The mountain air in Western North Carolina often seems fresh and clear, but if you stay out too long, it might often feel like your eyes are dry and itchy. A sharp, crisp wind and pollen can leave even the most avid Asheville adventurer rubbing their eyes. Luckily most of the time, when our eyes dry out, it is a passing problem.
But if you haven’t been able to treat the symptoms of dry eyes on your own, it is time to speak to an optometrist. It may seem like a minor nuisance, but chronic dry eyes are a serious concern for your ocular health.
LipiFlow Dry Eye Treatment Asheville, NC
Our eyes are our gateways to the world around us, and we shouldn’t trust their care to just anyone. Since 1989, Asheville Vision and Wellness has offered medical treatment for eye conditions, including infections, inflammation, foreign body, allergies, and dry-eye syndrome.
If you have been struggling with dry eyes and have done some research, you have likely stumbled across a treatment called LipiFlow. This non-invasive medical procedure aims to help combat one of the most common causes of dry eyes, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
MGD is simply when your eyelid's oil glands block up with dried oil and debris. And without oil, your tears evaporate too fast to protect the eye.
How it Works
LipiFlow is specifically engineered to remove lipid and other blockages from meibomian glands using vectored thermal pulsation. In simpler terms, it applies gentle heat to your eyelids to begin to weaken the blocked oil, then adds light massage motions to loosen the blocked channels fully.
This combination of heat and motion re-opens meibomian glands, allowing for natural secretion to resume. It is entirely non-invasive and gets results without eye drops or additional medications, making it an option for nearly any patient suffering from MGD-related dry eye disease.
Most LipiFlow treatments take less than a quarter-hour to complete. Patients most often describe it as an almost spa-like experience. Results vary by patient and the severity of MGD being treated, but many patients see long-term dry eye relief of up to one or two years from a single LipiFlow treatment.
LipiFlow not only helps protect the health of your meibomian glands but can help reduce dry eye symptoms, including:
- A burning, itchy sensation in the eyes
- Redness of the eyes
- Blurred vision
- Excessive tearing
Schedule an Appointment Today
Conveniently located in South Arden, our optometrists will work to diagnose, treat, and form a management plan for your ocular health customized for you and your unique eye care needs.
If you have been suffering from dry eyes, schedule an appointment today. Our office offers LipiFlow treatments for qualifying patients. We can help determine the cause of your dry eyes and get you on the path to clearer, pain-free sight.