What is Dry Eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Your meibomian glands control the lipids in the eye, called meibum, which combined with other substances in the eye area (oil, mucus, and water) create a thin film that consistently lubricates your eyes as you blink. Meibum is an essential part of your eye’s makeup, as the outer layer of the three layers of the tear film, it prevents the evaporation of the eye’s tear film.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction occurs when the meibomian glands fail to provide enough meibum. This can be triggered by various factors that cause the tear film to evaporate at a quicker rate, leading the eyes to feel dry, red, burning among other symptoms including blurry vision that comes and goes. In fact, eighty percent of dry eye cases are due to MGD. Dry Eyes do not always have symptoms, sometimes the signs are there and not the symptoms, but since it is a progressive and chronic disease it is always important to have your yearly eye exam at Crystal Optical where Dr. Hamideh will screen everyone for Dry Eye.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction manifests differently and to varying degrees of severity in different people. Some may need mild treatment while others may require more intense care. Dr. Hamideh will determine the right choice for your condition to get you the best possible results.
What to expect from your Dry Eye Treatments
The Dry Eye Treatments have proven to greatly benefit dry eyes, and you typically need several sessions to reach your desired results including maintenance treatments following the initial series to maintain optimal results for this chronic and progressive disease.
You will be given homecare and lifestyle recommendations to maintain healthy eyes. You are in control of how your eyes feel and play a big role in maintaining your Meibomian Glands. Together we will keep them healthy and moist.
Radio Frequency Therapy
RF treatment releases electromagnetic waves to treat dry eye. The heat melts the thick oil secretions clogging the meibomian glands. During the procedure, the Radio Frequency gently increases your skin temperature and stimulates the production of collagen. We use a handheld device to gently massage around your eyes with a soothing gel eyelids while you relax in a comfortable Spa environment. Post treatment, Dr. Hamideh gently expresses the warm glands which enables the oil to flow into the tears. The RF treatment causes no pain or discomfort and takes an average of 30 minutes to complete.
The Day of Your Appointment:
● Please arrive with a clean face, no creams or make-up on the treatment area if possible
● A facial cleansing wipe will be used to clean your face prior to treatment
● Allow 45-60 minutes for the session
While certain patients notice immediate improvements in their dry eye symptoms, it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic changes. Following the treatment, you should have no downtime and should be able to return to your daily activities with use of Sunscreen to protect your sensitive skin.
Intense Pulsed Light
IPL is a light therapy that helps treat chronic dry eye disease and MGD. The light pulses are operated with a handheld device and a soothing gel while you relax in a comfortable Spa environment. This helps treat the inflamed blood vessels around the eyes, reducing the inflammation and redness associated with rosacea and blepharitis and eliminates harmful bacteria and mites (Demodex) that often live on the eyelids and eyelashes.
The majority of patients tolerate the treatment well. It can feel like a slight snapping of a rubber band on the skin. The doctor will start with a low energy and test spot first to ensure the treatment for accuracy and effectiveness.
While certain patients notice immediate improvements in their dry eye symptoms, it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic changes. Following the treatment, you should have no downtime and should be able to return to your daily activities with use of Sunscreen to protect your sensitive skin.
The Day of Your Appointment:
● Please arrive with a clean face, no creams or make-up on the treatment area if possible
● A facial cleansing wipe will be used to clean your face prior to treatment
● Allow 45-60 minutes for the session
● Pre-treatment photos will be taken for documentation
● Eye shields and protective goggles will be placed to protect the eyes and coupling gel applied to the face
● Test spots will be performed first to establish energy level and may increase with each subsequent session. Each session will have 2 passes over the area. Your eyes will be protected but you will see a bright flash of light with each pulse
After Your IPL Treatment:
● You skin may be sensitive after: any warm sensation, redness, and/or swelling usually resolves within several hours to 3 days post-treatment
● Your skin may feel like it has a slight sunburn for a few hours after treatment. It is ok to apply aloe vera or moisturizer
● You may apply a clean cold washcloth to the treatment area post-treatment (avoid applying ice packs to the treatment area)
● If you experience itching after treatment, you may use an over-the-counter topical Hydrocortisone cream
● Sun spots and age spots may darken and pigmented areas may crust and begin to flake after a few days.
● Do not pick, rub, scrub the skin. You may exfoliate once the skin has fully healed and returned to normal
● Avoid hot showers and baths until the area is fully healed. Cool to warm water should be used when cleansing the area
● No saunas or hot tubs until the area is full healed
● Make-up can be applied post-treatment as long as the skin is not broken, irritated, or inflamed. Avoid scrubbing or irritating the area post-treatment.
● Avoid exercise or vigorous activity at least 24 hours post-treatment
● It is crucial to avoid any sun exposure for the 1st 48 hours post-treatment. Avoid tanning as much as possible as this may enhance melanin regeneration, resulting in unwanted hyperpigmentation
● Apply sunblock with SPF 30 or higher daily. Avoid extended sun exposure and wear a hat and sunglasses when outside. Try to keep the treatment area out of the sun as much as possible for at least 4 weeks post-treatment.
TearCare®
TearCare is an innovative Dry Eye procedure that targets the blocked meibomian glands in your eyelids that produce oils to keep your tears healthy. When these glands become blocked or have reduced function, your tears may evaporate more quickly. Unblocking these glands with the TearCare (R)system can help restore their function and stabilize the tear film. This results in clear, bright, comfortable eyes. The Smart Lids are placed on the eyelids while you relax in a comfortable Spa environment for about 15 minutes. Post treatment, Dr. Hamideh gently expresses the warm glands which enables the oil to flow into the tears.
● Please arrive with a clean face, no creams or make-up on the treatment area if possible
● A facial wipe will be used to clean your face prior to treatment
● Allow 45-60 minutes for the session
What to expect after Your Appointment
While certain patients notice immediate improvements in their dry eye symptoms, it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic changes. Following the treatment, you should have no downtime and should be able to return to your daily activities with use of Sunscreen to protect your sensitive skin.
Low Level Light Therapy
A special LED mask is placed on your face eyelids while you relax in a comfortable Spa environment that emits low-level light energy onto your closed eyelids. The light energy will penetrate the tissue and stimulate cells to produce more tears. The specially designed LED lights gently warm up the eyelids, causing the meibomian glands to unclog and release oils needed to keep your eyes healthy and moisturized. After about 15 minutes of treatment Dr. Hamideh gently expresses the warm glands which enables the oil to flow into the tears
● Please arrive with a clean face, no creams or make-up on the treatment area if possible
● A facial wipe will be used to clean your face prior to treatment
● Allow 45-60 minutes for the session
What to expect after Your Appointment
While certain patients notice immediate improvements in their dry eye symptoms, it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic changes. Following the treatment, you should have no downtime and should be able to return to your daily activities with use of Sunscreen to protect your sensitive skin.
BlephEx
BlephEx is a painless in-office procedure performed by Dr. Hamideh and staff while you relax in a comfortable Spa environment. It works by removing excess bacteria and toxins that live along the lash margin that cause inflammation and eyelid disease. The BlephEx handpiece precisely and carefully spins a medical-grade disposable micro-sponge along the edge of your eyelids and lashes, discarding any debris and exfoliating your eyelids. A micro-sponge is used for each eye individually, so as not to spread bacteria between the eyelids. The procedure takes about 6-8 minutes to complete and is well-tolerated by the patient. Numbing drops are placed in the eyes prior to treatment for increased comfort. After the procedure, the patient will be instructed on ways to maintain clean eyelids by following nightly eyelid hygiene.
The eyelids require a regular hygiene practice to prevent blepharitis and dry eye disease from recurring. It is recommended that BlephEx be administered every 4 – 6 months in order to keep bacteria to a minimum and to prevent the biofilm from developing again. Once the treatments are stopped, the biofilm will typically redevelop, leading to inflammation and damaged tear glands all over again.
The Day of Your Appointment:
● Please arrive with a clean face, no creams or make-up on the treatment area if possible
● A facial wipe will be used to clean your face prior to treatment
● Allow 15-20 minutes for the session