Dry Eye Treatment
Cascade Vision is proud to offer dry eye treatment for our patients. Ocular Surface Disease, also known as dry eye, can occur from certain medications, naturally by aging, or as a symptom arising from systemic diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, or Lupus.
If you have a minor case of dry eye, you may be experiencing irritation, excessive tearing, fluctuating vision, and/or a burning sensation in your eyes. Excessive dry eyes, or dry eye symptoms that go untreated, have the potential to damage eye tissue, scar your corneas, and impair your vision.
We utilize some of the newest technologies, medications, and treatments to lessen the effects of DED. We use a variety of tests to visualize, evaluate and even take samples of your tears to assess for MGD and DED.
LipiScan is a simple camera that takes an infared image of your eyelids to assess the health and structure of your Meibomian Glands. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) occurs once the glands have become clogged with old oil, known as Meibum.
After completion of your assessment, a variety of treatment options are available, including: prescription eye drops, simple at-home therapy and LipiFlow, a painless in-office procedure designed to unclog blocked Meibomian Glands.
LipiFlow is a 12-minute procedure designed to unclog Meibomian Glands. It achieves this goal by simply heating the oil in your eyelids to 104°F and then gently pulsating to remove the thickened oils from your Meibomian Glands. Studies show that results can last 1-3 years and most patients notice a 50% reduction in symptoms.
A bright solution for dry eyes
What is Optilight by Lumenis
OptiLight by Lumenis is a gentle, safe, and effective treatment for dry eye symptoms caused by meibomian gland dysfunction. This non-invasive procedure is the first and only FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eye.
OptiLight is a light based treatment. It uses precise pulses of light, done in the area below the eyes, to reduce dry eye symptoms. This 10-15 minute procedure can significantly relieve dry eye symptoms.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Your optometrist is the only person who can determine which dry eye treatment is best for you and your individual needs. Schedule an appointment to talk to one of our optometrists to see if IPL is right for you!
How does IPL relieve symptoms?
- Increasing tear break-up time
- Stimulates Higher-Quality Tears
- The absorbed light energy causes the glands to produce better-quality oil, which helps to prevent the evaporation of tears.
- Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
- Eliminating blood vessels that contribute to inflammation
- Improving meibomian gland functionality
Is IPL right for me?
While IPL is an effective dry eye management solution, we want to make sure it’s right for you. We do not recommend this treatment if you:
- Are taking or have recently stopped certain medications, like Accutane.
- Have active acne
- Have certain skin disorders
- Have severe scarring
- Have severely sunburned recently
Miebo is the first and only Rx eye drop for dry eye disease that directly targets evaporation! This eye drop is able to inhibit evaporation by forming an anti-evaporative layer. Miebo also contains only one ingredient. The eye drop is water free, preservative free, and steroid free!
This eye drop works by keeping your tears from drying up. This can decrease dry eye symptoms such as burning, itchiness, and foreign body sensation!
Tyrvaya Nasal Spray is another new treatment for Dry Eye Disease. It uses your nose to activate tear film production from within, helping your body create more natural tears.
This nasal spray can:
- Treat Dry Eye
- Treat symptoms of Dry Eye
- Help your body produce more of its natural tear film!
If you struggle with putting eye drops in, this may be an excellent choice for you to try instead!
Call and set up an appointment to discuss your questions to find the best solution for you.