Dry Eye Therapeutic Treatment

Do your eyes ever burn or feel gritty like there is sand in them? Do your eyes tear excessively yet feel like they are dry? You may be suffering from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and dry eyes. The meibomian glands play an important role in maintaining the quality of our tearfilm and how fresh your eyes feel. Meibum or oil is released to the front surface of the eye when we blink. The oil keeps the tears on our eyes to give us clear, crisp vision.

Meibomian gland dysfunction is a common condition that occurs when the meibomian glands do not release enough oil or produce poor quality oil. Over time, the oil becomes viscous and can sometimes become similar to toothpaste consistency. When this happens, the glands become obstructed and clogged causing MGD. Patients suffering from MGD can experience symptoms of dry eyes such as blurry vision, burning sensation, sandy/gritty feeling like something is in their eyes.

We use an FDA approved medical device to perform treatment. The treatment is a soothing, spa like experience reminiscent of a cucumber peel for the eyes, except heat and massage is used. It is performed in a relaxing, serene enviroment that many find quite therapetic. During this treatment, Ultrasound gel is applied to the eye lids and then a heating device is rested on your closed eyes for a soothing gentle massage. This FDA approved medical device is designed to improve gland function and removes blockages from the meibomian glands. Using precisely controlled, continuous heat to break down the hardened oil in the glands, essentially melting them away. With a specific prescribed therapy regimen, the meibomian glands will release thinner and clearer oil and contribute to a healthy tear film, thus minimizing symptoms of dry eyes

For the best outcome, it is recommended to have 4 treatments about 2 weeks apart. After the initial 4 treatments, a follow up office visit with our doctor should be scheduled to check on the progress of your MGD. At this visit, our doctor will determine if you will need more treatment. In severe cases, this may be 3 more sessions, one month apart or every 2 weeks depending on the severity of your MGD. After the initial treatment series, our doctors recommend maintenance treatments once every 3 months.

There is no pain, no downtime and no side effects. Each session takes approximately 15 minutes. When the session is over, you are ready to go about your day.

The end result are fresher feeling eyes. Some patients even report a more youthful appearance after their treatments!