Personalized Dry Eye Relief that Works
Dry eyes aren’t just uncomfortable—they can impact your vision, your focus, and your quality of life. At Simcoe Optometric Clinic, we understand that every case of dry eye is different. That’s why we go beyond drugstore drops to offer customized, doctor-led dry eye therapy using innovative diagnostic tools and medical-grade solutions.
Whether you wear contact lenses, spend long days looking at a screen, or just find yourself constantly reaching for eye drops, our expert team can help restore balance to your tear film and your comfort.
We design our treatment strategies to tackle the root cause of your dry eyes—we don’t just mask the symptoms. Don’t let dry eye slow you down—contact us to schedule your appointment today and get relief.
What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye happens when your eyes aren’t producing enough quality tears, or the tears you do make evaporate too quickly. It’s a common condition that affects over a third of Canadians, and it’s often tied to the health of your tear film, which has 3 important layers:
- Oily layer: Keeps your tears from evaporating too fast
- Aqueous (watery) layer: Hydrates and nourishes the eye
- Mucus layer: Helps the tear film spread evenly across your eye
When something’s off in this delicate balance, the result can be irritation, grittiness, stinging, blurred vision, and even watery eyes.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eye has many contributing factors. Common causes can include:
- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) when the oil glands in your eyelids become blocked or don’t secrete properly
- Reduced tear production due to aging, autoimmune conditions, or medications
- Increased tear evaporation from wind, screen time, or wearing contact lenses
- Environmental stressors like dry indoor air, air conditioning, or heating
- Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids)
- Demodex mites, which can cause chronic irritation
If your eyes feel irritated more often than not, it may be time for a dry eye evaluation.
Common Signs & Symptoms of Dry Eye
You may be experiencing dry eye if you notice:
- A stinging feeling
- A gritty or sandy feeling
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Redness or light sensitivity
- Eye fatigue
- Watering (yes, watery eyes can actually be a sign of dryness!)
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time for a closer look. Our dry eye evaluations are designed to pinpoint the cause of your discomfort, so we can target it at the source.
Seeing More Than Meets the Eye with Topcon Maestro 2
When it comes to dry eye diagnosis, precision matters, that’s why we use the Topcon Maestro 2, a powerful 3D OCT imaging system that gives us a detailed view of the structures inside your eyes. It’s noninvasive, fast, and incredibly informative.
For dry eye patients, this means we can spot signs of inflammation, damage, or changes in the tear film and surrounding tissues, often before you even notice symptoms. It helps us make confident, accurate treatment decisions tailored just for you.
Visualizing Gland Health with IR Meibography
Your meibomian glands play a crucial role in keeping your eyes lubricated and comfortable. If they’re blocked or damaged, tears can evaporate too quickly, leading to the scratchy, irritated feeling many dry eye patients experience.
With infrared (IR) meibography, we can take a closer look at these vital glands using gentle, noninvasive imaging. The scan shows us exactly how well your glands are functioning, so we can recommend the right treatments—whether that’s warm compress therapy, in-office procedures, or gland expression.
Our Dry Eye Technology & Treatments in Simcoe
At Simcoe Optometric Clinic, we use an innovative, medical approach to dry eye therapy. We start with high-resolution diagnostics to assess your tear film, glands, and eyelids, and build a treatment plan around your eyes, not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Staying Lubricated
Hydration is only one part of the equation when it comes to healthy, comfortable eyes. Your tear film also needs proper lubrication to support the constant blinking motion—something you do more than 10,000 times a day.
When your eyes don’t have enough lubrication, each blink can create friction, leading to irritation and inflammation over time. This is often linked to issues with the meibomian glands, which produce the oil that helps tears coat the eye surface and prevent evaporation.
Your eyelids and lashes can become damaged or inflamed without that protective oil.
Blepharitis & Demodex
Blepharitis is a common inflammatory condition that affects the eyelids and can be a major contributor to dry eye symptoms. One frequent cause is a tiny mite called Demodex.
While a few of these mites are normal, an overgrowth can clog your follicles and oil glands, leading to irritation, dryness, and inflammation. If we detect Demodex during your dry eye assessment, we offer in-office treatments to help reduce the population and restore balance to your eyelids.
Every treatment we offer is customized to what your eyes actually need.
Personalized Dry Eye Treatment Plans
Dry eye may not always be curable, but with the right care, it is manageable. Our optometrists take the time to understand your symptoms, health history, and daily environment to identify the root cause of your dryness.
During your dry eye consultation, we’ll:
- Review your medical history and medications
- Ask about your work environment, habits, and screen use
- Examine your tear film and meibomian gland function
- Assess for lid inflammation or Demodex mites
From there, we’ll build a tailored treatment plan that works with your lifestyle. Our goal is simple: to help you feel better in your eyes every single day.
Dry Eye Relief Starts Here
You deserve to feel comfortable in your eyes, whether you’re running errands, working on a screen, or spending time with family. At Simcoe Optometric Clinic, our dry eye care is thorough, compassionate, and always tailored to your needs.
Contact us to book your dry eye consultation—let’s find a solution that works for you.
Come Visit Us in Simcoe!
You can find our optometry practice in the Malo Professional Building on Colborne Street North. We offer plentiful parking behind our building with accessibility-friendly options available.
Our Address
100 Colborne Street NorthSimcoe, ON N3Y 3V1
Contact Information
- Phone: (519) 426-3123
- Fax: (519) 426-8594
- Email: contactus@simcoeoptometrists.com
Hours of Operation
Closed long weekends.
*From June to August, the office is closed on Saturdays. September to May, Saturday hours are 8:00am to 12:00pm.
Our Services
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Check Out Our Google Reviews
“First eye exam done here. I was nervous about getting my eyes checked so I put it off for quite a long time. It was a great experience from the moment I walked into the door. The staff was kind and friendly.”
Dylan S.
“I brought my two children in to have their eyes examined at Simcoe Optometric Clinic and it was a great experience! My son was nervous to have his eyes looked at and the doctor was very reassuring and was able to perform all the tests without any issue. The staff are also very welcoming and professional.”“I brought my two children in to have their eyes examined at Simcoe Optometric Clinic and it was a great experience! My son was nervous to have his eyes looked at and the doctor was very reassuring and was able to perform all the tests without any issue. The staff are also very welcoming and professional.”
Cheryl M.
“I recommend dr Michael zona to everyone if it wasnt for him I would likely be blind in few years if I kept going to my old person thanks your office is great :)”
Angie W.
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Simcoe Optometric Clinic
- 100 Colborne Street North
- Simcoe, ON N3Y 3V1
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P: (519) 426-3123
contactus@simcoeoptometrists.com