Living with dry eyes can be more than just an annoyance. In fact, from blurry vision and discomfort to the constant urge to rub your eyes, dry eye symptoms can leave you feeling drained. Thankfully, though, you have options, including in-office treatments like LipiFlow!
LipiFlow is a gentle, yet effective, procedure. It targets the root cause of dry eye to bring you long-lasting relief. It’s a non-invasive and safe treatment option, making it a popular option.
What Is Dry Eye & Why Does It Happen?
Dry eye happens when your tears can’t do their job of keeping your eyes hydrated. This might be because your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or because the tears that your eyes do produce are evaporating too quickly.
There are 2 key types of dry eye:
- Evaporative dry eye, where the eyes can’t produce enough oils. This causes early evaporation of your tear film.
- Aqueous deficiency dry eye, where the eye can’t produce enough tears overall, leaving the surface of the eye exposed.
Tears are more than just water. They also need a mix of mucus and oil in order to protect the eye. This balance keeps your eyes protected. When the balance of these layers goes awry, the surface of your eyes can become dried out and irritated.
Dry Eye Symptoms You Should Know
Dry eye is recognizable by a constant stinging sensation. You might feel like there’s sand trapped in there, or like every movement in the air irritates the eye’s surface. Dry eye also causes:
- Redness in the eyes
- Blurry vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Excessive tearing as a reaction to dryness
If any of these sound familiar, you’re likely dealing with dry eye.
What Are the Causes of Dry Eyes?
The human eye is sensitive. Any medical, environmental, or lifestyle factor can throw off your tear film’s natural balance. However, some common culprits include:
- Aging, especially for people over 50
- Prolonged screen time without adequate blinking
- Exposure to dry or windy environments
- Certain medications like antihistamines and antidepressants
- Medical conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis
However, there’s one direct cause of dry eye that’s especially common. It’s called “meibomian gland dysfunction,” or MGD.
What Is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?
In your eyelids, you have dozens of tiny little glands. These glands create oils for the outer edge of your tear film. The oils, in turn, stop your tear from evaporating and make the outer layer of your term film smooth and clear. These glands are called meibomian glands.
Sometimes, however, the meibomian glands struggle. If they’re inflamed, blocked, or irritated, they can’t send enough oils to your tear film. This leaves your eyes unprotected, as your tears evaporate too quickly, leading to irritation caused by dry eye. So what can you do?
How LipiFlow Works
If you’re dealing with dry eyes, visit your optometrist. They can examine your eyes and find what’s causing your dry eye symptoms. Then, they can recommend the right type of treatment—like LipiFlow.
LipiFlow is designed to target evaporative dry eye caused by MGD. During the procedure, a small, fitted device gently warms the inner eyelid while applying pressure to the outer eyelid.
This combination of heat and pressure loosens blocked up oils in the meibomian glands. The process also stimulates the area and restarts your natural oil flow. The treatment doesn’t take long—usually around 10-15 minutes per eye—and it’s designed to be comfortable and non-invasive.
The great part about LipiFlow? Relief doesn’t just last for a day—it can reduce symptoms for some time afterwards. That’s why it’s such a popular choice for treating dry eye!
The Benefits of LipiFlow Treatment
If you’re weighing whether LipiFlow is right for you, here are some of its standout benefits:
- It’s a non-invasive and quick procedure
- It provides long-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms
- It improves natural oil flow in the eyes
- It helps boost overall eye comfort and health
LipiFlow is a great way to support healthier, more comfortable vision. By addressing the cause of dry eyes—not just the symptoms—the procedure offers long-lasting results.
At-Home Tips for Managing Dry Eyes
While in-office treatments like LipiFlow offer excellent results, they’re not your only option. At-home changes can bring you relief as well. So if you’re dealing with dry eyes, try to:
- Use warm compresses daily to soften blockages in your glands.
- Massage your eyelids gently to help the glands release oil.
- Use lubricating eye drops to boost moisture.
- Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.
- Use a humidifier—especially in dry climates.
These are small changes. But they can have a big impact on your eye health and comfort.
Find Relief from Your Dry Eyes
Dry eye doesn’t have to hold you back from enjoying your life. LipiFlow could be the way to find relief. If it’s not, our team at Kennedy Eye Clinic can find an approach that works for you. You don’t deserve dry eyes—nobody does! So book an appointment with our team, and let’s work together to find the relief you deserve.
