Modern In-Office Treatments for Dry Eyes

Modern Treatments For Dry Eyes

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), Dry Eye Disease, or Blepharitis may lead to patients becoming symptomatic and experiencing such issues as redness, irritation, sore eyes, scratchiness, itchiness, tearing, burning, light sensitivity, eye fatigue, and vision fluctuations with blinking. Commonly patients visit our office who experience these symptoms due to heavy computer use, living/working in a dry environment, overwear of contact lenses, taking certain medications or post-LASIK (or post-refractive surgery).

At Beverly Hills Optometry, we have a number of diagnostic tools to measure and track the signs and symptoms of these eye issues. When patients visit our practice, they are prompted to fill out the SPEED or OSDI questionnaire for dry eyes. This questionnaire aids in guiding a unique experience as well as individualized treatment plan.  Through modern techniques like Meibography (measuring the anatomy of the oil glands), Tear Break-up Time (measuring the quality of the tears), and conjunctival hyperemia (or redness analysis to check for irritation on the whites of the eyes), we can create a profile to monitor the progress of patients who enter our 4-week Dry Eye Program.

Modern In-Office Treatments For Dry Eyes

1) The Eye Massage (series of 4 sessions spaced approximately a week apart) - This treatment is a holistic approach to improving the signs and symptoms are dry eye disease by unclogging the oil glands in the eyelids. Our oil glands help produce the moisture for the eye and keep the eyes hydrated. If they are not functioning properly then problems arise. The Eye Massage is a gentle procedure that softens the harmful, hard oils and helps to unblock them. An ideal treatment to get to the root cause of Dry Eye Disease.  

2) BlephEx - Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids, usually secondary to bacterial overgrowth. BlephEx is a safe treatment to deep clean and exfoliate the eyelids and the base of the eyelash. Ideal for removing bacteria, biofilm, demodex, dandruff, flakiness, and dead cells.

3) Intense Pulse Light or IPL (series of 4 sessions spaced approximately a 2-4 weeks apart) – utilizes different intensity, frequency and wavelengths of light to close off abnormal, inflammatory producing blood vessels. Inflammation in or around the oil glands leads to poor tear film production. These abnormal, inflammatory producing vessels cause a vicious cycle of redness, irritation, and a host of eye issues. IPL is especially recommended in patients with Blepharitis, Demodex, or skin conditions (such as rosacea and dermatitis).  

The Eye Massage, BlephEx and IPL are often used together, as they are ALL complimentary in their therapeutic benefits.