Understanding Dry Eye Disease

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is the most exciting thing to happen to eyecare in 20 years! At home dry eye treatment is annoying and costly. IPL offers an in-office, drug-free alternative with months-long benefits.

IPL has been used in dermatology since the 1990s in the treatment of rosacea, and in the aesthetics industry for photofacials. It was observed that patients who received IPL also experienced significant relief from symptoms of dry eye disease. In 2021, OptiLight IPL by Lumenis received FDA approval for the treatment of dry eye disease. The Norwalk Vision Center is proud to offer this amazing technology to our patients.

IPL targets the source of inflammation by selectively destroying irregular blood vessels that leak inflammatory compounds. It also kills micro-organisms that inhabit the skin around the eyes, further decreasing inflammation. The heat generated from therapy also heats up the clogged meibomian oil glands, clearing obstruction and allowing the glands to heal and even regrow.

As an added bonus, IPL will make your skin look amazing! Treatments get rid of unwanted brown spots and red spots on your skin, and tighten the epidermis to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Dry eye patients typically experience significant relief after 2-3 treatments. However, 4 treatments provides the most lasting benefits. Touch-up treatments are recommended every 6-12 months.

If your glands are clogged, and a warm compress makes them feel better, then this in-office treatment is for you. This spa-like therapy supplies a steady heat to the eyelids through an electric thermal adhesive. The feeling is akin to the warmth of a hot tub. For most patients, TearCare plus gland expression provides 6-12 months of dry eye relief.

Because TearCare provides a better thermal effect than IPL, but IPL reduces inflammation and biofilm, the two therapies may be combined for a truly rejuvenating dry eye treatment.

Are your eyes so dry, you’ve wished you could just keep them in a water bath all day? That’s scleral contact lenses; a large diameter, rigid contact lens that’s filled with preservative-free saline, keeps your eyes hydrated all day long, and corrects your vision. Some insurance plans even cover the cost of these custom lenses.

If your ocular surface is heavily bruised from chronic dryness, amniotic membranes can give you a fast reset to healthy eyes. Harvested from scheduled c-sections, and thoroughly screened for disease, these membranes are rich in human stem cells that will regrow your cornea. Prokera membranes or cryopreserved membranes are put on the eye for a few days, then removed in office. The procedure is painless, though some patients complain of mild discomfort while wearing the membranes, for which the eyelid can be temporarily taped shut. It is done one eye at a time, and can be repeated every 6-12 months as needed.

Zocular Eyelid System Treatment (ZEST) is an in office blepharoexfoliative procedure. That means that ZEST cleans up oils, debris and residues that accumulate on the eyelids and lashes, while exfoliating the skin and gland openings. Zocular products contain a unique and effective active ingredient derived from okra extract. This is a fantastic alternative to the commonly used tea tree oil cleansers, which, in certain concentrations, can damage meibomian glands. For patients with demodex infestations and/or blepharitis, this treatment can go a long way in cleaning up and reducing inflammation.

Not enough tears? Put a plug in the drain to keep them there longer. A one minute, minimally invasive procedure is done in office, and can provide years of relief.