Are Your Eyes Bothering You? What you may be experiencing is Meibomian gland obstruction (Blepharitis), an underlying cause of Evaporative Dry Eye. Meibomian gland obstruction may not be accompanied by an easily visible sign such as inflammation. As a result, physicians pay close attention to the symptoms a patient reports.
Our understanding of dry eye disorders has improved dramatically in the past several years. This increased understanding has enhanced our ability to diagnose and treat patients who have these traditionally challenging conditions.
Evaporative Dry Eye may be suspected with the presence of the following dry eye symptoms:
Evaporative Dry Eye can also have a huge impact on your daily activities
Your tears Are Made of 3 Layers:
Meibomian glands: create the lipid (oil) layer of the tear film
Dr. Barry Lee was the first doctor in Georgia to offer a new treatment for Evaporative Dry Eye disorder and Blepharitis. Thanks to a recent scientific breakthrough, it’s now possible to effectively treat Blepharitis and Dry Eye syndrome – with a simple procedure that can be performed right in our office.
The LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System from TearScience® is a significant technological shift in evaporative dry eye treatment, effectively relieving blockage of the eyelid (meibomian) glands during an in-office treatment. Opening the blocked eyelid glands allows the body to resume the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for the tear film.
With the LipiView® Ocular Surface Interferometer, we can observe the tear film using digital images. A LipiView® image of the tear film can be captured during a non-invasive in-office exam that takes about 5 minutes.
Once Evaporative Dry Eye is identified, it can now be treated with a groundbreaking procedure – The LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System from TearScience®
Treatment of Evaporative Dry Eye involves opening the blocked eyelid glands by applying a combination of localized heat and pressure therapy. Previous approaches, such as the use of warm compresses, have been inconvenient and of limited effectiveness.
The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System is a significant technological shift in evaporative dry eye treatment, effectively relieving blockage of the eyelid (meibomian) glands during an in-office treatment. Opening and clearing blocked eyelid glands allows the body to resume the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for the tear film.
Treatment can be performed the same day of your initial evaluation. The procedure takes 12 minutes for each eye and is performed in our Cumberland office. In a clinical study, 76% of patients reported improvement of their symptoms within two weeks.
If you are concerned that you are experiencing a chronic dry eye condition or have ever been told you have Blepharitis, ask your doctor if you are a good candidate for this procedure.
