Dry Eye Disease is a common condition seen by eye care professionals. It has a significant impact on quality of life, with symptoms such as foreign body sensation, pain, blurry vision, dryness or watery eyes. Risk factors include skin pathologies, immune or hormonal imbalances, environmental conditions, and poor hygiene.
Cary Family Eye Care is proud to offer Lumenis OptiLIGHT: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Lumenis OptiPLUS: Radio Frequency (RF), and Systane iLux for the treatment of dry eye.
Lumenis OptiLIGHT IPL
OptiLIGHT is a light-based treatment that uses precise, intense broad spectrum light to address signs of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The treatment addresses inflammation, which is one of the key underlying factors in MGD. OptiLIGHT was specifically developed to reach the delicate contours of the treated area safely, effectively, and gently using the OPT™ technology.
Clinical research shows IPL treatment of dry eye: Destroys the abnormal blood vessels that are perpetuating the inflammation, decreases the level of pro-inflammatory mediators and inhibits the progression of the inflammation, reduces the tear film osmolarity back to normal levels, restores meibomian gland’s morphology and functionality, and decreases Demodex mites stimulating infection leading to MGD (Meibomian Gland Dysfunction).
Treatment involves the application of IPL pulses on the cheeks, nose (from tragus to tragus), and below the lower eyelids, usually administered in two passes. IPL settings depend on skin type. A course of treatment typically includes 4 sessions spaced 2-4 weeks apart. Each session takes only 10-15 minutes after technician preparation. Patients usually report an improvement after their 2nd or 3rd treatment. Maintenance treatments are usually recommended every 6-12 months to ensure the best long-term results.
Lumenis OptiPLUS RF
OptiPLUS complements your OptiLIGHT dry eye care to improve dry eye disease symptoms and provide you with the aesthetic effect you’ve been looking for. Designed for all skin types, OptiPLUS ensures safe, comfortable, pain-minimized treatments using innovative, FVA-cleared dual-frequency RF technology. Treatments are typically around 6 minutes per eye after technician preparation, with noticeable results in just 4 sessions 1-3 weeks apart.
The treatment works by heating the superficial layer of the skin around the eyes by exerting precise energy penetration across several skin layer depths using the OptiPLUS. As a result, it targets the meibomian glands, while also promoting collagen production and blood circulation for an aesthetic effect. Thinning the meibum requires sustained heat, which is difficult to achieve with a mask or compress. By combining dual-frequency RF with IPL technology, we can express meibomian glands more effectively, see clearer meibum, and observe signs of improvement for dry eye patients.
Systane iLUX
The iLux Thermal Pulsation Treatment for dry eye is used to heat and compress glands in the eyelids of patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a common cause of evaporative dry eye. iLux treatment takes only 8-12 minutes and is an effective, drug-free way to manage symptoms of dry eye. Our doctors can evaluate to determine if you would benefit from iLux treatment.
The following DEQ-5 questionnaire is a helpful tool in evaluating the severity of your Dry Eye symptoms. We encourage patients that are experiencing symptoms of Dry Eye and/or might be interested in treatment to bring a copy of their completed questionnaire to their next eye exam.
Dry Eye Information and Questionnaire
For more information on how to get started with Dry Eye Treatment, call our office at (919)-465-7400.