Posted by: Mann Eye in Eye Health

Occasional dry eyes are annoying, but somewhat normal. However, chronic Dry Eye is much more than a nuisance. For millions of Americans, it’s a source of irritation that affects everyday life, causing burning, redness, dryness and eye fatigue.

Chronic Dry Eye is caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). It’s a big term that basically means blockage of the meibomian glands (tiny glands on the eyelid), so they don’t secrete enough oil into the tears. As a result, tears evaporate too quickly. And when that happens? Boom. Dry Eye.

At Mann Eye Institute, we are committed to helping Texans See Life Better. And that includes offering the latest proven treatments for our patients who deal with Dry Eye Disease. We’re excited to let you know about our newest offering.

OptiLight – A Bright Solution for Dry Eyes

OptiLight is the first and only IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) that is FDA-approved for the management of Dry Eye Disease due to MGD. The treatment is comfortable, precise and proven effective.

OptiLight uses precise and intense broad-spectrum light to address inflammation – one key underlying factor in Dry Eye Disease. We gently apply the light to your skin using Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT). With four treatments of only 10-15 minutes, you could effectively manage your dry eye with no downtime.

Got questions about Dry Eye? We’ve got answers.

How Should I Prepare for OptiLight Treatment?

Great question! And the answer is simple. Just arrive with a clean face (no make-up or moisturizer). And get ready for Dry Eye relief in as little as four treatments!

What Should I Expect After OptiLight Treatment?

Other than relief, we tell patients they may experience some redness at the site of treatment. Use sunscreen, or better still, avoid sun exposure (including tanning beds) during the entire treatment schedule. There is virtually no downtime! You can OptiLight at lunch and head right back to work.

What Other Treatments Do You Have for Dry Eye?

BlephEx

BlephEx is a simple in-office procedure that expertly cleans your eyelids and eyelashes. We use a small handheld device to precisely spin a soft medical-grade micro-sponge along the edge of your lids and lashes. This effectively removes accumulated bacterial biofilm.

Once the biofilm is removed, your eyelids are cleaner and healthier. This matters because a healthy eyelid is critical for normal tear production.

LipiFlow

The LipiFlow System is a revolution in the treatment of Dry Eye. LipiFlow treatment addresses the root cause of evaporative dry eye, the most common form, by unblocking the meibomian glands that secrete oily lipids. In controlled clinical studies of patients who received a single LipiFlow treatment, the average score at four weeks increased by 2-3 times over the baseline condition!

In other words, LipiFlow uses heat and gentle movement to unclog the glands on the rim of your eyelid that help keep your tears from evaporating. When they’re free and clear, they’re able to function properly to keep more tears on your eye’s surface.

THERMIeyes

THERMIeyes was designed to tighten the skin around the eyes to reduce wrinkles. But with continued treatment, it also relieves chronic dry eye. Win, win!

We perform the THERMIeyes application using a specially designed, temperature-controlled radiofrequency device. It tightens the skin while also improving the quality of your tears. Treatment is a series of three to six applications.

What Tools are Used to Diagnose Dry Eye?

At Mann Eye, we have an Ocular Surface Treatment Center dedicated to diagnosing and treating Dry Eye. There, our experienced Dry Eye Specialists will perform a series of diagnostic tests to evaluate your unique ocular surface condition. This will help us determine the best course of action (specifically for you).

Your personal Dry Eye Assessment may include:

  • Tear Volume Measurement
  • Tear Evaporation Rate
  • Ocular Allergy Antigen Testing
  • Tear Sampling for Inflammation Markers
  • Meibomian Gland Imaging
  • Corneal Topography
  • Corneal Mapping for Aberrations
  • Anterior Segment Photography
  • Optical Coherence Tomography
  • Testing for Sjogren’s Syndrome

See Life Better Today

Regardless of the root cause of your Dry Eye symptoms, Mann Eye Institute wants to help you See Life Better! So Schedule your Dry Eye Assessment today.