Dry Eye Treatments

Advanced Treatments For Dry Eye Syndrome

If over-the-counter remedies or prescription eye drops do not deliver enough improvement in dry eye symptoms, a non-surgical procedure may provide relief. Dry eye specialists at The Eye Institute of Utah offer several dry eye treatment options.

LipiFlow^®

If you are a patient who has suffered from moderate to severe dry eye and tried numerous treatments with little symptom relief, you may be a great candidate for the revolutionary LipiFlow^® Thermal Pulsation System.

LipiFlow^® works by restoring oil production in the eye’s tear film. When your eye lacks a sufficient amount of oils, your tears (from the aqueous water layer) evaporate at a rapid rate, which ultimately leads to a form of dry eye called evaporative dry eye. This is the most common form of dry eye and is often underdiagnosed. The LipiFlow^® Thermal Pulsation System is a 12 minute, in-office treatment that uses applied heat and massaging pressure to your eyelids, helping to loosen and release hardened oils that are clogged in the meibomian glands in the eyelid, restoring normal oil flow.

LipiFlow^® treatment requires no down-time or recovery period, and most people are back to work and normal activities shortly after the treatment. Many patients experience symptom relief within the first two weeks, while patients with more severe dry eye may take three months or longer before they feel noticeable relief from dry eye symptoms.

TearCare^®

For many patients a single treatment with the TearCare system successfully treats a leading cause of dry eye: meibomian gland blockages. TearCare treatment is fast and painless, and is performed in the comfort of our office. During treatment, patients relax with their eyes open while the TearCare device is placed over their eyes, delivering constant therapeutic heat. Once blockages are softened by the moist heat, a gentle massage is performed to clear them away and remaining debris is removed from the eye. Relief of dry eye symptoms is immediate after TearCare treatment, and symptoms will continue to improve over time.

Research has shown that only 12 minutes of treatment with TearCare is more effective at alleviating dry eye symptoms than weeks or months of using daily warm compresses at home.³

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy

IPL treatment for dry eye disease is an innovative use of a well-established medical procedure. IPL therapy is designed to address Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), the root cause of evaporative dry eye. IPL harnesses the power of light to send precise energy to break down any blockages in the meibomian glands in the eyelids. IPL can also reduce inflammation to improve gland function in the eyes.

IPL treatment at The Eye Institute of Utah is a simple in-office procedure. Your eye doctor will use shields and special cooling gel to protect your eyes from the pulses of light. The IPL device will painlessly direct light toward the glands in the eyelids, where the energy of the light pulses will gently heat and liquify any hardened oils that may be clogging the glands. A series of several treatments is usually recommended to ensure that the oil glands are clear and able to produce the necessary oils that are key to keeping eyes hydrated.