Quality Vision CareFor Miami

Treatment Options

How do we determine if you are suffering from Dry Eye or MGD?

In our Miami Dry Eye Clinic, a series of evaluations will be conducted, that include an examination of the Meibomian Glands to determine the likely cause of your Dry Eye symptoms.  Even though Dry Eye is usually a chronic condition, there are several treatment options your doctor can prescribe.

  • Your doctor may suggest using artificial tears, which you can buy over-the-counter.  Preservative-free artificial tear solutions are preferred because they have fewer ingredients that could further irritate your eyes.  Sometimes people will not have their symptoms resolved with artificial tears alone.
  • Vitamins, diets or dietary supplements high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may help lower the risk of developing dry eye syndrome.
  • A second approach is to try to keep the tears you produce in your eyes longer.  This is done by blocking the drainage area of the eye by inserting little “plugs” into the tear ducts.  These are called Punctal Plugs and can be removed if they are ineffective or overly bothersome.
  • Prescription eye drops are a third approach and help to increase the number of tears your eyes produce. However, some people may forget to use the drops on the recommended schedule or may not be able to get the drop into the eye successfully.
  • If you have an eyelid condition, you might be referred to a specialist who can surgically repair the eyelids.  If, however, they are inflamed because of blepharitis, warm lid compresses or oral antibiotics may be all that’s needed.

It’s time to change your outlook on Dry Eyes.

Dry Eye and MGD? (with subtitles) from TearScience on Vimeo.

If you’ve been unable to receive long-lasting relief from over-the-counter or prescription remedies you’ve tried, it may be because they haven’t been targeting the primary cause of your condition – the blockage of your Meibomian glands located in your eyelids.

Dry Eye or MGD?

There are roughly 30 million people in the United States and over 300 million worldwide who have been diagnosed with dry eye.  Most have learned to live with eye discomfort and have become dependent on drops or other treatment methods that only offer temporary relief.  This has been due to a lack of understanding that the root cause of most dry eye (86%) is now known to be a chronic and progressive condition, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or MGD.

Dry Eye or MGD

MGD Identification

A series of evaluations will be performed to determine if you have MGD.  This can include a LipiView® tear film and gland imaging and a Meibomian Gland evaluation.  Knowing what is causing your Dry Eye will help your doctor determine the best treatment option.

 

MGD Identification

 

The tear film can be clearly seen as an array of colors that are reflected when a light source is directed towards the front surface of the eye. Readings are instantly calculated and displayed on the LipiView® monitor.

LipiView Treatment

Now, with the breakthrough LipiFlow® technology, it’s possible to directly treat the root cause of MGD.

Treating MGD with LipiFlow®

While there are multiple choices available for treating MGD, LipiFlow® is the only FDA-cleared device for removing gland blockages and restoring gland function.  Through advances in the application of Vectored Thermal Pulsation (VTPTM) technology, the LipiFlow® treatment utilizes a patented algorithm of heat applied to the inner eyelids and massage to remove the obstructions in your Meibomian Glands.

LipiFlow Treatment

The LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System, by TearScience®, is a significant technological shift managing evaporative dry eye. With a single procedure, applying a combination of directed heat and pulsatile pressure, many find a single treatment effective in relieving the blockage of their Meibomian glands.  The LipiFlow® System is intended for the application of localized heat and pressure therapy in adult patients with evaporative dry eye.  Opening the blocked glands may allow your body to resume its natural production of tear film oil.

LipiFlow® treatment is clinically proven with sustained results.  In a clinical study, about 79% of patients reported an improvement in overall dry eye symptoms after a single LipiFlow® treatment.  Depending on the severity of your specific condition and your response to treatment, you may need to repeat the LipiFlow® treatment periodically as your symptoms return over time.

With LipiFlow® – regular checks and ongoing care to monitor your progress – let us help you experience Dry Eye relief like never before.

What actually happens during a LipiFlow® treatment?

The LipiFlow® Activator (a disposable eyepiece) is inserted under your lower and upper eyelid and is shaped to prevent contact with your cornea.  Once in place, you simply recline in the treatment chair and experience the 12-minute procedure.  In a clinical study, 32% of patients reported no discomfort and 48% of patients noted awareness of pressure without pain during the LipiFlow treatment.  The average total Meibomian gland score for patients who received a single LipiFlow treatment more than doubled from 6.3 ± 3.5 glands at the baseline to 16.7 ± 8.7 glands at 4 weeks. As previously mentioned, 79% of patients treated with LipiFlow in the clinical study reported an improvement in overall dry eye symptoms.

Why is LipiFlow® superior to other Dry Eye therapies?

If you’re a moderate or severe Evaporative Dry Eye sufferer, life can seem like a constant battle to alleviate symptoms.  Those drops and warm compresses become a regular ritual.  You’ve tried blinking exercises and lid scrubs.  And you avoid wearing contact lenses and extended sessions in front of the computer.

If this sounds familiar, you may need LipiFlow®.  It’s the breakthrough treatment for evaporative Dry Eye.  LipiFlow® is:

  • The first and only treatment that addresses the cause of Evaporative Dry Eye at the source, allowing your eyelid glands to produce the oils required for a healthy tear film.  Other treatments – warm compresses and drops – just give you temporary symptomatic relief.
  • The only treatment that can give you sustained relief through improved gland function.  Other treatments require daily, and some times even hourly, attention to keep your Evaporative Dry Eye under control.
  • A powerful step in managing Dry Eye disease, providing symptom relief and helping stop the cycle of Dry Eye deterioration and worsening symptoms.

The Lipiflow procedure is non-invasive, can be performed in our office, and treatment of both eyes takes twelve minutes.  Please call our office at 305-598-2020 or Request an Appointment on our website, to schedule an evaluation with one of our Dry Eye specialists today.