New Dry Eye Treatments

These are exciting times for research in Dry Eye Treatment! It seems like almost every couple of months we have a new option to treat Dry Eye Syndrome (also known as Ocular Surface Disease) in better, more efficient, & more comfortable ways! Here are a few of the latest advancements we are using with patients to help them find relief:

1) Zest Treatment- This okra based system works by gently exfoliating the eyelids to restore their natural state. Due to normal bacteria, proteins, and lipids on our ocular and skin surface, a biofilm accumulates that causes inflammation and obstruction of our essential oil glands. This is why we recommend every patient wash their lids and lashes regularly with a tea tree oil cleanser such as We Love Eyes Foaming Cleanser or TranquilEyes Cleanser. For some patients, the biofilm is too thick or embedded in their glands to fully treat with an at-home cleanser. Zest treatment allows us to do a "deep-clean" for these patients. Not only, do they feel immediate relief, they are able to produce and maintain a healthier ocular surface which helps them feel better long term.

 

2) MiboFlo Treatment - We are so excited to be adding MiboFlo treatment to our office in the next month (watch for announcements for the official release!) Dr. Cline often recommends at-home heat masks to improve the quality of tears each patient produces. This is a great tool but sometimes it isn't enough. Enter MiboFlo- a thermal massaging treatment that gets to the root cause of Evaporative Dry Eye Disease (80% of Dry Eye cases). It is a relaxing heat treatment that has a much a greater impact than microwaveable heat masks. It allows us to treat the oil glands through the entire lid, to clear obstructions & inflammation, and to create a healthy, proper functioning tear system so at home treatments and medications are more effective. We will be offering this treatment in our new Dry Eye Spa room.

3) Cequa & Eysuvis - Cequa (Cyclosporine 0.09% solution) and EySuvis (loteprednol etabonate 0.25% suspension) are the newest anti-inflammatory medications on the market to treat the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease. Nearly all the symptoms patients feel with Ocular Surface Disease is due to the inflammation it causes. If we can treat the inflammation, patients can feel, see and look their best! Cequa is almost twice the concentration of Restasis and is delivered with an exceptional carrier molecule that keeps the medication in contact with the eye longer, thus creating a more effective treatment. EySuvis is the first steroid approved for longterm use in the treatment of Dry Eye Disease.
 

 

4) Tyrvaya- This novel pharmaceutical product is actually a nasal spray. It stimulates the lacrimal gland and goblet cells to produce high quality tears. The main side effect is sneezing but it only lasts a couple seconds. Many patients have found this to be a good addition to their other medications if they are not getting enough relief of symptoms. Some patients that have a difficult time instilling drops also find this route more user-friendly.

5) Over The Counter Artificial Tears- New to the market are iVizia and Optase. Both of these brands have worked to increase hydration and contact time on the eyes so that patients get longer relief. Both can be a little tricky to find since they are so new but we hope to carry them in the near future so our patients have access to the best treatments available! Retaine MGD continues to be a solid choice and can be found at our office as well as many pharmacies.
 

 

Do you experience any of these symptoms?

• Dryness

• Grittiness

• Redness

• Tearing

• Intermittent Blur

• Burning

• Itching

• Swelling of Eyelids
   

If you are interested in learning more about Dry Eye Syndrome schedule a Dry Eye Evaluation with Dr. Cline. She will create a customized plan to help you feel better, see better and look better as quickly as possible!

Call today to schedule! (740) 761-2020