Poole-based eye care centre Classic Eyes has invested nearly £100,000 in new technology to become the first clinic in the south to address the root cause of evaporative dry eye disease, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 85 percent have evaporative dry eye. Dry eye is a common condition in which there is a deficiency in the quality or quantity of tears produced, and tears perform an important function for the eye in keeping it clean and lubricated. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness and visual disturbances. This is a debilitating condition and affects the quality of life of the sufferer.
Treatment of evaporative dry eye involves relieving the obstructions of blocked eyelid glands by applying a combination of heat therapy and pressure. Classic Eyes has introduced LipiView® and LipiFlow® technology to the eye care centre. LipiView® enables optometrists to observe the eye’s natural tear film in a five-minute non-invasive way using digital images to make a diagnosis. This analysis determines whether the patient is a good candidate to undergo the 12-minute, pain-free LipiFlow® treatment to release oils from blocked glands. The treatment can provide relief in most patients for 12 months or longer.
Long-standing Classic Eyes patient, Jennifer Long, suffered for 20 years with chronic dry eye irritation until research led her to the Lipiflow treatment provided by a London clinic. She was so enthralled with the results of her treatment that she encouraged Classic Eyes to invest in this revolutionary technology. She says: “This treatment has been a lifesaver for me. Since my 40’s I have suffered with painful dry eyes. They have proved a constant irritation, affecting the appearance of my eyes and I became very self-conscious. It has hindered many of my daily activities as I was constantly putting all sorts of drops in my eyes, and tiny particles were often flying into my eyes and becoming lodged there as I hadn’t got enough tear fluid to wash them out. In finding a treatment which improved my dry eyes and increased my tear fluid I found great relief as my eyes felt much more comfortable and it improved my well-being and confidence”.
“I’m delighted that going forward I will be able to continue this annual treatment at Classic Eyes.”
Craig Wilcox, partner and optometrist at Classic Eyes, says: “This new type of tear analysis is the only one of its kind on the south coast. It is revolutionising our understanding of the cause of dry eyes in many patients. Before this device we could not measure the oil layer, the effectiveness of blinks or the degree of obstruction of the meibomian glands. These are factors in most cases of dry eyes and now we have an effective test and a tremendously effective treatment for meibomian gland disease.
“Dry eye is one of the most common eye diseases and it often goes undiagnosed because many people believe their symptoms are caused by eye strain or allergies.”
For more information on the treatment available at Classic Eyes for chronic dry eye disease please telephone 01202 749941 or visit www.classiceyes.com.