Phone: 0141 943 3300
72 Drymen Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2RH
Request an Appointment
Phone: 0141 943 3300
Request an Appointment
Dry Eye Treatments That Go Beyond Drops — Personalised Care For Chronic Symptoms

If you’ve tried “everything” — lubricating drops, gels, warm compresses, lid wipes — yet your eyes still feel dry, gritty, sore or watery, it’s often because dry eye isn’t one condition. It’s a spectrum of problems involving tear quality, tear quantity, eyelid inflammation, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and ocular surface damage.

At Peter Ivins Eye Care, we use the results of your 60–90 minute diagnostic assessment to build a personalised treatment plan that can combine in‑clinic procedures with targeted home care.

Why In‑Clinic Treatment Matters

Many people arrive having seen multiple providers and used multiple eye drops without lasting relief. Our clinic is designed for those “stuck” cases, using objective testing to identify the dominant driver (e.g., MGD/evaporation vs low tear volume vs inflammation) and then targeting it directly.

We also track outcomes using repeatable measurements (tear stability, lipid layer, redness, meibography), so your plan evolves based on evidence — not guesswork

In‑Clinic Treatment

Below is the range of treatments that may be recommended depending on diagnosis and severity.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) For Dry Eye / MGD

If your symptoms are driven by evaporative dry eye and MGD, IPL can be an effective tool. Peter Ivins Eye Care was the first practice in Scotland to offer IPL for the treatment of dry eye in 2016.  IPL is a quick and painless procedure used to treat MGD (a key cause of dry eye symptoms), by helping open and warm the glands and reducing inflammatory contributors around the eyelids; meibomian gland expression is performed immediately afterwards.  

Best for:
  • Evaporative dry eye / MGD
  • Lid margin inflammation / ocular rosacea patterns
  • Recurrent styes and gland blockage patterns

BlephEx (In‑Office Lid Margin Cleaning)

BlephEx is an in‑practice cleaning procedure that removes debris and biofilm from eyelid margins. Peter Ivins Eye Care was the first practice in Scotland to offer BlephEx in 2014. BlephEx is a quick, in‑office procedure using a micro‑sponge along the eyelid margin to remove scurf and debris.

Best for:
  • Blepharitis
  • Collarettes/debris at lash line
  • Chronic lid inflammation contributing to dry eye

Common pairing: BlephEx + IPL in more stubborn inflammatory patterns

Scleral Contact Lenses (“Liquid Bandage” Lenses)

For severe dry eye and complex ocular surface disease (including neuropathic dry eye), scleral lenses can act like a liquid bandage, trapping saline/tears between lens and cornea to provide ongoing bathing and protection. Peter Ivins Eye Care was the first practice in Scotland to fit scleral contact lenses for dry eye in 2015.

Punctal Plugs (Intracanalicular + Semi‑Permanent)

When symptoms are driven by reduced tear volume, punctal occlusion can help retain tears longer. Peter Ivins Eye Care lists punctal plugs as a treatment option within their dry eye service offering.

Zocular Eyelid System Technology (ZEST)

Deep lid hygiene procedures (like ZEST) can be used to reduce lid margin debris/biofilm and support a healthier ocular surface. It can be performed as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with IPL and/or BlephEx.

Meibomian Gland Probing

Peter Ivins Eye Care was the first practice in Scotland to offer meibomian gland probing in 2017. For more resistant obstruction, probing may be recommended as part of a structured plan (usually after imaging confirms significant gland obstruction and other interventions have been considered).

Blefacalm Eyelid Cleaning

A professional eyelid treatment option that may be recommended for lid margin disease as part of your personalised plan. Again can be combined with IPL and/or BlephEx.

Meibomian Gland Expression

Where glands are blocked, expression can help clear thickened secretions and restore oil flow, improving tear film stability. We include meibomian gland assessment and management as a core part of the clinic approach.

Often paired with

IPL (immediately after IPL treatment)

Amniotic Membrane + Bandage Contact Lens

For more severe ocular surface disease, amniotic membrane therapy may be considered to protect the cornea and support healing. Peter Ivins Eye Care was the first practice to introduce amniotic membrane use for dry eye in 2019.

Bandage Contact Lenses

Bandage lenses may be used to protect the ocular surface in specific cases, usually time‑limited and closely monitored, forming part of a broader plan in more severe presentations.

NuLids Eyelid Cleaning

NuLids is another mechanical lid‑hygiene support option used in some dry eye / blepharitis plans. This can also be combined with Zocular/Blefacalm  and/or IPL.

Moisture Chamber Glasses.

Moisture chamber glasses help reduce tear evaporation by creating a humid, sealed environment around the eyes, which improves comfort for people with dry eye. They can also protect the eyes from wind, air‑conditioning, and other environmental triggers that worsen dryness.

See More

A Clear Pathway (So You’re Not “Trying Random Things”)

We rarely recommend just one thing. Dry eye is typically managed with a staged plan:

  1. Stabilise the lids and tear film (hygiene, heat, suitable lubricants)
  2. Treat inflammation if present (guided by testing such as InflammaDry and clinical signs)
  3. Treat gland dysfunction when MGD is a driver (IPL + expression, or other targeted options) [
  4. Escalate for severe disease (punctal plugs, bandage lenses, scleral lenses, amniotic membrane)

Book A Dry Eye Assessment

You can make an appointment with our expert.

You can also use our online appointment system.  

Phone: 0141 943 3300
72 Drymen Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2RH
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