LT: Dr. Keamy, I’m hearing a lot about dry eye these days. Perhaps because the cold weather exacerbates the condition or because an aging population is more prone to it? Why don’t you shed some light on this issue?
JK: You’re right, Laura, cold weather and age are factors, but they only scratch the surface. Let’s take a closer look at the dry eye conditions.
LT: Sounds good. Let’s dig in!
JK: First of all, there are two types of dry eye. One is caused by inflammation in the lacrimal gland and the other is caused by the blockage of the meibomian glands in the eyelids. The lacrimal gland produces the watery component of the tear film. The meibomian glands produce the lipids that keep the surface of the eye moist and protected from environmental elements. When the production of lipids decreases, the watery tears which bathe the surface of the eye, evaporate. This is evaporative dry eye. It is the more prevalent condition. I’ll focus on it today.
LT: Is there a cure?
JK: There are treatments but no cure because dry eye is a chronic condition. Moisturizing eye drops, both prescription and over-the-counter, and warm compresses address the symptoms, not the cause, of dry eye.
LT: I sense a solution here . . .
JK: Lipilflow! Lipiflow is an FDA approved in-office treatment heats up the meibomian glands to 42 degrees Celsius and then extracts the once hardened oils through thermal pulsations. It The procedure takes about 15 minutes, and both eyes can be treated simultaneously at the time.
LT: Real relief for sufferers of evaporative dry eye – you skate on the cutting edge, Dr. Keamy! I encourage anyone with dry eye to book a consultation for this breakthrough treatment.
https://www.seemedrkeamy.com/services/general-ophthalmology/dry-eye/lipiflow