Dry Eye Disease (DED)
Dry Eye Disease & eye allergies are two of the most common eye conditions, both of which have been on the rise. Causes of these include increased pollution levels, medication side effects, and changing hormonal levels to name a few. Untreated symptoms can cause intermittent vision reduction and eye infection. In extremely severe cases, it can cause loss of vision.
At Envision, we have treatment options including holistic, preservative-free eye drops, IPL, LipiScan, Thermal 1-Touch, and more! If you suffer from any of the below symptoms, rest assured there are relief options and treatments to support you:
Symptoms
- A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
- Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Eye redness
- A sensation of having something in your eyes
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Difficulty with nighttime driving
- Watery eyes, which is the body’s response to the irritation of dry eye disease
Treatments
Lipiscan
LipiScan is a non-invasive procedure which helps our doctors analyze the health of your meibomian glands. It plays an important role in diagnosing and treating the symptoms of dry eye disease. This procedure can be performed during your comprehensive eye health exam as part of our preventative package.
Thermal 1-Touch
The Thermal 1-Touch is used to treat the most common form of dry eye disease called evaporative dry eye disease. Normally, one’s tears rely on a delicate balance of nutrients and oils to coat the eye. The oils are produced through the meibomian glands, but when your glands get clogged, your tears no longer receive these essential oils. Thus, your tears become overly watery and will evaporate before they reach the eye.
By reaching a certain temperature, the device can safely and comfortably express the glands, to allow your oils to pass through normally. The Thermal 1-touch is a great solution to unclog your meibomian glands. Within days, dry eye disease symptoms will be reduced.
Intense Pulse Light Therapy
What is IPL?
The IPL is a therapeutic device that uses light therapy (not lasers) to improve the underlying causes of dry eye disease in a few easy treatments.
How does it work?
Intense pulsed light (IPL) devices are non-laser high intensity light sources that make use of a high-output flashlamp to produce a broad wavelength output of noncoherent light. It has been used to treat skin conditions for over 20 years. That light output can deliver controlled pulses of intense red and infra-red light to the skin in only a few milliseconds. This Light treats dry eye disease by absorption in the mitochondria of the Meibomian glands, which activates them to produce a better oil layer, thereby improving tear quality. This light is also used effectively to kill demodex mites that accumulate in the meibomian glands. IPL improves ocular rosacea related inflammation and redness by sealing off these small leaky capillaries.
What to expect from IPL treatment?
Dry eye disease is a chronic disease and this treatment is not a cure, but it is proved to reduce progression and improve symptoms. After 4 treatments, your symptoms should improve in 30-90 days. Depending on the severity of the disease, you may need maintenance treatments a few times a year. Your current dry eye disease treatment regimen should be continued unless your doctor informs you of any changes. The goal is for you to have less symptoms, with less daily maintenance, and reduce the need for pharmaceuticals. At Envision, we have invested in this therapy, which makes treatment easier and more effective.
Things to avoid prior to and during treatment:
direct sunlight
tanning beds
waxing
chemical peels
collagen injections
drugs that increase your bleeding risk, such as aspirin (Ecotrin) and ibuprofen (Advil)
creams or other products that contain vitamin A, such as RetinA, or glycolic acid
What are the risks?
This treatment is very safe if used properly and done by trained personnel. The risks are discussed in detail on our consent form. Please ask the doctor if you have any concerns.
What is the fee for the treatments and what does it include?
The total service includes four IPL treatments, with a LipiScan before and after each (to determine baseline and results). The Thermal 1-Touch will be performed after the last treatment.
Please contact our office directly for pricing