Dr. Elisa Xiao, Author at Eyelab, Doctors of Optometry

发表于 3 月 17, 20263 月 17, 2026 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

How to Unclog Meibomian Glands

Your eyes feel dry and scratchy every morning. You blink constantly, but nothing seems to help that gritty sensation. This frustrating cycle can happen due to your meibomian glands getting blocked with thick oils that can’t flow properly.

You can unclog meibomian glands at home using warm compresses followed by gentle eyelid massage, though some cases need professional treatment.

What Are Meibomian Glands?

Your eyelids are lined with about 30 tiny oil-producing glands called meibomian glands. These glands make a special oil that coats your tears and prevents them from evaporating too quickly.

When these glands get clogged, the oil becomes thick like cold honey instead of flowing smoothly. This leaves your tears without their protective oil layer, causing your eyes to dry out faster than normal.

Signs Your Meibomian Glands Are Clogged

Dry, scratchy eyes that feel worse in the morning
Red, irritated eyelid edges
Small bumps along your eyelash line
Eyes that water unexpectedly
Blurry vision that clears when you blink

These symptoms often indicate meibomian gland dysfunction, which can lead to chronic dry eye if left untreated.

Warm Compress Treatment for Your Eyelids

Heat helps soften the thick oils in your blocked glands, just like warming honey makes it pour more easily. When these oils become too thick, they can clog the meibomian glands along your eyelids, contributing to dry eye symptoms.

Using a Microwavable Dry Eye Mask

Many eye care professionals recommend microwavable eye masks specifically designed for dry eye treatment. These masks are made with materials that retain gentle, consistent heat and are designed to comfortably fit over your eyelids.

To use one:

Warm the mask in the microwave according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Check the temperature before applying to ensure it feels comfortably warm, not hot.
Place the mask over your closed eyelids and relax for about 10–15 minutes.

These masks are designed to deliver steady heat, which can help soften the oils within your eyelid glands and support healthier tear function.

For best results, use the mask once or twice daily, or as recommended by your eye doctor.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Most people notice some relief within 2–4 weeks of daily warm compress treatments. Your eyes might feel less scratchy after just a few days, but complete improvement takes patience and consistency.

Some glands that have been blocked for months or years need longer to start working properly again. Don’t give up if you don’t see immediate changes.

Daily Habits That Help Prevent Future Blockages

Simple changes to your daily routine can keep your meibomian glands flowing smoothly and prevent new blockages from forming. Consistency with these habits matters more than perfect technique.

Eyelid Hygiene and Gentle Cleaning

Clean your eyelids every night with lid wipes, foams, or gel.

This removes bacteria and dead skin cells that can contribute to gland blockages. Rinse thoroughly with clean water afterward.

Screen Time and Blinking Habits

You blink about 50% less when staring at phones, computers, or tablets. This reduced blinking causes oils in your glands to thicken and clog more easily.

Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. During these breaks, blink deliberately 10 times to help pump fresh oils through your glands.

When to See an Eye Doctor

Home treatments can work well for mild blockages, but some cases need professional care. If your symptoms don’t improve after 6–8 weeks of consistent warm compresses and massage, it’s time to see an optometrist. You should also seek professional help if your eyelids become swollen, develop painful bumps, or if your vision changes significantly. Our team at 眼科验光医生 provides dry eye management for patients of all ages. We can create customized treatment plans based on your specific needs. Book an appointment today to find relief.

发表于 3 月 4, 20263 月 4, 2026 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Can Allergies Cause Dry Eye?

You might notice your eyes feeling dry and scratchy during allergy season, wondering if your seasonal sniffles and scratchy eyes are connected to that gritty, uncomfortable feeling. Your instincts are right—these 2 conditions often go hand in hand, and 眼科验光医生 sees many patients dealing with this challenging combination that affects both children and adults.

Allergies can absolutely cause dry eye by disrupting your natural tear production and creating inflammation that affects how well your tear film protects your eyes. When you understand this connection, you can better manage both conditions with targeted treatments available through specialized eye care services.

How Allergies & Dry Eye Connect

When allergens enter your eyes, your immune system launches an inflammatory response that directly affects your tear glands. This inflammation can reduce the quality and quantity of tears your eyes produce.

Histamine release during allergic reactions disrupts your normal tear film, making it less stable and effective at keeping your eyes moist. You might also find yourself rubbing your itchy eyes, which wipes away the protective tear layer and makes dryness worse.

Allergic inflammation affects the tear glands
Histamine release disrupts the normal tear film
Eye rubbing from itchiness worsens dryness
Seasonal allergens can start both conditions at once

Learning more about dry eye disease can help you recognize when allergies are contributing to your discomfort and plan appropriate treatment.

Signs Your Dry Eyes Come From Allergies

Allergy-related dry eye often starts with watery, itchy symptoms that gradually turn into dryness as inflammation takes hold. You’ll typically notice your symptoms follow seasonal patterns or occur after exposure to specific allergens.

The combination of itching with dryness is a telltale sign that allergies are involved in your eye discomfort.

Watch out for:

Itchy, watery eyes that turn dry
Red, swollen eyelids
Symptoms worsen during specific seasons
Burning or stinging sensation
Gritty feeling in your eyes
Clear, stringy discharge

When It’s Allergies vs Other Dry Eye Causes

Allergy-related dry eyes often come with itching, while other forms of dry eye tend to focus more on burning or grittiness without the urge to rub. Your symptoms might spike during certain times of year or after exposure to pets, dust, or outdoor activities.

Other dry eye causes, such as aging or screen time, tend to cause more consistent symptoms that don’t follow seasonal patterns. If your eyes only bother you during the spring pollen season or around cats, allergies are likely the main factor.

Common Allergens That Start Dry Eye

Different allergens become active throughout the year, which explains why your dry eye symptoms might come and go with the seasons. Knowing your specific allergens can help you prepare for flare-ups.

Some allergens are present year-round in your home environment, while others peak during specific months when plants release pollen into the air.

Watch out for:

Tree pollen in spring
Grass pollen in summer
Ragweed in fall
Dust mites year-round
Pet dander year-round
Mold spores year-round

Indoor vs Outdoor Allergens

Outdoor allergens like pollen tend to create seasonal patterns in your dry eye symptoms, with spring tree pollen often being the most problematic for many people. You might notice your eyes feel worse on windy days when pollen counts are high.

Indoor allergens like dust mites and pet dander can cause year-round dry eye issues that might seem less obvious because they don’t follow seasonal patterns. Your symptoms might be worse in bedrooms or living areas where these allergens concentrate.

Treatment Options That Actually Work

Managing allergy-related dry eye requires addressing both the allergic response and the tear-film problems it causes. The most effective approach combines allergen avoidance with treatments that restore healthy tear production.

At-Home Relief Methods

Preservative-free artificial tears can provide immediate relief without adding chemicals that might irritate already sensitive eyes. Cool compresses help reduce the inflammation that’s disrupting your tear production.

When Antihistamines Help & When They Don’t

Oral antihistamines can reduce the allergic response that’s creating inflammation in your tear glands, but they might also have a drying effect that makes your dry eye symptoms temporarily worse. Antihistamine eye drops often work better because they target the specific area without affecting your whole system.

You might need to balance allergy control with dry eye management, sometimes using artificial tears more frequently when taking oral allergy medications.

Professional Treatment for Persistent Symptoms

When home care isn’t providing enough relief, an eye doctor in Vancouver can offer specialized treatments that target both your allergic response and your dry eye symptoms. Professional treatment becomes important when ongoing discomfort affects your daily activities.

Specialized Dry Eye Management

Prescription anti-inflammatory eye drops can address the inflammation that’s disrupting your tear production, while punctal plugs help your eyes retain the tears they do produce. IPL therapy uses light energy to improve the function of oil glands around your eyes.

Prescription eye drops for inflammation
Punctal plugs to retain tears
IPL therapy for chronic cases
Custom treatment plans for your specific allergens

Why Children Need Special Care

Kids often can’t describe their dry eye symptoms clearly and might just complain that their eyes “feel funny” or rub them frequently. Children also tend to touch their eyes more often, which can worsen both allergic reactions and dryness.

Pediatric treatment focuses on gentle, preservative-free options and teaching kids how to avoid rubbing their eyes when they feel scratchy.

At 眼科验光医生, the team specializes in dry eye management and can help identify whether allergies are contributing to your symptoms. Contact the practice to learn more about comprehensive treatments that address both the inflammatory response and dry eye symptoms, providing lasting relief for you and your family.

发表于 9 月 9, 20259 月 9, 2025 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Pink Eye vs. Stye: How to Tell the Difference

Close-up of a young person with their eyes turned upwards. A bump potentially indicative of a stye is visible under their left eye.

Eye infections can be stressful for parents, especially when your child complains of eye pain or irritation. Two of the most common culprits for irritated eyes are pink eye (conjunctivitis) and a stye (hordeolum). Both can cause redness, swelling, and discomfort, but they’re actually very different conditions.

When it comes to kids, spotting the differences between pink eye and a stye early helps you get the right treatment quickly. Pink eye usually causes widespread redness and discharge in the eye itself, while a stye appears as a painful bump on the eyelid.

Let’s have a look at what pink eye and styes are, how to tell them apart, whether they’re contagious, and when to see an optometrist.

Understanding Pink Eye

Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva—the clear tissue that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white of the eye. In children, it often looks alarming because the whole eye may appear red or bloodshot. Pink eye can cause itchiness, tearing, and sometimes a sticky discharge that makes the eyelids crust together after sleep.

How do you know if your child has pink eye? The answer depends on the cause. Pink eye can be triggered by:

Viruses (like adenovirus, which often spreads with colds)
Bacteria (such as Streptococcus or Staphylococcus)
Allergens (like pollen, dust, or pet dander)
Irritants (such as chlorine from pools, smoke, or harsh chemicals)

Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious, especially in school or daycare settings. Allergic and irritant types are not. While most cases of pink eye are mild, bacterial pink eye may require antibiotics.

Common Symptoms of Pink Eye

Redness across the white of the eye
Watery or mucous discharge (clear with viral, thick and yellow-green with bacterial)
Itchy or gritty sensation
Crusty eyelids in the morning
对光敏感
Swollen eyelids

Understanding a Stye

A stye is a small, painful lump on the eyelid, similar to a pimple. It forms when an oil gland in the eyelid becomes blocked and infected, most often by Staphylococcus bacteria. Unlike pink eye, a stye does not spread across the eye’s surface—it stays localised to the eyelid.

Unlike pink eye, styes are not typically contagious. However, the bacteria that cause styes can be spread through poor eyelid hygiene, so it’s important to teach kids not to rub their eyes.

Common Symptoms of a Stye

A red, swollen bump on the eyelid (external or internal)
Localised tenderness or pain
Swelling in the eyelid, sometimes with a visible white spot
Tearing or watery eyes
Crusting along the lash line

Most styes heal on their own within a week. Warm compresses applied several times daily can help the stye drain naturally.

Stye vs Pink Eye: Key Differences

While both conditions can cause redness and irritation, there are several clear differences:

地点
- Pink Eye: Affects the conjunctiva, covering the eyeball.
- Stye: Appears as a lump on the eyelid margin.
Appearance
- Pink Eye: The entire white of the eye looks red.
- Stye: A single, red, pimple-like bump on the eyelid.
Discharge
- Pink Eye: Watery or pus-like discharge.
- Stye: Minimal discharge, usually only crusting.
Contagion
- Pink Eye: Viral and bacterial forms are highly contagious.
- Stye: Generally not contagious.

How Do You Get Pink Eye?

Children are especially prone to pink eye, which spreads easily in shared spaces. Kids can catch it by:

Touching their eyes after contact with contaminated surfaces (toys, doorknobs, desks)
Sharing towels, washcloths, or pillowcases
Exposure to someone already infected
Swimming in pools without proper chlorine balance

Good handwashing habits and teaching children not to touch their faces are key ways to lower risk.

Close up of young person's eye. Redness in the sclera indicates symptoms of pink eye.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Treating Pink Eye

Viral pink eye: Usually clears on its own in 1–2 weeks. Cool compresses and lubricating eye drops can ease discomfort.
Bacterial pink eye: May require antibiotic eye drops or ointments. Keeping the eyes clean and avoiding contact with others helps prevent the spread.
Allergic pink eye: Treated with antihistamine or anti-inflammatory drops. Reducing allergen exposure (keeping windows closed during pollen season, washing bedding often) is helpful.
Irritant pink eye: Apply preservative-free artificial tears and avoiding further irritants is usually enough.

Treating a Stye

Apply warm compresses for 10–15 minutes, several times a day.
Do not squeeze or pop the stye—it can worsen the infection.
Keep eyelids clean using medicated lid wipes or hypochlorous acid (HOCI) sprays.
Avoid eye makeup until healed.
In stubborn cases, an optometrist may prescribe antibiotic ointment.

Prevention Tips

Both pink eye and styes can often be avoided with good hygiene:

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
Avoid touching or rubbing the eyes
Do not share towels, bedding, or makeup
Keep glasses, contact lenses, and cases clean
Encourage children to practice good eyelid hygiene if they’re prone to styes

When To See an Optometrist

If your child has severe redness, pain, swelling, light sensitivity or vision changes, or if their symptoms don’t improve within a few days, it’s time to see an eye care professional. Proper diagnosis ensures the right treatment and prevents complications.

Understanding the difference between a stye and pink eye can save you time, reduce worry, and help you get the right care for your child. If you’re ever unsure, an eye exam is the best way to confirm what’s going on.

At Eyelab in Vancouver, BC, our experienced team specializes in pediatric eye care and can provide accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and compassionate support for your child’s eye health. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and keep your family’s eyes healthy.

发表于 5 月 8, 20241 月 5, 2024 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

How can I have Dry Eye if my eyes feel watery?

Tearing

Tears are needed to keep the eye’s front surface healthy and to maintain clear vision. It is
common to temporarily produce excess tears when you are emotional, laughing, coughing,
vomiting, experiencing strong taste sensations, or yawning.

Types of Tears

Different types of tearing consist of basal tears, emotional tears, and reflex tears. Basal tears are your basic functional tears. They are released in tiny amounts to lubricate your ocular surface and keep it clear of any dust. These are vital for good vision and comfort. Emotional tears are triggered by strong feelings such as joy or sadness. Reflex tears result from irritation in the eye by foreign bodies, or from the presence of irritant substances in the environment. They can also occur with bright lights hot or peppery stimuli to the tongue and mouth, when we yawn, cough or even vomit. These types of tears are released in larger amounts than basal tears. Their goal is to protect one’s eye.

How can I have Dry Eyes if my eyes are so watery?

The two common causes of watery eyes are blocked tears ducts and excessive production of tears. The common cause of excessive production of tears is dry eye syndrome. This occurs due to the glands around our lid margins not producing enough oil resulting the tears drying up very quick. This lack of lubrication results in our eyes producing an abundance of tears to compensate.

发表于 4 月 24, 20241 月 5, 2024 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Ever wonder how you’re able to perceive color?

The Basics

Color vision is an important part of human visual perception, and it is possible due to the photoreceptors in the retina. The human eye consists of two basic photoreceptor cell types, rods, and cones. Rods are responsible for vision in dim light, and cones are responsible for bright light and enable perception of color. Individuals with normal color vision have three subtypes of cones with different wavelengths corresponding to their peak absorption. Found in the central part of the retina are the cones that are sensitive to either red light (long wavelengths ~555nm), green light (medium wavelengths ~530nm) and blue light (short wavelengths ~ 426nm). Normal color processing consists of the cones registering different colors and sending information through the optic nerve to the brain. This enables us to distinguish countless shades of color.

Color Vision Deficiencies

Color vision deficiency or known as color blindness could be congenital or acquired.
Congenital color deficiencies are typically bilateral and non-progressive, and acquired is
more likely unilateral and progressive. The types of color deficiency include red-green
deficiency and blue-yellow deficiency. Individuals with severe color vision defects lack
the photopigment to see color completely while others with a mild color vision defect
have a reduced sensitivity to certain colors. The degree of dysfunction varies between
individuals, mildly affected individuals may pass some of the less sensitive color vision
tests such as Farnsworth D-15 hue test. The most common type of color deficiency is red-
green deficiency. Color vision deficiency can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye
examination. Testing that can be performed in clinic include, pseudoisochromatic tests,
arrangement tests (ex. Farnsworth D-15) and anomaloscope.

photo credit: colorblind-test.io/ishihara-test

photo credit: color-blind-test.com/d15-color-blind-test-more

Treatment and Implications

Color vision deficiency can be frustrating and may limit participation in occupations that include being able to differentiate between colors. Few examples include pilots, truck drivers, law enforcement, and policing. There is no cure for inherited color deficiency. However, using specifically tinted eyeglasses or wearing red-tinted contact lens on one eye can increase some people’s ability to differentiate between colors.

发表于 3 月 27, 20241 月 5, 2024 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Will I Develop Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus up close. This tends to start around your early 40s and progresses until around the age of 65. You may notice starting to hold reading material further away to keep it clear, blurry vision at previously normal reading distance, eyestrain or headaches after extended periods of reading.

Managing presbyopia

Depending on your health, lifestyle and preferences, your eye care specialist may suggest any of the following methods to correct presbyopia:

Eyeglasses in the form of readers, bifocals, progressives, etc.
Contact lenses, typically multifocal or monovision
Surgeries
Eye drops such as Vuity

Can I prevent presbyopia?

You can’t prevent presbyopia since it’s a part of the natural aging process. You can, however, take steps to protect your eye health. This includes:

Wearing sunglasses to shield your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Eat foods rich in nutrients that promote eye health, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and lutein, and Omega-3s
Improve lighting in work areas
Increase font and change contrast in smart phones or computer devices etc.

发表于 3 月 6, 20241 月 5, 2024 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Are optometrists, opticians, and ophthalmologists the same?

As a patient, understanding the role and the services offered by each of these three eye care
professionals will help you get the specific eye care you need, know what questions to ask, and work
with your health care provider to determine appropriate solutions that work for you.

Optometrists

Optometrists perform eye exams to check the overall health of your eyes and issue prescriptions for contact lenses or glasses, or low vision devices. The optometrist will perform a number of tests including visual acuity (how well you can see letters/symbols from a distance and near), your ability to see colour, your depth perception, retinal health, the pressure inside your eyes etc. The optometrist may use eye drops to dilate your pupils to help them detect conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration and more.

Ophthalmologists

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye health and related diseases. Ophthalmologists undergo post-graduate training that qualifies them to treat eye diseases both medically and surgically. Ophthalmologists provide surgical solutions to common eye problems such as cataracts, and monitor eye conditions like glaucoma as well as perform laser corrective surgery.

Opticians

Opticians fit, adjust and dispense prescription and non-prescription eyewear. They do not perform eye exams nor prescribe but can assist with filling your prescription, adjusting glasses, and ordering new/replacement contact lenses.

发表于 2 月 21, 20241 月 5, 2024 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Are Cosmetic (Color) Contact Lenses Safe?

photo credit: drtavel.com

Cosmetic contact lenses or colored contact lenses may seem harmless but can lead to severe eye problems or loss of vision if not fit by an eye specialist. You need to have a prescription for contact lenses as they are deemed medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Non- prescription contacts can create problems due to issues such as poor fitting or unclean packing/creation.

When contact lenses not specifically fitted and sized for your eyes are worn, the cornea may be scratched, potentially leading to the following:

Painful corneal abrasion
Decreased vision
Redness, soreness, itching
对光敏感
Allergic reactions
Corneal ulcers

Eye infections are also very common in non-prescribed contact lenses and may lead to the following:

Persistent eye pain
Decreased vision
对光敏感
Discharge from the eye (this could be green/yellowish mucus like or more watery)

Discussing your options and proper contact lenses hygiene with an eye care professional, having the
proper measurements of your eyes taken, and getting a valid prescription is an easy way to avoid these
potentially life changing complications.

发表于 1 月 31, 20241 月 5, 2024 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Is it Blepharitis?

Blepharitis is when you have inflammation of your eyelids. Sometimes the cause is from skin conditions
such as dandruff or rosacea while other times the cause could be from overpopulation of bacteria or
even parasitic mites called demodex.

Image from: https://www.allaboutvision.com

Some signs or symptoms you may be experiencing include:

Red, swollen eyes
A gritty or burning sensation in your eyes
Excessive tearing or itching
Dry eyes or crusted eyelashes
Increased sensitivity to light
Dandruff-like scales on the eyelashes
Blocked eyelid glands
Eyelashes may fall out of be misdirected inwards causing damage to the cornea
Increased risk of infection

So what can you do?

With so many varying signs and possible causes it is important to have a comprehensive eye exam in
order to determine the type of blepharitis you may have. Once determined a specified treatment plan
can be made to manage the condition. Luckily, in many cases taking care of your eyelid hygiene,
whether in office or at home, is a simple enough method in keeping the symptoms of blepharitis at bay
and from affecting your daily life. It is important to remember that this will likely be a long term plan.
Treatments in office or at home may help jump start your recovery, but proper hygiene must be
maintained overtime, or the symptoms of blepharitis may return.

At-home ocular hygiene tips:

Frequently wash your the scalp and face
Warm compresses to help soften crust and help unclog oil glands present in eyelids
Use artificial tears (often helpful when placed in the fridge to bring down inflammation)
Limit or stop using eye makeup during treatment, as it makes lid hygiene more difficult.
Nutrition changes/supplements such as omega-3s

More severe cases may warrant in-office treatments:

Photo credit: Eye Health Shop, 2023

Intense Pulsed Light therapy, involving the application of bright red light pulses to your eyelids
BlephEx®, which involves cleaning your eyelid margins with microblepharoexfoliation.
Lipiflow or other dry eye focused treatments may be used concurrently
Depending on your case antibiotics or steroids or tea tree oil products may be prescribed
Products may be available in office to complement treatment, such as BIHOCL or eyelid scrubs

发表于 1 月 17, 20241 月 5, 2024 通过 Dr. Elisa Xiao

Why Do I Need To Get My Eyes Dilated?

It’s not the most comfortable experience, but…

Dilation is a crucial component of your eye exam. Dilating drops enlarge your pupils to allow more light to enter the eye, giving the doctor a better view of the interior and back of your eye. Think of it as looking through a keyhole – the larger and wider the keyhole, the more you can see into the room behind the door.

Why is dilation important?

It enables your optometrist to more accurately determine your prescription by unmasking the effect of accommodation.
It helps to identify eye conditions in children, such as amblyopia (lazy eye).
It helps detect retinal conditions, glaucoma, and other neurological conditions

If it’s so important, why isn’t it done in every eye exam?

Although it is recommended for everyone, dilation is not absolutely necessary for all patients and situations. Dilation can cause blurry near vision and light sensitivity for several hours after the drops are applied. To determine if dilation is needed and appropriate, your optometrist considers several factors:

Age. The risk of eye diseases increases with age, so dilation is highly recommended for adults/seniors. In children, it helps to determine a more accurate prescription that is not masked by their accommodation system.
Ocular history/ Family history. Having a history of eye diseases can predict your risk for developing certain conditions. Genetics plays a role in many ocular diseases.
Overall health. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and other systemic conditions increase the likelihood of developing eye problems.
Presenting symptoms. Symptoms that draw patients into the exam room may warrant a dilated exam. Flashes, floaters, or curtain veil over vision warrant immediate dilation, as they can be a sign of a serious condition.