Issue 21.17
This is one of the most common questions we as Eye Care Providers get here in southern Utah. With all the beautiful scenery and outdoor activities we enjoy here, our dry environment and air conditioning doesn’t help with these symptoms. The most common cause for these symptoms is due to Dry Eye.
Dry eye disease affects millions of people worldwide. Here in the U.S. it is at the top of the list for reasons patients visit the Eye Doctor. Of those suffering from Dry Eye, about 85 percent suffer from what’s called Evaporative Dry Eye. Common symptoms of dry eye include dryness, grittiness, redness, irritation, burning, eye fatigue and watering eyes. These symptoms can hinder people’s daily activities such as reading, using the computer, wearing contact lenses and being outdoors on windy days.
This disease stems from a deficiency in the oily lipid layer of the eye’s natural tear film. The oily lipids serve as a protective layer so that the aqueous (water) layer of the eye’s tear film does not evaporate. SouthWest Vision is the only office in Southern Utah to offer the first and only FDA approved treatment for Evaporative Dry Eye, the LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation Treatment®. This new and advanced in-office treatment is for patients with blocked meibomian glands (meibomian gland dysfunction). In effect, LipiFlow helps unblock the glands so they can resume their natural function and create a healthy tear film. This innovative treatment has brought relief to many of our patients who were very frustrated with this chronic disease and all of the ways it negatively impacted their lives.
Historically, common therapies aimed at dry eye symptom relief included using warm compresses, over-the-counter wetting drops or ointments, and prescription drugs. Now, with the LipiFlow treatment we can target the root cause of evaporative dry eye by unblocking the meibomian glands and increase the natural production of these oily lipids.
Since we began treating patients in 2013 we’ve preformed this treatment on dry eye suffers ranging in their 20’s to those in their 90’s. Six weeks after receiving a single LipiFlow treatment at our office, on average, patients have enjoyed an increase of oil production by close to three times over their baseline condition. This increase is in both the number of glands secreting and the quality of oil secreted. Additionally, at 1 year after the LipiFlow treatment, 86% of patients still report relief in their dry eye symptoms.
The joy and relief that I see on many of our wonderful patients faces after receiving this treatment have shown me how debilitating dry eyes can be to someone’s quality of life. My favorite phrase to hear when I see patients after treatment is, “I don’t think about my eyes anymore.” That’s our goal here at SouthWest Vision. We want you to see clearly and feel great so that your eyes won’t hold you back from what you want to do.
So, if you’re tired of dealing with burning red eyes and using artificial tear drops constantly, call 435-673-5577 and schedule an appointment with any of our doctors to see if you can benefit from this revolutionary treatment. Or visit our website at SouthWestVision.org for more information.