DRY EYE TREATMENT AT Family Vision Care
During a dry eye examination at our eye care center in Mt Pleasant, we will recommend dry eye treatments tailored to treat your symptoms and provide lasting relief. We are dedicated to ensuring that you enjoy clear and comfortable vision so that you can live your best life. Whether you have chronic dry eye or a recent dry eye issue, we have the right treatment plan for you.
Mt Pleasant Dry Eye Treatments
Family Vision Care has some of the most cutting-edge and advanced technologies to quickly and effectively test for dry eye syndrome.
Among our treatments for dry eye syndrome, the most typical treatments start with medicated eye drops, anti-inflammatory drops, or a heated compress. Occasionally, tiny devices called punctal plugs are inserted into the eye’s tear duct to prevent moisture from draining out of the eye. These plugs increase the moisture level for long-term relief.
Let our optometric team and the talented, experienced staff help get you started on the path to real long-term relief from dry eye.
Lumenis Optilight Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy
IPL is an innovative treatment for dry eyes and styes. It is a non-invasive in-office treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation around the eyes. This helps the oil-producing meibomian glands to better lubricate the eyes, significantly reducing unpleasant dry eye symptoms.
The primary cause of dry eye syndrome is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), which occurs when the oil-producing meibomian glands are clogged up and unable to produce a healthy tear film. During the Optilight IPL procedure, the heat emanating from the light helps liquify and release oils that have hardened and clogged the meibomian glands in the eyelids, thus reducing blockages that cause dry eye symptoms and improving the quality of tears.
The Optilight IPL treatment is safe and gentle, with minimal discomfort. Patients typically notice an improvement in dry eye symptoms following their first or second treatment, but monthly treatments over a period of 4 months are generally recommended for long-term success in treating both chronic dry eye syndrome and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. The treatment is unique in that it targets the source of the problem, the blood vessels surrounding the glands, enabling them to secrete oils naturally and resume their moisturizing function, rather than just temporarily relieving symptoms.
Standard dry eye treatments, such as eye drops, artificial tears, hot compresses, and eyelid scrubs, aim to temporarily relieve symptoms, while Optilight IPL treatment aims to treat the root cause of the condition.
Lumenis NuEra Tight RadioFrequency Treatment
Lumenis NuEra Tight Radiofrequency Therapy (RF) is a safe and painless in-office treatment that stimulates collagen production and reduces inflammation around the eyes.
This treatment melts thick oil secretions, unclogs the meibomian gland, and improves the quality of tears, resulting in aesthetic benefits. Unlike other dry eye treatments that only relieve symptoms, RF targets the source of dry eyes, enabling glands to secrete oils naturally and resume their moisturizing function.
While it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic change, there is no downtime required after the treatment, and patients can return to their daily activities right after.
LipiFlow Dry Eye Treatment
The leading cause of dry eye syndrome today is a condition known as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). This refers to a condition in which the meibomian glands, located at the inner edge of the eyelids, clog up, making them unable to produce enough oil to protect the tear film. This oil is essential for preventing the tear film from evaporating too quickly, leaving the eyes feeling dry and uncomfortable
LipiFlow is a cutting-edge technology that helps the glands naturally restart oil production for the tear film. It does this by gently applying warmth to the blocked glands, after which our eye doctors can massage away the blockage.
Sessions tend to take about 12 minutes each, and many of our patients report significant relief from their dry eye symptoms after just one treatment. For best results, our eye care team recommends you come in for a Lipiflow treatment at our eye clinic every 9 to 12 months.
iLUX® Dry Eye Treatment
The iLUX® MGD Thermal Pulsation System addresses mybomian gland dysfunction by delivering treatment directly to the blocked glands. Therapeutic heat is applied to your eyelids, melting and loosening the oils trapped within the meibomian glands. Your eye doctor will then gently massage your eyelids, causing the oil to begin flowing again.
Treatment of both eyes usually takes no more than 12 minutes.
iLUX® can significantly reduce dry eye symptoms such as gritty, irritated eyes by increasing meibomian gland function by as much as 300% within 4 weeks of treatment.
Regener-Eyes Treatment for Dry Eyes
Regener-eyes is a preservative-free prescription eye drop for the treatment of mild to severe dry eye syndrome. Speak to our eye doctor about how this placenta-based eye drop can help treat symptoms such as red, dry, itchy, or gritty-feeling eyes. We routinely prescribe this treatment for those suffering from conditions such as:
- Meibomian gland dysfunction
- Blepharitis
- Recurrent corneal erosions
- Neurotrophic pain
- Keratitis
Ask our eye care team if Regener-Eyes is a good solution for you.
Hot Compress For Dry Eyes
Hot compress eye masks that you purchase from a drug store or pharmacy often contain special beads that catch and retain water from the air. Warming it up in the microwave causes the water to heat up, providing your eyes with a comfortable, warm compress that helps free up oils trapped in your meibomian glands and relax muscles around the eye they may also be making your dry eye symptoms worse.
A hot compress can be an excellent temporary solution for at-home dry eye relief. Nonetheless, it is important to visit your local eye doctor to get more long-lasting dry eye relief.
