Personalized Dry Eye Treatments in Cedar Rapids
Are your eyes persistently dry or scratchy? This might signal a common condition impacting your vision. At Miller Family Eyecare, we're devoted to pioneering dry eye treatments for relief and eye health.
Our comprehensive dry eye assessments and introduction of the revolutionary LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation system have established us as a leading dry eye clinic in Cedar Rapids.
What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye disease (DED) occurs when tears don't provide adequate lubrication for the eyes. This can be due to insufficient tear production or poor-quality tears that evaporate too quickly. The quality of tears is crucial because they need to maintain a smooth, clear surface on the eye to promote good vision. Tears are a complex mixture of water, fatty oils, proteins, electrolytes, and bacteria-fighting substances. This composition is essential for keeping the eyes' surface healthy, nourished, and clear.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eye can result from various factors, including:
- Aging: Tear production tends to decrease with age.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and antidepressants, can reduce tear production.
- Medical Conditions: Dry eye can be caused by immune disorders (like Sjögren's syndrome), diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Environmental Factors: Dry, windy, or smoky environments can increase tear evaporation.
- Incomplete Blinking: Prolonged periods of staring without blinking, common during focused activities, can lead to dry eyes.
- Eyelid Problems: Eyelid issues like meibomian gland dysfunction or incomplete closure can contribute to dry eye.
Dry Eye Symptoms
Common symptoms include:
- Dryness
- Irritation
- Redness
- Blurred vision
- Eye fatigue
- Excess tearing
- Light sensitivity
- Discomfort with contact lenses
- Eye discharge
- Burning or stinging
Solutions for Dry Eye at Miller Family Eyecare
Numerous treatments can alleviate dry eye symptoms, including prescription drops like Restasis or Xiidra targeting inflammatory tear deficiency and non-prescription approaches like heat masks, lid scrubs, gland debridement, artificial tears, punctal plugs, and LipiFlow.
About the LipiFlow System
LipiFlow is the only FDA-approved dry eye treatment specifically addressing meibomian gland dysfunction. This system targets improper gland function, causing dry eye symptoms. By applying heat and gentle pressure to the inner eyelid while massaging the outer lid, LipiFlow efficiently unclogs meibomian glands. Restoring gland function alleviates dry eye symptoms, halting the progressive obstruction that could lead to permanent damage. The procedure is painless, aided by an anesthetic eye drop, ensuring comfort. Administering the treatment takes approximately 12 minutes, offering potential relief in a single visit.
LipiFlow benefits over 300,000 people with ocular surface disease (OSD), showing sustained improvement of 86% for 12 months post-treatment. If you are concerned about meibomian gland issues or severe dry eye, your optometrist may recommend an Ocular Surface Disease Evaluation (OSDE) based on a SPEED questionnaire. Preliminary tests and further assessments determine LipiFlow suitability. We initiate the treatment if recommended, with a patient counselor explaining the procedure and an 8-week follow-up post-LipiFlow.
Are you curious about personalized dry eye treatments in Cedar Rapids? Request an appointment at Miller Family Eyecare.