Dry Eye Therapy for Saskatoon

Meibography is a diagnostic tool that captures photos of your meibomian (oil) glands in your eyelids. When assessing the meibomian glands, only the openings of the glands can be seen along the lid margin with the slit lamp biomicroscope.

The actual glands can only be visualized by means of meibography. Using these photos, we can diagnose dry eye caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Tear break-up time (TBUT) measures how quickly the tear film starts to evaporate after each blink. The tear film is responsible for reducing friction during blinks and for maintaining the optical quality of the eye. As a result, having a stable tear film between blinks is crucial for eye comfort as well as consistent, clear vision.

The tear quantity on the surface of your eye can be measured by the height of the tear meniscus, which is the tear “prism” that is visible between the ocular surface and the lid margin. This tear meniscus height is measured noninvasively using infrared light.

Conjunctival injection (ocular redness) is often a bothersome symptom for dry eye patients. This redness can be caused by several factors including ocular dryness, mechanical friction, allergies, contact lens wear, topical medications, or environmental factors.

At your dry eye workup, you will receive a Crystal Tear Report summarizing the results of your Keratograph 5M testing. There are several different components to dry eye disease, which can be divided into:

• Aqueous (water) deficiency: Tear Meniscus Height
• Meibomian (oil) gland deficiency: Meibography, Tear Break Up Time
• Inflammation: Conjunctival Injection

As a result of these tests, your eye care professional will formulate a treatment plan addressing any deficiencies in each of these areas. Treatment options may include artificial tears, warm compresses, prescription medications, nutritional supplements, lid scrubs, punctal occlusion, in-office treatments, as well as lifestyle tips and modifications.

E>Eye is a medical device that uses patented intense regulated light pulses to treat chronic dry eye disease.

This treatment improves upon conventional intense pulsed light therapy (IPL). IRPL is specifically designed for meibomian gland dysfunction and eye health, while IPL has been adapted from dermatological applications.

The regulated (instead of unregulated) pulses of light lead to a more precise and targeted treatment. This treatment focuses on the symptoms of meibomian gland dysfunction by improving gland function, unblocking glands, reducing inflammation, and restoring tear quality.

During the treatment, ultrasound gel is applied, and light pulses will be directed to the upper cheek area, bridge of nose, and temples, while the eyes are protected from the light pulses with goggles. The treatment involves 4 sessions: days 1, 15, 45, and 75.

After the initial series of treatments, we may recommend a repeat IRPL treatment session every 12 months for maintenance.

Check out the blog post on IRPL to learn more!

Mibo Thermoflo is an in-office treatment that uses heat and gentle massage to clear the eyelids of any blockages. Ultrasound gel will be applied to your closed eyelids; then the Mibo Thermoflo heated applicator will use gentle heat and pressure to treat dry eyes caused by meibomian gland dysfunction.

As the device does its work on your eyelids, it liquefies the hardened meibum (oil) in the meibomian glands. This helps improve the function of the meibomian glands further improving the tear film.

This treatment option is a gentle way to treat meibomian gland dysfunction that patients find relaxing while providing dry eye relief.

A Mibo Thermoflo treatment plan usually involves 3 treatment visits, spaced 2 weeks apart, for optimal results. After the initial series of treatments, a repeat Mibo Thermoflo may be recommended every 6 to 12 months for maintenance.

Punctal plugs are smaller than a grain of rice and are inserted directly into your tear ducts in the corner of your eyelids. They prevent your tears from draining, to help keep your eyes moisturized. There are two types: temporary plugs, which dissolve, and semi-permanent plugs. If you have success with temporary plugs, our optometrists will likely recommend semi-permanent ones, which last longer before needing to be replaced.

BlephEx cleans the lid margins of the eye using a sponge tip that spins to gently remove debris and exfoliate the eyelids. This is an effective treatment for blepharitis as it removes eyelid and lash debris that can lead to inflammation. By bringing your eyelids back to their healthiest state, this procedure can also improve tear production and meibomian (oil) gland function, helping to relieve dry eyes.

One cause of dry eyes is a lack of meibum, your eye’s naturally occurring oil that prevents tears from evaporating. Meibum production can be encouraged by applying gentle pressure to the meibomian glands to help release any blockages.

First the meibomian (oil) glands are heated (by either IRPL or Mibo Thermoflo) to gently loosen clogs and buildup in the meibomian glands. This initial heating makes the manual expression much more effective as more oil can be released after it has been melted. Your optometrist will then use forceps or an expression paddle to apply gentle pressure to the eyelids in order to drain the meibomian glands.

ZEST is an in-office treatment that gently cleanses the eyelids and exfoliates any dead skin cells and debris that can accumulate on the eyelid margins and contribute to inflammation, infection, irritation, and dryness of the ocular surface. Dirt and debris on the edges of your eyelids can lead to symptoms of itching, burning, and gritty eyes. With each blink, the debris can enter the tear film and coat the eye, leading to redness and irritation.

The ZEST treatment uses a natural gel cleanser that is applied to the upper and lower lash margins with a micro-sponge applicator. Following the deep cleaning procedure, the gel is rinsed off with saline solution. This cleanser quickly and effectively removes dirt, debris, and oil residue and works to restore the natural balance of the eyelid margins. The active ingredient in the ZEST cleanser is a polysaccharide derived from okra. This ingredient has powerful cleansing effects, but is gentle enough to use around the eye to help calm and soothe inflammation.