YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE WITH DRY EYE!
We strive for perfection in visual clarity and comfort. Dry eye is one of the most common and bothersome conditions we encounter. Horvath Vision Care Northwoods is now in the forefront of optometrists in Columbus OH in managing dry eye with expanded diagnostic testing and treatment including Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT). Dry eye is abnormal; patients should not be forced to accept this condition as a normal part of life.
Understanding Dry Eye
Overall visual health requires healthy tears to nourish and protect the eye’s surface and provide clear vision. Inadequate amounts or low-quality tears lead to the condition known as dry eye. Dry eye is very common and often a chronic problem affecting millions of people in the U.S. If you suffer from dry eye, you know the discomfort and disruption it causes each day. This is why Horvath Vision Care Northwoods is experienced in the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing education needed to improve your symptoms of dry eye.
How will my eyes feel if I have dry eye?
The signs of Chronic Dry Eye are different for each person, but some of the most common are:
- Scratchy Itchy Eyes
- Irritated or Painful Eyes
- Grittiness like you have sand or something in your eyes
- Redness or a Burning feeling in your eyes
- Watery Eyes or Blurry Vision
- Light Sensitivity
- Eye Tension or Fatigue
- Discomfort Wearing Contact Lenses
These symptoms come and go but never seem to go away completely. It’s imperative that we find out what is really happening to your eyes and customize a treatment plan.
OUR GOAL: Get to the root of your dry eye!
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL):
Our latest dry eye technology, MD Elite iProX, combines intense pulsed light (IPL) and radio frequency (RF) therapy to produce precise pockets of light. When applied to the eyelid glands, this painless light helps decrease inflammation and opens the eyelid glands. The light is absorbed by the blood vessels, heat is generated and the glands open to allow fluids to flow freely. This technology has been used by dermatologists for years and is also used for skin rejuvenation. IPL treatment addresses the issues commonly seen in dry eyes due to meibomian gland dysfunction by:
- Warming up the hardened oil plugging the meibomian gland (the gland that produces the oily layer of the tear film), preventing the tear film from evaporating
- Decreasing inflammation by closing up abnormal blood vessels
- Reducing rosacea and enables turnover of dead skin cells
- Killing eyelash mites (Demodex) and bacteria that infect the eyelid and meibomian glands
- Promoting collagen synthesis at the cell level
- Adjusting the concentration of tears to more normal levels
The iProX applies the latest technology for maximum resuls and comfort. Recommended treatment is four – 10 minute treatments 2-4 weeks apart.
LOW LEVEL LIGHT THERAPY (LLLT):
Low-level light treatment is a non-invasive therapy that uses specialized LEDs to increase tear production by reducing inflammation and stimulate cell activity. It helps rejuvenate oil gland activity in the eyelids. MD Elite iLight Pro uses a combination of red and blue light with infrared to reach deep into the cell structure. The red light stimulates eyelid glands and blood flow, reducing inflammation, which helps unclog the meibomian glands and alleviate the symptoms of dry eye syndrome, Meimbomian Gland Dysfunction and blepharitis. The blue light is antimicrobial and attacks the Demodex and other bacteria that can build up on the eyelids. It will require multiple procedures and the effects are cumulative.
Aside from the fact that it is painless and does not require any downtime, LLT is also very safe for all skin types, effective, and has few side effects. These factors make it a great choice for those who suffer from dry eye and blepharitis. The possible benefits of LLLT are numerous, including:
- Improved production of tears
- Reduced inflammation and irritation
- Improved and healthy tear film
- Increased blood flow to the eyes
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Clearing of blocked oil glands
- Reduced symptoms of dry eye and blepharitis
A typical LLLT session lasts 20 minutes and 2 weekly treatments are recommended for a total of 3 weeks.
Diagnostic Tools Available at Horvath Vision Care Northwoods:
Horvath Vision Care Northwoods is one of the few practices that has the technology to actually measure the quality of your tears. We take a small sample of a patient’s tears, and then using the TearLab Osmolarity System, we are able to determine quantifiably the quality of the tears. Dry eye treatment is then prescribed based on the finding from the TearLab.
In addition, our patients are fortunate to benefit from thermal eyelid technology (TearCare) which opens blocked meibomian ducts and is a comfortable in-office procedure.
Don’t put up with another day of dry eye! Trust your dry eye disease to the doctors at Horvath Vision Care who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye.