Dry eyes are uncomfortable and painful. They can cause blurry vision and make your eyes light-sensitive. When you have dry eye syndrome, you will constantly seek relief and treatment. With recent technology advancements, there are more options available. Here is a look at effective dry eye treatments offered at Clarity Vision Clayton that may work for you.

Dry Eye Medication

When you have chronic dry eye, you need medication that will focus on reducing the inflammation in your eyelids. Swollen eyelids prevent the meibomian glands from releasing oil into your tears.

Your eye doctor can prescribe some anti-inflammatory antibiotics. These can reduce the inflammation and fight the bacteria that cause it. Follow your eye doctor’s instructions and take your prescription to treat the condition and get relief. 

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

IPL therapy is painless, using gentle light pulses to reduce inflammation. It eliminates bacteria and bacterial infection that results in inflammation. The light pulses unclog the meibomian glands, melting the thick secretion on your eyelids. Doing this releases the oil buildup, stimulating the natural flow of meibomian oil into tears. 

The treatment improves your dry eye symptoms by restoring the quality of your tears. Most people notice an improvement after their first or second treatment. The recommendation is you continue with these appointments every month for four months. Your eye doctor may combine this treatment with others if your condition is severe.

LipiFlow®

LipiFlow® uses vectored thermal pulsation to remove blockages in the meibomian glands. The treatment device has a console and shell-shaped single-use applicators to massage the glands. Before placing the applicators, your eye doctor may apply numbing drops. These help with any discomfort. The applicators lie on the front and back of each eyelid and deliver pressure and heat as they massage. 

You may experience minor redness, but it goes away after treatment. You will find that with LipiFlow, your dry eyes will resolve for six months to a year. The number of sessions you need will depend on the severity of your situation.

Low-level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

Low-level light therapy uses invisible near-infrared light to reduce inflammation and unclog the meibomian glands. It is a painless and stress-free treatment. It also deals with cysts (chalazion) and styes. The 15-minute procedure requires no recovery time. Hence, you can get back to your daily activities after treatment.

LLLT will treat your lower and upper eyelids simultaneously. Most patients report experiencing relief after the first treatment. The number of sessions and their intensity will depend on the severity of your condition.

BlephEx

It is a painless, in-office treatment that alleviates the symptoms of blepharitis and dry eye syndrome. It uses a handheld device with a disposable micro-sponge to clean the edge of your lashes and eyelids. The treatment takes six to eight minutes to remove debris and exfoliate your eyelids. As it does so, it unclogs the meibomian glands.

You will need treatment every four to six months until the condition resolves. Maintain the instructions from your eye doctor after treatment. Keep your eyelids clean and healthy. Routine care will keep bacteria at bay and prevent biofilm redevelopment.

For more information on dry eye syndrome and the recommended treatments, call Clarity Vision in Clayton at (919) 550-4801 today.