Dry eye disease can affect your quality of life, making it difficult to enjoy regular activities or complete computer work. The uncomfortable symptoms associated with dry eye are often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), which in turn is caused by blocked oil in the glands lining the edges of your eyelids. Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates in Boston offers LipiFlow and OptiLight IPL dry eye treatments for MGD.
LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System
LipiFlow is a leading-edge technology that unblocks the meibomian glands using heat and pressure without harming the eyeball or surrounding tissues. Patients enjoy improved oil secretion and healthier tear film after 12 minutes of treatment. The LipiFlow system uses a diagnostic tool to confirm an MGD diagnosis before the session. The LipiView Ocular Surface Interferometer allows our Ivy-league-trained ophthalmologist to visualize the eyelid glands. Clogged oil (meibum) in the meibomian glands causes rapid tear evaporation, and the LipiFlow system lets Dr. Kornmehl observe and analyze the tear film.
LipiFlow treatment uses an anesthetic eye drop for your comfort. You close your eyes around the activator piece, which delivers warmth and gentle pressure to melt the blocked meibum. The procedure takes just 12 minutes and uses precise pressure to improve oil secretion without damaging or harming the tissues. The temperature is pre-programmed for optimal results and comfortable treatment. Patients report feeling mild pressure and return to their normal routine with no downtime.
It may take four to eight weeks for symptom relief after LipiFlow, and results continue to improve for several months. Nearly 80% of LipiFlow patients with chronic dry eyes report significant improvement. A 2012 study published in Current Eye Research found that a single LipiFlow session can reduce dry eye symptoms for nine months for sustained improvement in meibomian gland function and tear breakup time.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment for Dry Eyes
OptiLight by Lumenis is a popular and effective dry eye treatment that improves upon the previous device, Optima IPL. Optima IPL treats the cause of chronic inflammation of the lids often associated with ocular rosacea, which may lead to dry eye. About 80% of people with rosacea also suffer from meibomian gland dysfunction. The second generation, OptiLight, is FDA-approved for treating MGD. Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates upgraded to this device because it is specially designed and approved for dry eye.
Clinical trials with OptiLight showed the IPL treatment constricts blood vessels to reduce inflammation and may worsen dry eye symptoms. The study showed OptiLight sessions improved tear breakup time and meibomian gland function and reduced Demodex mites and bacteria on the eyelids.
IPL treatment with OptiLight sends light pulses through the skin that target blood vessels that cause inflammation. The blood absorbs the broad-spectrum light from the device and generates heat to constrict the blood vessels and decrease swelling. The targeted blood vessels close off and resorb into other tissues in the weeks following treatment. OptiLight increases meibomian gland function by reducing inflammation with the added benefit of a more even skin tone.
OptiLight treatments take 15 minutes at our Boston office, and patients experience noticeable symptom relief after one or two treatments; four are required the first year for optimal results. OptiLight IPL for dry eyes is best for people with rosacea or telangiectasia; these conditions affect blood vessels and cause tissue swelling around the eyelids.
If you struggle with dry eyes, contact Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates to schedule your eye exam and consultation. Call our Boston, Massachusetts, office at (877) 870-2010 or fill out our online contact form.