Dry Eye diagnostics (includes evaluation of meibomian glands for MGD)
- Meibography
- Lipid Layer Thickness by interferometry
- Meibomian Gland Evaluation and Expression score
- MMP-9 Tear Assay
- Tear Osmolarity
- Fluorescein and Vital Dye staining
- Tear Break Up Time
- Schirmer Testing
- SPEED questionnaire
- Omega 3 Index – blood test
- Early Sjogren markers – blood test
- Corneal Topography
Dry Eye and MGD Treatments
- Tear Substitutes, drops, gels
- Lid warming eye masks
- Tea Tree Oil based lid cleanser
- Omega 3 – triglyceride form
- Prescription Cyclosporine drops (Restasis, Cequa, and Klarity-C)
- Prescription Xiidra drops
- Regener-Eyes drops
- Debridement of lid margin
- Lipiflow – vectored eyelid thermal pulsation
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
- Blephex
- Punctal Occlusion with punctal plugs
- Autologous Serum Eye Drops (ASED)
- Protopic ointment
- Doxycycline
- Azithromycin drops
What is Dry Eye?
Dry Eye is a term used to describe a host of ocular conditions that create irritation, burning, grittiness, tearing, and redness of the eyes. Dry Eye is multifactorial and may be secondary to decreased tear production, corneal exposure, or too rapid an evaporation of tears due to a poor lipid layer (an oil layer that coats a healthy tear film). Once the type of Dry Eye is elucidated there are multiple ways to treat the condition including artificial tears, prescription eye drops, oral supplements, lid hygiene routines, and in-office procedures such as Lipiflow and IPL. As a dry eye center of excellence, Dr. Sherman, and Dr. Raviv have extensive experience with dry eye diagnosis and treatment.
Lipiflow
A major factor in dry eye disease are occluded oil glands present in the lid – the meibomian glands. Meibomian gland disease (MGD) needs to be properly identified and controlled in order to relieve dry eye symptoms and improve tear function. This can be accomplished with at home treatments such as lid cleaning with special tea tree oil containing cleansers along with daily heating with microwaveable eye masks.
The most advanced treatment involves an in-office thermal pulsation device (LipiFlow), which simultaneously heats all four eyelids and thoroughly clears out all of the meibomian glands. Dozens of published papers and our clinical experience find that (in conjunction with other dry eye therapy) patients usually find up to a year or more of relief from symptoms following LipiFlow.