LipiFlow Dry Eye Treatment

Are your eyes often irritated, red, and scratchy? Does your vision fluctuate, and do you rely on an almost daily dose of drops or medications? If so, you’re not alone.

Dry eye syndrome is one of the most underdiagnosed eye issues and affects over 23 million Americans. A combination of physical and environmental factors can come together to cause dry eyes.

The most common cause of dry eye syndrome is a condition called evaporative dry eye.  

Oil is an important part of healthy tears. It mixes with the watery component to create a protective film and slow the rate of tear evaporation. When functioning properly, your meibomian glands create this oil component. Without this oil, your tears evaporate up to 16 times faster, causing dryness and discomfort. Plus, factors like environmental changes, allergies, and contact lens intolerance (CLI) can worsen dry eye symptoms.

Thankfully, dry eye sufferers now have an excellent treatment option that fixes evaporative dry eye at the source – LipiFlow.

The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System is the first and only treatment to address the cause of evaporative dry eye disease – blocked meibomian glands.

This revolutionary treatment applies a combination of mild heat and soft pressure directly to the eyelids, similar to a gentle massage. This loosens debris and stimulates lipid production. The entire treatment takes less than 15 minutes, and can lead to extended relief – with improved comfort for up to two years.

The Lipiflow Treatment Process is a fast, painless procedure to soothe dry eye by unblocking the meibomian glands.

The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System is the first and only treatment to address the actual cause of evaporative dry eye at the source – by unblocking your meibomian glands. Kugler Vision is pleased to be the very first center in Nebraska to have offered patients this new revolutionary Dry Eye treatment option.

When you visit Kugler Vision for your Dry Eye Evaluation, we will conduct a series of tests to determine the cause of your dry eye symptoms. If our experts suspect you may suffer from evaporative dry eye, we will then conduct a test using advanced LipiView® technology.

LipiView takes extremely detailed images and measurements of your eye’s tear film, and gives Mollie Hiatt, OD, the ability to evaluate the lipid (oil) layer on your eye to detect any issues. The LipiView imaging process is noninvasive, is performed within our office, and takes under five minutes to complete.

Opening and clearing your blocked meibomian glands can allow them to resume the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for a healthy tear film to eliminate your symptoms. The diagnostic assessment will tell the doctor whether you are a good candidate for LipiFlow.

The LipiFlow procedure is administered right here in our office, and offers sustained relief for dry eyes after just a single, 15-minute treatment. At the heart of the LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System is the eyepiece activator. The activator uses patented, precisely controlled heat applied to the inner eyelid with soothing pressure stimulation. Many of our patients actually liken it to a spa treatment for your eyes. This direct stimulation encourages your body to restart the natural production of the tear film oil needed for healthy tears. Its single-use design and built-in sensors ensure a safe, sterile treatment.

LipiFlow is FDA approved and clinically proven to provide evaporative dry eye sufferers sustained, long-lasting results. In a recent (2014) clinical study,  79 percent of patients reported an improvement in overall dry eye symptoms after a single LipiFlow treatment. Depending on the severity of your specific condition and your body’s response to treatment, you may need to repeat the LipiFlow treatment in future years if your symptoms return.

If you’re a dry eye sufferer or you have contact lens intolerance (CLI), this treatment may be your solution to extended relief through improved gland function. Schedule your Dry Eye Evaluation at Kugler Vision today to find out more about LipiFlow.

For detailed information about FDA labeling for the technology mentioned here, click here.