Your eye health relies on a consistent production of tears that nourish and hydrate your eyes. When your oil glands malfunction, you can develop dry, irritable eyes that have a way of hijacking your overall comfort. At Watson Dry Eye Center, ophthalmologist Susan Watson, MD, offers an innovative treatment called LipiFlow®, which restores glandular function. If you suffer from dry eyes and you’re located in the Raleigh, North Carolina, or Triangle area, call or email us at [email protected] to find relief.
Every time you blink, you spread essential hydration and nutrients to your eyes through your tears, which are made up of:
Each of these ingredients plays an important role in keeping your eyes nourished, hydrated, and free from debris, so when there’s a malfunction in one area, your eyes can become dry, red, and scratchy.
The primary cause of dry eyes is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Your eyelids contain many tiny glands that produce oils to help keep the tears on your eyes longer. These glands are called meibomian glands.
When the meibomian glands become blocked, your eyes don’t get the oil they need, leaving you with eyes that dry out far more quickly. If you’re a contact lens wearer or “>spend a lot of time on digital devices, this is especially problematic. Luckily, the LipiFlow Thermal Pulse System works to remove these blockages to promote healthier balance in your tears and frustration-free contact lens experience.
In order to find the root cause of your eye problems, Dr. Watson and her team have a number of tools in their diagnostic arsenal that locate where your eye health is breaking down. These tools include:
If, during their comprehensive assessment, the team at Watson Dry Eye Center finds that you have MGD, they’re able to treat it using a number of different therapies, including LipiFlow.
The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System is a drug-free treatment for MGD that delivers energy in the form of heat and pressure to clear your meibomian glands, without affecting your vision.
Watson Dry Eye Center is equipped with the LipiFlow system in their office for your convenience, and the treatments take mere minutes. After administering an anesthetic drop into your eyes for your comfort, Dr. Watson fits the system over your eyes. LipiFlow uses special insulation to protect your corneas, and the equipment features sensors that control the heat and pressure.
The heat and pressure work simultaneously to loosen and push out any blockages in your meibomian glands, allowing the oil to flow more freely.
If you’d like to learn more about the cutting-edge LipiFlow Thermal Pulse System at Watson Dry Eye Center, call or email us at [email protected].