What is Dry Eyes?
Dry eye is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. This can present itself as eye redness, irritation, a sandy-like feeling, blurred vision and overall discomfort.
What are the risk factors??
These include age, being female, lack of certain nutrients like Vit A or omega-3 fatty acids, autoimmune conditions, lifestyle choices, and computer usage.
How is it diagnosed?
This can be done through a comprehensive dilated eye exam by the optometrist using specialized instruments to assess the tears and the ocular structures.
What kinds of treatments are available?
Depending on the assessment and the underlying cause and severity of the symptoms, this may include artificial tears, prescribed eye drops, lifestyle changes and management, oral supplements and or RF/IPL procedures.
What is RF/IPL and how does it work?
Radiofrequence (RF) uses electromagnetic waves to generate heat and target specific tissues deep within the skin by stimulating collagen production. It is non-invasive and is safe and effective for many skin types.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) uses high intensity pulses of visible light to target specific pigment cells and blood vessels. It works by heating and damaging the target skin cells which leads to their elimination or repair over time. It is a versatile treatment that can be customized to target different skin conditions and parts of the body.
Benefits of RF/ IPL for dry eyes
By stimulating the meibomian gland function and lipid production, healthy quality tears will be produced. As well, breaking the inflammatory cycle will help to relieve the symptoms associated with dry eyes.