eyes and acts as a barrier against moisture loss. It can be used during surgical
procedures and is ideal for patients that suffer from nocturnal lagophthalmos.
Enhanced formulation with Tea Tree Oil cleans and hydrates in
one easy step.
A Lid and Lash Cleanser Formulated with 5% Tea Tree Oil.One easy daily application will remove ocular
debris which helps enhance the effectiveness of tear lubricants. Cleans and hydrates in one simple
step.
What Are The Benefits Of Using I-LID ’N
LASH® PLUS?
Water-based, gel-soaked wipes for cleansing and hydrating.
I-RELIEF™ Hot & Cold Therapy Eye Mask with ThermaBeads™ can help patients manage their dry eye condition
for the relief of symptoms associated with blepharitis, dry eye disease, meibomian gland disease (MGD),
styes and chalazia, as well as headaches, sinus pressure, tension, swelling and puffiness.
Dry Eye Disease is one of the most common, yet underdiagnosed, ocular diseases. Early-onset dry eye
disease is characterized by mild symptoms that are often ignored or mismanaged by patients. As a result,
dry eye disease often goes undiagnosed until the symptoms worsen.
Eye care professionals recommend moist heat therapy as a form of supplementary treatment for people
suffering from dry eyes and other conditions of the eyelid. Hot or cold compresses can provide immediate
relief from discomfort, and consistent use over time can help increase blood circulation, stimulate
lipid oil production and reduce tear evaporation, thereby improving overall ocular health.
A Convenient, One-Step Lid and Lash Hygiene Product to Cleanse
and Hydrate
Cleans and removes ocular debris and makeup while enhancing the effectiveness of artificial tears. Used
daily, I-LID ’N LASH® is effective in maintaining lid and lash health for patients with dry eyes or
sensitive skin.
What Are The Benefits Of Using I-LID ’N
LASH®
Effective water-based cleanser
Hydrating ingredients with added glycerin for superior moisturizing
The Most Effective Viscoadaptive, Preservative-Free Artificial
Tear Available.
Who Should Use I-DROP® PUR GEL?
I-DROP® PUR GEL is recommended for patients diagnosed with moderate to severe chronic
dry eye syndrome who are looking for the ultimate relief and comfort for their dry eyes.
What Are The Benefits Of Using I-DROP® PUR
GEL?
Preservative-Free
Immediate and longer-lasting relief
Superior moisturizing and lubrication
Non-blurring upon application
Lower therapy costs due to the need for less applications
I-PLUG® FIT punctum plugs are designed for simple sizing, easy insertion, patient comfort and retention –
providing a proven treatment for chronic dry eye. Each I-PLUG® FIT punctum plug is molded from medical
grade silicone.
What Are Punctum Plugs and How Can They Help Relieve Dry Eye
Disease?
Punctum Plugs, also known as punctal occluders or lacrimal plugs, are tiny biocompatible devices that are
inserted into the tear duct to block drainage. By blocking the tear duct, tears are prevented from
draining away too quickly. This ultimately increases the eye’s tear film and surface moisture to relieve
dry eyes. This procedure is widely-performed, safe, quick, painless, and totally reversible.
What Are The Benefits Of Using I-PLUG® FIT?
Two sizes fit most patients for simple sizing
Flexible fit nose design provides easy insertion and superior retention
The information below applies to all the information contained on the drrickthompson.ca Website.
The users of this Website agree to comply with the terms set out below.
TERMS OF USE
Thompson Family Optometry owns and operates a Website at drrickthompson.ca (hereinafter referred to as the “site” or
“Website”). Thompson Family Optometry® trademark except as otherwise noted on the site, which is accessible
to all users (hereinafter referred to as the “user” or “users”). Refrain from using this Website unless you
agree to comply with the conditions.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INFORMATION
Information on this Website is intended for informational purposes only and has no contractual value.
Thompson Family Optometry reserves the right to modify the content of this site. At any time, without prior notice.
Thompson Family Optometry assumes no liability for errors or omissions in the content of this Website or for
information reliability or completeness of said information.
Information published on this Website is based on marketing, statistical or commercial services or other sources
the Thompson Family Optometry considers reliable and are the sole responsibility of their authors and not of
Thompson Family Optometry. We do not assume any liability for the accuracy or completeness of said information and in
no circumstance should this information be regarded as such. Opinions and information as presented on this site
reflect our position as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice.
UPDATING OF THE WEBSITE UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF Thompson Family Optometry
Thompson Family Optometry, its employees and directors will not be liable for damages incurred as a result of the
information published on this site, for the views and advice published, expressed or implied regardless of its
nature.
Thompson Family Optometry expressly refuses any and all responsibility for the manner in which the user of the site may
use the information contained, in any decisions that may be made and in the actions that may or may not be taken
based on said information.
COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
Presentations made and contained on this site are the intellectual property of Thompson Family Optometry. Reproduction
in whole or in part of this site on any other medium in prohibited without the express permission of
Thompson Family Optometry.
User may solely use the information contained on this site for personal use. Reproduction in whole or in part of
said information on paper may only be performed for personal use. Said information is not to be copied,
distributed or transmitted to third parties nor may it be inserted in a document or other medium.
HYPERTEXT LINKS
The links to external Websites and their content shall not be prejudged and Thompson Family Optometry will in no way be
held responsible for any direct or indirect prejudice that may result from gaining access to and usage of said
sites.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Thompson Family Optometry draws the attention of the user to the fact that all communication transmitted through this
Website remains in the public domain and not the private domain. Thompson Family Optometry cannot accept responsibility for the
security of the transmission of information.
The confidentiality and integrity of the information circulating over the internet cannot be ensured.
Thompson Family Optometry cannot accept responsibility in the case that data contained on this site is intercepted.
Thompson Family Optometry site uses cookies. These cookies are small text files saved on the hard disk of a user's
computer. These files are completely harmless and cannot contain viruses. These cookies are used to analyze
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number of visitors, path taken to access the site and length of each visit are measured. The cookies cannot, in
any way, identify the user. All data is completely anonymous and compiled solely for the purpose of improving
the site and tailoring the content to the needs of its visitors.
The person responsible for the protection of personal information is the owner of : Thompson Family Optometry
VIRUSES AND TECHNICAL GLITCHES
Thompson Family Optometry makes no representations that the content of this site is free of infections, viruses, worms,
Trojan horses and/or other codes with contaminating or destructive properties. It is the user's responsibility
to take protective measures.
Thompson Family Optometry DECLINES ALL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE EVENT OF ANY INTERRUPTION OR NON-AVAILABILITY OF THE
SERVICE
Under no circumstances shall Thompson Family Optometry be held responsible for transmission errors of any sort, such as
loss of or damage to data, or changes of any type whatsoever, including direct or indirect damage resulting from
the use of the services provided on this site.
JURISDICTION
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the province of Ontario.
Any dispute arising of this Agreement shall be brought before the court in the judicial district of
Thompson Family Optometry's head office. Address: 470 Chrysler Drive - Units 3 & 4
Brampton, ON
L6S 0C1; Tel: 905 793-2020.
PUBLISHING FIRM
Thompson Family Optometry
470 Chrysler Drive - Units 3 & 4
Brampton, ON
L6S 0C1 Tel: 905 793-2020
Acceptance of the Privacy Policy
Thank you for visiting drrickthompson.ca (the “Website”), provided to you by Thompson Family Optometry (“We”). We
respect the privacy of every individual who visits the Website and are sensitive to privacy
issues on the Internet. We believe it is important that you know how we deal with information
received about you.
This privacy policy (the “Privacy Policy”) explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect
the personal information of our customers and Website users ("you"), describes the types of
information we may collect from you or that you may provide to us, and our practices for
collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information. The Website is for
general audiences and is not specifically targeted to or intended for use by children.
We will only use your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy unless
otherwise required by applicable law. We take steps to ensure that the personal information that
we collect about you is adequate, relevant, not excessive, and used for limited purposes.
Privacy laws in Canada generally define "Personal Information" as any information about an
identifiable individual, which includes information that can be used on its own or with other
information to identify, contact, or locate a single person.
By accessing or using the Website, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy
Policy, and you are consenting to our processing of your information as set out in this Privacy
Policy. We may modify or update this Privacy Policy from time to time; if we change this Privacy
Policy in a manner that materially impacts your privacy rights, we will provide a notice to you.
Your continued use of the Website or our services after any modification to this Privacy Policy
will constitute your acceptance of such modification. However, when required by law, we will
confirm your consent to the revised Privacy Policy terms. This Privacy Policy is incorporated
into and considered a part of the Website Terms and Conditions of Use, located here
What information we collect
We collect and use several types of information from and about you, including:
Personal Information, that we can reasonably use to directly or indirectly
identify you, such as your full name, email address, telephone number and any other
identifier we may use to contact you online or offline.
Non-personal information is information that does not directly or
indirectly reveal your identity or directly relate to an identified individual, such as
demographic information, or statistical or aggregated information. Statistical or aggregated
data does not directly identify a specific person, but we may derive non-personal
statistical or aggregated data from Personal Information. For example, we may aggregate
Personal Information to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific Website
feature.
How we collect the information
Information You Provide to Us
The information we collect directly from you may include:
Communicating with us: When you contact us about a customer service issue,
Vision Entrepreneur services or to make other inquiries, we collect the content of those
communications, as well as your full name, clinic name, email, phone number, city, province,
and any additional information that allows us to answer your request.
Information We Collect While You Interact With Us Through Cookies and Other Automatic Data
Collection Technologies
We use your information, including your Personal Information, to manage our business and to
maintain and develop commercial relationships with you. We will collect, use, and disclose such
information only to the extent that is necessary for those purposes.
We use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any Personal
Information:
To provide you with information, products, or services that you request from us.
To fulfill the purposes for which you provided the information or that were described when
it was collected, or any other purpose for which you provide it.
To improve the Website, products or services, marketing, or customer relationships and
experiences.
To allow you to participate in interactive features, social media, or similar features on
the Website.
To measure or understand the effectiveness of the advertising we serve to you and others,
and to deliver relevant advertising to you.
In any other way we may describe when you provide the information.
For any other purpose with your consent.
How we share your information
We will not rent or sell your information to third parties without your consent. We only share
your data as specifically provided in this Privacy Policy.
Other Disclosures
In addition to any disclosure you may have consented to or permitted under the terms of this
Privacy Policy, we may transfer your data, including Personal Information to third parties in
the following limited circumstances:
information you expressly consent to be shared;
when relating to anonymized information (individuals cannot be identified by it);
when you decide to make the information indexable by search engines, to share or to
distribute the information to people or otherwise to make it available to the public;
to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request
within or outside your country of residence when we have a good faith belief that the law
requires it;
to enforce this Privacy Policy, the Terms, or an agreement, including investigation of
potential violations thereof;
to detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues, or protect the
operations or you;
to protect our rights, property or safety as well as yours, the public, or others;
in connection with an acquisition, merger, change in control, debt financing,
reorganization, sales of assets, bankruptcy or other change of our corporate structure or
status; or
as necessary in connection with the performance of requested services or solutions, or as
otherwise appropriate in connection with a legitimate need.
How we store and secure your information
Information Security
We are committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, availability and privacy of your Personal Information. We have put appropriate physical, technological and procedural security measures in place designed to help prevent your Personal Information from being lost, used, modified or accessed in an unauthorized way, or improperly disclosed. Examples of such measures include restricted access to offices, training of personnel, using passwords and well-defined internal policies and practices. We also use encryption technology and Secure Socket Layers ("SSL") in all areas of the Website where your personal account information is required.
In addition, we limit access to your Personal Information to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need-to-know. They will be required to process your Personal Information only on our instructions and they are subject to an obligation of confidentiality. Our service providers are required to maintain adequate security protections in place designed to help safeguard your Personal Information and are not permitted to use it for any purpose other than fulfilling services to us.
If you have any questions about securing your personal data, please contact us in accordance with the “How to Contact Us” section below.
Information Retention
We will retain your Personal Information for as long as it is needed:
to provide the products and services that you have requested;
to communicate with you about a purchase or a request you have made to us;
to manage your choices and rights you have exercised pursuant to this Privacy Policy;
to comply with our legal and regulatory obligations and to demonstrate compliance,
to resolve disputes and to enforce our rights and agreements.
We may retain non-personal information that has been sufficiently aggregated or anonymized for a longer period.
Once the retention period is over, we will dispose of your Personal Information as provided for in our internal data retention and disposal policy.
Where We Store Information
We use facilities operated by "Amazon Web Services" and located in Canada as our information storage and processing infrastructure. Our service providers can also, from time to time, store your Personal Information in accordance with purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.
How to contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact us at 905 793-2020.
Cookie Policy – drrickthompson.ca
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are and how we use them. You should read this Policy to
understand what type of cookies we use, the information we collect from the cookies, and how
that
information is managed. For further information on how we handle, store and keep your personal
data
secure, see our Term of use.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files which are stored on the browser or hard drive of your computer or
mobile
device when you visit a webpage or application. A “session cookie” stores temporary information
that
is deleted when you close your web browser or turn off your computer or device. A “persistent
cookie” enables the site to recognize when you return to it and remains stored on your computer
until you delete it. Cookies work to make your experience browsing our site as smooth as
possible by
remembering your preferences the next time you visit the site.
What types of cookies do we use?
There are four variety of cookies which operate on our website:
Essential cookies allow you to be able to experience the full functionality
of
our site. For example, these cookies allow you to change your preferred language and enable
the
website to remember it. Without these cookies, some parts of our site may not work as they
should.
Performance cookies tell us how you use our site and help us to improve it.
For
example, these cookies count the number of visitors to our website and see how visitors move
around when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our site works, for example,
by
ensuring that users find what they are looking for easily. The information collected by
these
cookies is anonymous.
Google Analytics are performance cookies used to track visits to
our
website and user behaviour on site. The data collected is anonymous and is used for
benchmarking purposes to monitor the performance of our site and to measure user
engagement on our site.
Social media cookies from social media sites such as
Facebook, Instagram, and
Pinterest
are used to enable social media buttons on our site to work. Social media buttons
allow
you to share content and interact with your social network. These social media
platform
may set their own cookies on your device. We do not control the settings of these
cookies so we suggest you check the social media website for more information about
their cookies and how to manage them. Our website will not collect or store any
personally identifiable information from the user. To find out how you can opt out
of
accepting these cookies, please visit the cookie policy and privacy policies of the
social media site.
Customizer cookies allow our site to remember your preferences, helping to
customize your experience on our site.
Our customizer cookie, which helps us to manage the technology and cookies which are
used across our site.
Targeting/advertising cookies are set by third party advertising partners
through our digital touchpoints to build profiles based on your interests. These cookies
enable
us to send you relevant content and advertising based on your preferences and track the
effectiveness of our ad campaigns.
Below are several advertising and targeting cookies that are used to identify
different
browsers and devices. They collect data anonymously for the purposes of ad
selection,
reporting, behavioural targeting, and cross-device advertising (i.e. associating
multiple devices together). In some instances, we may provide a hashed version of
your
email address or other information to the platform provider for such proposes. More
information can be found at the following links.
How do you change cookie preferences or block cookies?
Within your browser, you can choose whether you wish to accept cookies or not. Different browsers
make different controls available to you. Generally, your browser will offer you the choice to
accept, refuse or delete cookies at all times, or those from providers that website owners use
i.e.
third party cookies, or those from specific websites. Each browser’s website should contain
instructions on how you can do this.
If you block cookies on our website, you may be unable to access certain areas of our website and
certain functions and pages will not work in the usual way.
Changes to the Cookie Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. If we make significant changes we will let you know
but
please regularly check this Policy to ensure you are aware of the most updated version.
This Cookie Policy was last updated on September 25, 2023.
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