Dry Eyes
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is one of the most common problems treated at the MidWest Eye Center in Cincinnati Ohio. Dry eye is usually caused by a problem with the quality of the tear film that lubricates the eyes.
What are the symptoms?
A multitude of symptoms can affect patients with dry eyes. Some of these include burning sensations and redness; a feeling of sandiness or gravel in the eyes; vision that fluctuates with blinking; contact lens intolerance; excessive tearing.
No matter what kind of symptoms you have, they’re typically worse later in the day. They can also worsen during reading, computer use, driving at night and watching television. Any activity that involves focusing your eyes can contribute to your eyes experiencing more symptoms. You may also notice increased symptoms in windy, dry environments, office buildings or when on an airplane.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes occur when too few tears are produced or when the tears produced do not function normally. In either case, dry spots form on the outer surfaces of the eye. In most cases, there is no underlying disorder behind the dry eye. In some cases, dry eyes are associated with allergies, thyroid disease, arthritis and other connective tissue disorders.
How Are Dry Eyes Treated?
Although dry eyes cannot be cured, artificial tears in drop or ointment form are frequently effective in treating dry eyes. Patients can benefit from the use of humidifiers in their home or office, and side shields on their eyeglasses.
Spectacle lenses should be treated to protect the surface of the eye from harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation. In many cases, temporary or permanent closure of the tear drains helps preserve the natural moister layer of the eye. In severely dry eyes, combinations of all these treatment options may be necessary.
Recently introduced, the punctal plug, also known as tear duct plug or lacrimal plug, is a small medical device that is inserted into the tear duct (puncta) of an eye to block the duct. This prevents the drainage of liquid from the eye. This can aid in the treatment of dry eye. Artificial tears are usually still required after punctal plug insertion.
IPL Therapy for Dry Eyes
What is IPL Therapy?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a non-invasive treatment originally developed in dermatology but is now commonly used to treat dry eye, particularly when caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD occurs when the small oil glands along the eyelids become blocked or inflamed, preventing the eye from producing the oily layer that keeps tears from evaporating too quickly.
How Does IPL Help Dry Eyes?
During treatment, pulses of light are applied to the skin around the eyes. This light targets the abnormal blood vessels that fuel inflammation in and around the eyelids, while also gently warming the meibomian glands. This helps loosen thickened, hardened oils so they can flow more easily and help restore a healthier tear film. The treatment can also help reduce the redness and irritation often associated with MGD and ocular rosacea.
Normally, eye doctors recommend a series of treatments, and many patients notice steadily improving comfort as gland function recovers.
What to Expect During Treatment
IPL is performed right in the office in short sessions, usually spaced a few weeks apart as part of a series.
Your eye doctor will have you wear protective eye shields throughout treatment. Most patients describe the feeling as a brief warming or gentle snapping feeling on the skin. There is little to no downtime, so patients can typically return to normal activities immediately afterward.
IPL is often paired with manual expression of the meibomian glands during the same visit to help clear the glands and help to provide better results.
Who Can Benefit from IPL?
IPL is best suited for patients whose dry eye is linked to meibomian gland dysfunction or ocular rosacea, particularly those who haven’t found lasting relief from artificial tears or other conventional treatments alone. It isn’t the best treatment for everyone, so a consultation with one of our dry eye specialists is the best way to find out if IPL is a good fit for your eyes and your treatment plan.
