Dry Eye Specialist in San Francisco
Advanced Dry Eye Treatment in San Francisco Focused on the Cause, Not Just the Symptoms
At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, we provide advanced dry eye treatment in San Francisco for patients struggling with burning, watering, redness, blurry vision, gritty eyes, contact lens discomfort, or screen-related irritation.
Led by Dr. Lillie Mosaddegh, a board-certified ophthalmologist and experienced dry eye specialist in San Francisco, our team looks beyond temporary relief. We evaluate the tear film, eyelids, meibomian glands, inflammation, ocular surface health, medications, lifestyle factors, and underlying medical conditions that may be driving your symptoms.
Our goal is to identify the root cause of your chronic dry eye and create a personalized plan using diagnostic technology, in-office therapies, and long-term management strategies designed to support clearer, more comfortable vision.
What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears, when the tear film is unstable, or when the tears evaporate too quickly. Healthy tears protect the surface of the eye, keep vision clear, and help the eyes feel comfortable throughout the day.
Dry eye is not always simple dryness. Many patients with dry eye symptoms actually experience watering, fluctuating vision, burning, redness, or the feeling that something is stuck in the eye. This happens because irritation can trigger reflex tearing, but those tears often do not contain the right balance of oil, water, and mucin to protect the eye.
Common symptoms include:
- Burning, stinging, or scratchy eyes
- Watery eyes that still feel irritated
- Redness, inflammation, or eyelid irritation
- Blurred or fluctuating vision, especially with reading or screen use
- A gritty feeling, like sand or debris in the eye
- Light sensitivity or eye fatigue
- Discomfort with contact lenses
If over-the-counter drops are not giving lasting relief, a comprehensive dry eye evaluation in San Francisco can help identify what is causing the problem.
Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye
Aqueous deficient dry eye develops when the lacrimal glands do not produce enough of the watery layer of the tear film. This can happen with aging, autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome, certain medications, hormonal changes, or medical conditions that affect normal tear production.
Patients with aqueous deficiency may feel persistent dryness, burning, foreign body sensation, or blurred vision that improves briefly with artificial tears but returns quickly. Treatment depends on the severity and the underlying cause, which is why diagnostic testing is important before choosing a plan.
Evaporative Dry Eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Evaporative dry eye is the most common form of dry eye disease. It often occurs when the meibomian glands do not release enough healthy oil into the tear film. Without this protective oil layer, tears evaporate too quickly, leaving the eyes irritated even when tear volume appears normal.
The leading cause is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, also called MGD. MGD may be linked to blepharitis, rosacea, allergies, reduced blinking from screen use, contact lens wear, eyelid inflammation, and environmental triggers such as wind, smoke, or dry air.
Why the Tear Film Matters
The tear film is a delicate, multi-layered structure that keeps the eyes comfortable and vision clear. When one layer is unhealthy, the entire ocular surface can become unstable. At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, dry eye care begins with understanding which part of the tear film is not working properly.
Lipid Layer: The outer oily layer made by the meibomian glands. It helps prevent tear evaporation and supports a smooth optical surface.
Aqueous Layer: The middle watery layer made by the lacrimal glands. It provides moisture, oxygen, and nutrients to the cornea.
Mucin Layer: The inner layer that helps tears spread evenly and stay attached to the ocular surface.
Understanding Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is one of the most common reasons patients need advanced dry eye treatment in San Francisco. The meibomian glands sit along the eyelid margins and release oils that protect tears from evaporating.
When these glands become blocked, inflamed, or unhealthy, the tear film breaks down faster. Patients may experience burning, watering, redness, eyelid irritation, fluctuating vision, and contact lens intolerance.
MGD is often chronic, but it can be managed. In-office treatments such as LipiFlow, IPL dry eye therapy, OptiLIGHT, TearCare, BlephEx, and manual gland expression may help improve oil flow, reduce inflammation, and support a healthier ocular surface.
Common Causes of Dry Eye Symptoms
Dry eye disease can develop for many reasons. Some patients have reduced tear production, while others have tear evaporation from poor meibomian gland function. Many patients have a combination of both.
During your visit, our team reviews your symptoms, medical history, medication use, eyelid health, screen habits, contact lens wear, and ocular surface findings to understand why your eyes feel dry, watery, irritated, or tired.
Medical Conditions That Can Contribute to Dry Eye
- Autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and thyroid disease
- Blepharitis or chronic inflammation along the eyelid margins
- Rosacea and facial inflammation that affect meibomian gland function
- Eyelid position problems such as entropion or ectropion
- Hormonal changes, especially after menopause
Lifestyle and Environmental Triggers
- Long hours of screen use that reduce blink rate
- Dry air, wind, smoke, or air conditioning
- Contact lens wear
- Allergies and seasonal inflammation
- Prior eye surgery, including LASIK or cataract surgery
- Reading, driving, or detailed work that reduces normal blinking
Medications That May Worsen Dry Eye
Several common medications can reduce tear production or change the tear film. These may include:
- Antihistamines for allergies or colds
- Diuretics and some blood pressure medications
- Beta-blockers
- Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications
- Sleeping pills
- Heartburn medications
Do not stop a medication without speaking with the prescribing physician. A dry eye specialist can help identify whether medication-related dryness may be part of your symptoms.
Advanced Dry Eye Treatment Options in San Francisco
LipiFlow®
LipiFlow is an in-office treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction that uses controlled heat and gentle pressure to help clear blocked meibomian glands. By improving oil flow, LipiFlow can help stabilize the tear film and reduce evaporation-related dry eye symptoms.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy
IPL dry eye therapy, or Intense Pulsed Light therapy, targets inflammation that contributes to chronic dry eye and MGD. At Mosaddegh Eye Institute, IPL may be used to address eyelid inflammation, rosacea-related changes, and gland dysfunction that can make dry eye symptoms more persistent.
OptiLIGHT Therapy
OptiLIGHT is an IPL-based treatment designed for dry eye caused by inflammation and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Controlled light pulses are applied around the eyes to help reduce inflammation, support gland function, and improve tear film stability.
BlephEx®
BlephEx is an in-office eyelid cleaning procedure that removes debris, bacteria, and biofilm from the eyelid margins. It may be recommended for patients with blepharitis, eyelid inflammation, and dry eye symptoms related to poor eyelid hygiene.
Plasma Pen for Watery Eyes
The Plasma Pen may be used in select patients with watery eyes related to eyelid laxity or poor tear drainage. This non-surgical technology uses controlled plasma energy to gently tighten tissue and support better tear flow when appropriate.
Manual Meibomian Gland Expression
Manual Meibomian Gland Expression gently releases trapped oil from blocked meibomian glands. It is often combined with heat-based or light-based therapies to help restore healthier gland function and improve long-term dry eye treatment results.
TearCare®
TearCare applies localized heat therapy for adult patients with evaporative dry eye disease related to MGD. When paired with manual gland expression, TearCare may help improve meibomian gland oil flow and tear film stability.
Explore Our Dry Eye Treatment Options
Schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation in San Francisco
If you are dealing with chronic dry eye, watery eyes, burning, redness, or screen-related irritation, our team can help identify the cause and recommend the right dry eye treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should see a dry eye specialist in San Francisco if you have burning, watering, redness, gritty eyes, blurry vision, light sensitivity, or contact lens discomfort that does not improve with artificial tears. A full evaluation can identify whether your symptoms are related to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, tear deficiency, inflammation, eyelid disease, medications, or another ocular surface problem.
Watery eyes can happen with dry eye disease because irritation triggers reflex tearing. These reflex tears may overflow, but they often do not contain the right oil and mucin balance to protect the ocular surface. Treating the underlying tear film problem can help reduce both dryness and excessive tearing.
Mosaddegh Eye Institute offers advanced dry eye treatment in San Francisco, including LipiFlow, IPL dry eye therapy, OptiLIGHT, BlephEx, TearCare, manual meibomian gland expression, and other personalized therapies depending on the cause of your symptoms.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, or MGD, is not exactly the same as dry eye, but it is one of the most common causes of evaporative dry eye. When the meibomian glands do not release enough healthy oil, tears evaporate too quickly and the eyes may feel dry, irritated, red, or watery.
The timeline depends on the cause and severity of your dry eye symptoms. Some patients notice improvement within days or weeks, while chronic Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or inflammatory dry eye may require a series of treatments and ongoing maintenance. Your care plan will be adjusted based on your response.
