LipiFlow®
Ground-breaking Dry Eye Treatment Now Available at the Arrowhead Eye Center
Dr. Kootman and his staff at Arrowhead Eye Center are proud to be the one of the newest eye clinics in the Arizona and the United States to offer the LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System. Lipiflow is a groundbreaking new treatment for the most common cause of Dry Eye disease. And because we live in the Arizona desert, dry eye is a common complaint among many Arizona patients.
LipiFlow works by unblocking the meibomian glands which produce oil in the eye. The oily portion of the tear film is essential to prevent evaporation of tears. More than 65% of patients suffering from dry eye complaints (dryness, irritation, light sensitivity, vision fluctuations) have oil deficient dry eye due to obstruction of the oil producing tear glands found in the eyelids.
The LipiFlow® treatment is a twelve-minute, in office procedure using a device that comfortably heats and applies pressure to the eyelids to remove the obstruction of the oil producing glands. Preliminary studies demonstrate and average duration of symptom relief of 9 to 24 months. To find out more about this advanced treatment for dry eye patients, contact our office at 623-561-1995.
Dry Eye
Dry eye disease is often times under diagnosed. When it is diagnosed, accuracy is difficult since common dry eye symptoms can mimic the same symptoms as those of other ailments, like ocular allergies.
There are two predominant forms of Dry Eye – aqueous and evaporative. Evaporative dry eye, which affects 65% of sufferers, is caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or blocked glands that create a deficiency in the oil layer of the tear film. This can be the beginning of other dry eye disease problems including damage to the cornea and sight-related issues.
Tears are Made Up of Three Layers
Common Symptoms of Evaporative Dry Eye Disease
- dryness
- tearing
- discomfort & irritation
- sensitivity to light
- grittiness
- discharge
- feeling of foreign body in eye
- tiredness
- burning or stinging sensation
- itching
- vision disturbance
- redness
These symptoms may also be accompanied by:
- difficulty performing visual tasks, such as reading, watching TV and driving
- inability to wear contact lenses
- constant use of eye drops
- trouble being out in the sun
- symptoms that worsen late in the day
A New Treatment LipiFlow®
The LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation, is now available and will benefit most dry eye sufferers. This groundbreaking procedure applies directed heat and pressure to the affected glands where it is most needed. LipiFlow is a clinically proven and minimally invasive procedure, performed in our office. The LipiFlow® treatment can unblock glands, interrupt physical deterioration and, in most cases, provide symptom relief