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Dry Eyes? Forget the Drops, Learn How Our Innovative Lipiflow Treatment can Help
Do you often wake up feeling uncomfortable in your eyes? Or perhaps you suddenly find yourself squinting due to blurry vision?
Dryness in the eyes, redness, and irritation don’t have to be a permanent struggle.
You can now stop carrying your drops everywhere you go. Dr. Scott Beeve, our specialist at Beeve Vision Care Center, offers clients a more permanent solution to dry eyes that addresses symptoms and gets to the root of the problem. Call Dr. Beeve at 818-790-8001 and read on to learn how Lipiflow treats dry eyes and how it works.
Understanding what is causing your dry eyes
The most common cause of dry eyes is a dysfunction in the tiny glands found in your eyelids that secrete oils. Dry eyes appear when these glands become blocked or diseased.
Risk factors for developing dry eyes include:
- Menopause and hormone fluctuations (dry eyes are more common in women, particularly with menopause)
- Autoimmune conditions, which often cause dry eyes as a secondary symptom
- Post-surgical effects (temporary responses after surgery, as the nerves are healing and affecting tear production signals)
- Environmental dynamics, such as extended screen time, dry windy climates, etc.
While most of these risk factors may seem to impact your eyes in different ways, a dysfunction in the tiny glands found in your eyelids that secrete oils actually causes most cases of dry eyes. Hormone fluctuations, autoimmune conditions, and post-surgical effects all impact the meibomian glands’ ability to produce oil.
The lubrication in your tears doesn’t contain only water; it also contains oils, which prevent the liquids from evaporating too quickly.
Treating your dry eyes
For decades, the standard treatment for dry eyes was artificial tears, gel drops, and ointments. While these can provide immediate relief and moisture, they can’t offer a long-term solution to the fact that your meibomian glands aren’t producing enough oil for you to create high-quality tears.
You can take a few steps to encourage oil production from the comfort of your home. These steps include lifestyle changes, such as increasing your water intake, taking screen breaks, and using a humidifier in your home. Omega-3 supplements can also help improve the quality of the oils secreted by your glands.
However, if your meibomian glands are blocked or diseased, you may need to take a further step to help them function optimally. Dr. Beeve uses Lipiflow for this specific reason.
Lipiflow is a quick, in-office treatment designed to safely and effectively unblock the meibomian glands. It works by applying gentle heat to the inner eyelids to melt the waxy buildup that is clogging the glands, while simultaneously applying precise pressure to eliminate the blockages.
By restoring the natural flow of oil, Lipiflow enables eyes to produce high-quality tears necessary to maintain a stable, non-evaporating tear film, reducing dependence on daily drops.
Why you should not ignore your dry eyes
Dry eyes are more than bothersome. Left untreated, you have a higher risk of developing eye infections, as tears both wash away debris and fight bacteria. Poor lubrication of the eye can also cause scarring to the cornea, which can permanently affect your vision.
If dry eyes are something you are struggling with, call our Glendale, California office at 818-790-8001 to end the cycle of chronic discomfort and protect your eye health.
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