What causes dry eye?

Dry eye is caused by inflammation on the surface of the eye which can be triggered by a variety of factors such as:

• ​Aging
• Dry, dusty, or windy climate
• Insufficient blinking (such as when you're staring at a computer screen)
• Long-term contact lens wear
• Medication side effects
• Eye Surgery

Often, dry eye is caused by blocked meibomian glands. These are the glands that make the oily, outer layer of the tears. A blockage in the glands can cause insufficiencies in tear film thickness, causing the tears to break apart when they shouldn't.

Tears are essential for good eye health.

After a blink, a tear film coats the surface of the eye and performs many functions for your benefit:

• Tears prevent dryness by coating and lubricating the surface of the eye.
• Tears supply oxygen and nutrients to the surface of the cornea.
• Tears form a barrier from infection and irritants washing away foreign substances.
• Tears help to heal damage to the surface of the eye.
• Tears create a smooth surface on the eye to help you to see more clearly.

Healthy tears maintain a stable tear film over the eye between blinks. If the tear film is not thick enough or doesn’t have enough lipid layer (the outer layer that holds the tear together), the tear can break apart and expose the surface of the eye. If this happens regularly, dry eye disease may result.

What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Your tears are made up of three layers: the lipid (oil) layer, aqueous (water) layer, and the mucous (sticky) layer. These layers work in unison to lubricate and coat the eyes, keeping them moist and comfortable. 

Your meibomian glands control the lipids in the eye, called meibum, which combine with other substances in the eye area to create a thin film that consistently lubricates your eyes. Meibum is an essential part of your eye’s makeup as it prevents the evaporation of the eye’s tear film.
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Meibomian Gland Dysfunction occurs when the meibomian glands fail to provide enough meibum. This can be triggered by various factors and causes the tear film to evaporate at a quicker rate, leading the eyes to feel dry and uncomfortable. 80% of Dry Eye is due to MGD.

What can be done to treat dry eye?
Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) 

IPL

IPL or Intense Pulsed Light therapy has been used for several decades to treat a variery of skin conditions including facial rosacea, vascular and pigmented skin lesions. as well as for skin rejuvenation. Scientific evidence suggests that IPL stimulates fibroblast activity in the skin.  These cells produce new collagen which is thought to be responsible for skin tightening and rejuvenation.
 A growing body of scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of intense pulsed light in treating dry eye and MGD(Meibomian Gland Disease) and ocular forms of rosacea.  IPL is thought to work by sealing abnormal blood vessels that leak inflammatory mediators into the ocular tissues.  Other effects observed include improved meibomian gland function, improved tear stability and patient comfort.   Treatment is accomplished in 4 sessions scheduled approximately 3 to 5 weeks apart.  IPL is applied to the skin area surrounding the eyes which are protected by special shields.  Sessions last about 10-15 minutes and are quite comfortable. IPL is a safe and proven technology.

Benefits

IPL Benefits Include:
·       Improves eye comfort and vision clarity
·       Safe and Comfortable – FDA approved
·       Reduces your dependency on eye drops
·       Treats the root cause of the problem
·       Quick “lunch time” treatment

Procedure

During the Procedure
You may experience a warm sensation as the light is applied to your skin, but the treatment is gentle and you should not feel uncomfortable. Ultrasound jelly is applied under the eye to help soothe the skin. Each session lasts approximately 15 minutes.

Is Equinox LLLT safe?

Equinox LLLT is an FDA-approved medical device that treats Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. It is a safe, non-invasive procedure, which is controlled by computer software built into the device.

What happens after the Equinox LLLT procedure?

 Once the Equinox LLLT procedure is complete, no recovery time is needed and patients can resume normal activities. Should you experience any side effects or discomfort, or have any questions following the procedure, please contact our practice.

What are the side effects of Equinox LLLT?

There are no particular side effects or contraindations to Equinox Low Level Light Treatment.
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Ask us about how Equinox LLLT can treat your eye condition and enhance your quality of life. Golden Eyes Optometry is always here to help patients experience the best vision care and treatment possible.

References

Reference:​ Heiko Pult; Low-Level Light Therapy in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2020;61(7):99

​Low Level Light Therapy in Ophthalmology (09/2020)

Find out if you suffer from dry eye