Our Envision optometry team are always keen to discuss the various treatment options available for dry eye syndrome, a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. With a special interest in this area, we focus on finding the root cause of your dry eye and then choose the most appropriate treatment option for you. One such treatment is LipiFlow therapy. Let's delve into what LipiFlow therapy is, when it is used, who can benefit from it, and how it works.
What is LipiFlow Therapy?
LipiFlow therapy is a treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a condition where your meibomian glands, located in the eyelids, do not produce enough oil to keep the eyes lubricated. MGD is a leading cause of dry eye syndrome. LipiFlow therapy is a non-invasive, in-office procedure that uses heat and pressure to unclog your meibomian glands, allowing them to function properly and produce the necessary oil to keep the eyes lubricated.
When is LipiFlow Therapy Used?
We use this therapy to treat patients with MGD, where they may be suffering from dry eyes, redness, irritation, and blurred vision. If left untreated, MGD can lead to more serious eye problems, such as corneal damage, infections, and vision loss. We will commonly utilise LipiFlow therapy as a second-line treatment for patients who have not responded to conservative dry eye treatments, such as artificial tears, warm compresses, and prescription eye drops.
Who Can Benefit from LipiFlow Therapy?
As mentioned above, this therapy benefits those who have been diagnosed with MGD and have symptoms of dry eye syndrome. It is also safe for patients who wear contact lenses or have had LASIK surgery. However, we will not recommend LipiFlow therapy for you if you have active eye infections, inflammation, or other eye conditions that affect the tear film.
So, How Does LipiFlow Therapy Work?
LipiFlow therapy works by using a combination of heat and gentle pressure to unclog the meibomian glands. The procedure takes 12 minutes and is performed in-house at our practice. To begin, we apply numbing eye drops to minimize any discomfort during the procedure. The LipiFlow applicators are then placed onto the eye to apply heat and pressure to the meibomian glands from the inside out. The device applies heat at a temperature of 42.5°C to melt the hardened oil in the glands, and gentle massage pressure is applied to help express the oil out of the glands. The combination of heat and pressure helps to unclog the glands, allowing them to produce more oil, which helps to improve the quality of the tear film and reduce your symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
With over 6 years now of providing LipiFlow therapy, we have found it to be an effective treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction and has provided long term relief for our patients suffering from dry eye syndrome. It offers a non-invasive, in-office procedure that uses heat and pressure to unclog the meibomian glands, improving their function to produce the necessary oil to keep your eyes lubricated. Research shows patients get relief for 6-36 months from a single treatment with 12-18 months being the typical period until a retreatment is required. We usually combine the Lipiflow treatment with IPL to enhance the dry eye treatment. The best treatment option will be discussed after your dry eye evaluation.
Don't continue to put up with the symptoms of dry eyes, book an assessment with one of our team today to get to the bottom of your symptoms, and see if LipiFlow therapy, (or another alternative treatment) is best for you.