Dry Eye Clinic

Am I at risk of blepharitis?

The risk of blepharitis increases as a patient ages. A study by Walter Reed Hospital determined that incidences of blepharitis in the U.S. steadily increase from 3% of 18-20 year olds to a staggering 71% of those over 65. That equates to more than 40 million individuals in the 65+ age group with the total number of patients with blepharitis in the U.S. alone is over 82 million people. 

According to a study conducted in 2009, “most ophthalmologists and optometrists report that blepharitis is commonly seen in their clinical practice in 37% and 47% of their patients, respectively, and it is widely agreed that the meibomian gland dysfunction caused by blepharitis is the most common cause of evaporative dry eye disease”.

Is the BlephEx® treatment covered by insurance?

While BlephEx® is not currently covered by insurance, it is a very affordable procedure, especially when compared to the longterm costs of dry eye treatment, which averages $800/yr. If you have blepharitis, you will not only save the hundreds of dollars spent on artificial tears, cyclosporines, antibiotics and antiinflammatories, but for the first time, will actually enjoy the benefits of an effective treatment.

What is blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the eyelids caused by an overgrowth of normal bacteria living along the lid and the base of the eyelashes. Anyone can get blepharitis at any age, but the prevalence increases with age, since as we get older, we make fewer natural antibodies in our tears.

This overgrowth of bacteria causes crusting along the eyelid, and creates a sticky biofilm that harbors bacterial exotoxins. Since the eyelid margins are difficult to clean, this overgrowth of bacteria, scurf and biofilm can build up over many years.

The sugary biofilm allows even more bacteria to flourish, not only causing a multitude of irritating symptoms, but eventually chronic inflammation, due to the inflammatory nature of exotoxins. The inflammation, in turn, adversely affects all of the structures in the eyelid, namely, the tear glands. 

Constant eye irritation, foreign body sensation and chronic dry eye disease are the end result if not treated. Now, thanks to BlephEx®, your doctor can directly clean and exfoliate your eyelids and lashes, and remove the biofilm, which will almost immediately improve your symptoms and help control the long-term damage to your tear glands.

What are the symptoms of blepharitis?

The common symptoms of blepharitis are:

• Itching or scratchy eyes
• Redness/inflammation
• Foreign body sensation
• Mattering
• Tearing
• Dry eyes
• Crusting
• Eye rubbing

What are the traditional treatments?

The traditional treatment is for the patient to scrub the eyelid margins with baby shampoo on a cotton swab or one of the commercially available lid care products squirted on a fingertip. This can be a difficult procedure to perform at home and has limited effectiveness.

ENVISION

What is forma-I?

This is an innovative nonsurgical procedure that delivers bipolar radiofrequency (RF) technology to smaller, more delicate subdermal layers. 
Designed with unprecedented safety, the small size applicator, precision RF depth control, and intelligent temperature monitoring, ensure a safe non-drug alternative.

How does forma-I work?

Forma-I feels like a warm massage in the eye area, improving blood circulation. The small size applicator and precision RF depth control allow for treatment in small and delicate areas.

What is lumecca-I?

Lumecca is the most powerful intense pulsed light (IPL) designed to treat pigmented and vascular lesions. Lumecca-I uses photothermolysis, which provides a photofacial through the delivery of a comfortable light treatment. IPL has been FDA approved for more than 15 years to remove superficial skin lesions.

How does lumecca-I work?

Lumecca-| creates tissue heating which helps to reduce inflammation. During treatment there will be a bright flash of light and a sp tom an date band Redhes and sighe warming of the skin are normal after treatment and usually subside within an hour.

What can I expect?

All treatments are performed right in your physician’s office. As a result, there is no general anesthesia, no incisions, or downtime that is associated with excisional interventions. Most clients find the treatments very comfortable. Your provider will discuss in detail with you the specifics of your customized treatment plan and how it will address your individual condition.

How safe are these treatments?

These treatments are recommended for patients who are seeking non-invasive procedures to address their symptoms. The small size applicators allow for treatment in small and delicate areas. There are very safe and effective procedures that can be used on all skin types and skin tones.

How many sessions are recommended?

Your provider will recommend the ideal number of sessions to be performed based on your personal condition. Treatment times and frequency will be specifically tailored to obtain the optimal results.

What kind of post-procedure care is required?

Most patients do not experience any side effects and any skin reaction typically resolves within a few hours. There is no recovery period or downtime associated with these procedures.