Ocular Surface Issues with Evaporative Dry Eye
There are 2 general ways to treat dry eyes:
Treat the symptom: Use eye drops (over-the-counter and prescribed, pharmaceuticals), nasal sprays, oral medications, and warm compress over the eye. These need to be performed daily to maintain therapy.
Treat the underlying cause: Reviving the glands using IPL + RF technology with the overall goal for you to produce your own tears.
Innovative EyeCare leverages advanced treatment technologies to treat the underlying cause of the most prevalent type of dry eye issues from inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
INMODE Lumecca Intense Pulsed Light treatment (IPL) works to control the inflammatory process and to stop the vicious cycle of inflammation and to reduce the need for medications.
IPL is used to treat:
Ocular rosacea - the powerful bursts of light close off blood vessels that release inflammation in ocular rosacea causing dry eye.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Inflammatory dry eye - helps to decrease bacteria around eyelids.
INMODE Forma Radiofrequency treatment (RF) uses Radio-Frequency energy to generate heat which is applied to the skin around the eyes. This heat stimulates collagen formation, bringing white blood cells, and stem cells to the skin around your eyes while reducing inflammation. This treatment aids in opening up clogged meibomian glands, allowing for improved tear production and secretion.
As a an added benefit and noticed side effect, IPL and RF stimulate collagen production by smoothing wrinkles and eliminate dark spots for younger looking eyes.
*Note* These INMODE devices are FDA approved for cosmetic and dermatology uses, it is not specifically FDA-approved for dry eye and it is considered an off-label use for dry eye. The Arizona Board of Optometry has determined that the scope of practice for optometrists with IPL is for the medical purpose of treating dry eye and inflammation affecting a patient’s vision.
Evaporative dry eye occurs when tears evaporate too quickly from the surface of the eye, often due to dysfunction of the glands inside of our eyelids (meibomian gland dysfunction, MGD). This leads to inadequate tear lubrication on the ocular surface, resulting in eye discomfort, including a sandy or gritty feeling, extra-watery eyes, or fluctuating, blurry vision.
Factors that make dry eye worse include:
Prolonged and chronic electronic, digital screen use
Did you know that on average, we blink 15-20x/minute
Studies show we only blink 4-6x/minute while using a computer or other digital screen devices
Environmental conditions
Dry climate
Air conditioning
Certain medications
Allergy medications (Antihistamines & decongestants)
Anti-depressants
Acne medications (retinoids)
Blood pressure medications (beta-blockers)
Birth control
Eye Drop Preservatives
…and more, listed as many side effects in medications
Auto-immune diseases
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis
Acne Rosacea, Psoriasis, Eczema
Thyroid dysfunction
Diabetes
Colitis, Crohn’s
Fibromyalgia
Understanding Dry Eye
Our goal is to get your eyes to produce your own tears.
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The tear film has many Important functions In addition to lubricating the front surface oh the eye.
1) To bring oxygen to the front surface of the eye (the cornea). The cornea does not have any blood vessels.
The glands in the eyelid (meibomian glands) produce the oil (lipids) in our tears to help prevent evaporation. The oil builds up on the bottom part of the eyelid. The top lid smooths the oil across the front surface of the eye. The oil from the tears will attract and dissolve the oxygen from the air and bring it to the eye.
2) Tear protect our eyes. A single drop of tears has over a thousand antibodies to protect our eyes from infection. Tears contain lysozyme which is antibacterial to prevent infection by microbes.
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We have a “normal” amount of tears produced from the tear glands In our eyelids.
When the body senses that we don’t have the right amount of tears In our eyes, the lacrimal gland will produce additional “watery” tears to compensate.
However, these extra tears are thin and salty and don't really help keep our eyes healthy.
So, even if your eyes seem watery, it might actually mean they are dry because they are not making the right kind of tears.
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Blepharitis is an eye condition where the edges of the eyelids become inflamed. It can happen when the tiny oil glands near the base of the eyelashes don't work properly. This could be due to not enough tear film, which normally helps keep harmful bacteria and mites away. When these glands get blocked or irritated, it leads to blepharitis.
A treatment option involves for Demodex Blepharitis requires 3 sessions of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy, given two weeks apart, to help manage the condition.
What does it cost?
Begin your dry eye wellness journey with a single modality treatment for $500, or enhance with a dual technology for $800 per treatment. A $250 dry eye evaluation fee is required prior to treatment. If you proceed with treatment, this fee will be credited towards the initial dry eye treatment.
For comprehensive wellness, choose our 4-treatment series with a discount on prepayment of $1900 for one modality or $2900 for a dual-modality experience.
How much time is involved?
Plan about 30 minutes for each treatment or about 45 minutes for dual treatments.
With IPL treatment, your treated skin will be red and sensitive for a few days. You will see hyperpigmentation for a few days until the skin sloughs away the pigment and heals. IPL treatments are spaced apart 2-4 weeks.
With RF, there is no downtime. You may resume normal activity after treatment. RF treatments are spaced 1-2 weeks apart.
Who is a good candidate?
With IPL (Lumecca), patients with ocular rosacea, inflammation around eyelids, blepharitis, demodex
With RF (Forma), patients with a chalazion (bump on lid from a stye).
For the complete dry eye package, we recommend both IPL + RF.