An innovative treatment for dry eyes – Telegraph

 

Let me explain why, one wet January afternoon, I’m preparing to have the
insides of my eyelids heated up. I suffer from dry eyes – the most common
eye disorder in Britain. My eyes are constantly red, itchy and sore. Other
symptoms include a sensation of grittiness, eye fatigue, sensitivity to
light, discomfort in windy or dry conditions, and even blurred vision.

 
Let me explain why, one wet January afternoon, I’m preparing to have the
insides of my eyelids heated up. I suffer from dry eyes – the most common
eye disorder in Britain. My eyes are constantly red, itchy and sore. Other
symptoms include a sensation of grittiness, eye fatigue, sensitivity to
light, discomfort in windy or dry conditions, and even blurred vision.

 
“It’s certainly the biggest complaint that I treat,” says Dr Simon Barnard, a
senior partner at the Barnard Levit optometrists in north London.

 
Dry eye syndrome affects up to six per cent of the population and may well be
exacerbated by the the time spent in front of computer screens and in
air-conditioned environments. It occurs when a lack of protective oils
causes the tear fluids to evaporate too quickly, leaving the eyes irritated.
The meibomian glands on the rim of the eyelids, which normally secrete the
oils, become blocked and filled with a waxy substance. This causes
inflammation, which only worsens the condition.

 
Over the years, I have tried several standard remedies for dry eye syndrome –
eye-drops, eyelid massage, and the daily application of a heat-pack to the
eyelids. But like thousands of other sufferers leading busy lives, I’ve
found it almost impossible to sustain such a regime. Now I am trying an
innovative treatment called Lipiflow at Barnard Levit, the first optometrist
in Europe to offer it.

 
Two small eyepieces attached to an electric cable are placed over my eyes.
Each is attached to a special contact lens, which slips under the eyelids.
My eyelids are then warmed to 42Cfrom within, and massaged at the same time,
for 12 minutes. It is not exactly comfortable, but afterwards, when the
redness caused by the treatment subsides, my eyes feel free of the usual
irritation.

 
Dr Barnard says that for some patients, a single session is enough to “reset”
the eyes and cure dryness permanently. Others might need to repeat the
treatment, depending on severity.

 
Lipiflow was developed by Dr Donald Korb, clinical professor at the University
of California, Berkeley. “It started in 1980 when I published a paper on
the mechanism of obstruction of the glands,” he tells me. “I knew if one
could adequately heat the eyelids while applying pressure throughout the
procedure, one would liquefy the obstructive material and there would be a
high probability that the gland would again function. I then embarked on a
project to accomplish this.”

 

Curated from An innovative treatment for dry eyes – Telegraph

 

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