Dry eye disease (DED) affects millions of people and can range from mild irritation to serious vision-threatening conditions. At the Lange Eye Institute in The Villages, Florida, Dr. Michael Lange has designed a proven protocol that blends modern technology, targeted nutrition, and simple daily habits to bring long-lasting comfort.
Here’s a breakdown of his approach:
🔍 Step 1: Finding the Root Cause
Dry eye is never “one size fits all.” Dr. Lange begins with a full work-up that may include:
- Imaging of the meibomian glands to see if they are blocked or damaged.
- Tear film testing to measure osmolarity, break-up time, and inflammation.
- Eyelid and blink analysis to evaluate how well the lids function.
- A careful review of your health history, medications, and lifestyle that may contribute to dry eye.
💧 Step 2: Daily At-Home Care
The foundation of Dr. Lange’s protocol is consistency with small daily steps:
- Hydration & diet: Drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily, and eat a banana or avocado for potassium. Follow the anti-inflammatory Lange Survival Diet.
- Artificial tears: Use preservative-free tears such as Optase or Oasis Tears.
- If tears aren’t enough: Consider Regener-Eyes® drops, which support ocular surface healing.
- Lid hygiene: Apply a warm compress at bedtime for 5–10 minutes, followed by gentle lid cleaning with Optase Protect or Optase Tea Tree Oil wipes.
- Nutrition: Supplement with Fortifeye Advanced Dry Eye Therapy (fish oil, black currant seed oil, astaxanthin).
- Digital hygiene: Practice the 20-20-20 rule during screen time.
🏥 Step 3: In-Office Treatment Options
For patients with more stubborn or advanced dry eye, Dr. Lange offers a wide range of modern therapies:
- OptiLight IPL therapy – reduces inflammation and improves meibomian gland function.
- OptiLift treatment – tightens eyelids and improves blinking efficiency.
- Thermal pulsation therapy – devices like Thermal OneTouch® or iLux® heat and unblock meibomian glands.
- Meibomian gland expression – clears stubborn blockages manually or after thermal treatment.
- BlephEx® treatment – deep-cleans the lid margins when traditional scrubs are not enough.
- Punctal plugs (punctal occlusion) – help keep natural tears on the eye longer.
- Advanced biologics – including amniotic membranes or autologous serum tears for severe cases.
💊 Step 4: Prescription & Medical Options
If additional support is needed, Dr. Lange may prescribe:
- Cyclosporine (Restasis®, Cequa®) or Lifitegrast (Xiidra®) to reduce ocular inflammation.
- Loteprednol or other mild steroids for short-term flares.
- Tyrvaya® nasal spray to boost natural tear production.
- Oral antibiotics (such as doxycycline or azithromycin) in select cases of meibomian gland dysfunction, to reduce inflammation and improve gland secretions.
🌱 Step 5: Long-Term Success
Dry eye is a chronic condition, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Dr. Lange’s protocol combines at-home care, advanced treatments, and nutritional science to restore comfort and protect your vision.
Patients who follow this plan at the Lange Eye Institute often report:
- Fewer flare-ups
- Reduced irritation and redness
- More stable vision
- Overall better eye health
👉 If you’re struggling with dry eye and standard drops aren’t enough, Dr. Michael Lange’s protocol offers a clear path forward: simple daily steps at home, backed by advanced technology and prescription solutions when needed.