Dry Eyes on average tends to be treated using some sort of eye drop or just ignored by most practitioners. What has become clear is that in very mild cases this is satisfactory but when the dry eyes become moderate to severe treating with eye drops is no where near enough.
Treating Dry Eyes – Some Novel Approaches
If you've ever experienced dry eye, you know how uncomfortable it can be – it can sting and burn, and just be generally uncomfortable. It's pretty hard to live with!
There are a lot of new treatments for dry eye that provide relief, that we've mentioned in previous posts. Below is a look at three of the most unique treatments we've discussed before, with a deeper look at them.
Punctal Plugs
Punctal plugs keep eyes moistened by blocking the drainage ducts in the eye through the tear ducts (“puncta” plural, “punctum” singular). This is just like placing a plug in your bathtub – it keeps the water in the tub – and punctal plugs keep tears in the eye. The procedure is often referred to as “punctal occlusion.”
The first step to see if punctal plugs will be a good solution for dry eye is to test them with temporary plugs made from collagen. Collagen dissolves in about 24-48 hours, and it's how we test your eyes to see if they will be adequately moistened without causing tears to overflow (a condition called “epiphora”). If you respond well to the plugs, then permanent, silicone plugs are put in place. After some initial discomfort from the insertion (soreness), many patients report their dry eye has been relieved.
Meibomian Gland Expression
With evaporative dry eye, there is typically a blockage or dysfunction of the meibomian gland – the gland that produces the oily level (lipid level) of tears. Using simple tools, such as cotton swabs and topical anesthetics, meibomian gland expression can be done in the office by squeezing and massaging the upper and lower eyelids. By doing this, the meibomian gland will release its plugged areas, and wash away the “gunk” and pus left behind.
There is usually some discomfort for about a day after the procedure, with stinging and pus production. Luckily, that can be relieved with eye wash and topical steroid and antibiotic combinations.
LipiView® and LipiFlow®
Now there is an even better solution for those who benefit from meibomian gland expression – in a two-part diagnostic and treatment process. First, the medical device called LipiView® is used to get a view of the tear film of the eye. The imaging device is painless, and uses a type of analysis called interferometry. In other words, the device can see the clear tear film on the eye and help us interpret the cause of the dry eye.
The next phase is treatment – which is where LipiFlow® comes in – to treat meibomian gland dysfunction. The device is placed over the eye and uses heat and pulsations to massage and open the glands, which unblocks the glands, allowing the lipid layer of tears to return to normal. It is comparably painless and gives patients great relief.
Currently we are investigating this unique technology and hope to bring it to The Eye Practice. We will be the first in the country to start offering this treatment, as not only is dry eye a huge issue for many people, it can make the difference between successful and unsuccessful contact lens wear and laser eye surgery success.
We can help you find the right solution if you're suffering with dry eye – call us on 9290 1899 or click here to book an appointment.
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