Modern Dry Eye Therapy
BlephEx treatment: deep lid margin cleaning
Lid margin inflammation is improved by regular lid margin cleaning, which in turn improves dry eye. The aim is to remove the deposits on the lid margin and reactivate any blocked sebaceous glands. These stubborn crusts on the lid margin are often difficult to remove completely with conventional mechanical cleaning at home. BlephEx therapy is a deep cleaning of the lid margin with a BlephEx device, which cleans the lid margin gently but thoroughly with a rotating, replaceable head. This cleaning is carried out in our practice and takes about 5 minutes. In cases of pronounced lid margin inflammation, this treatment should be carried out twice a year.
How does BlephEx therapy work?
Cleaning takes place in 2 steps, similar to scaling at the dentist. Step 1 takes place at home: you clean the lid margin regularly – we show you how. Step 2 takes place with us: every 6 months the lid margin is professionally cleaned.
Costs
BlephEx therapy is not covered by health insurance. The costs are similar to those of scaling at the dentist.
IPL treatment with E-Eye
Intense pulsed light (IPL) – high-intensity light therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). IPL is a light therapy using very intense, visible white light from a flash lamp. The light pulses are applied to the skin area around the eye. Due to the very high light intensity, the eye itself must be covered.
According to various studies, IPL can improve meibomian gland dysfunction, even in cases that previously appeared resistant to treatment, especially when the disorder occurs together with skin conditions such as rosacea.
IPL is carried out in treatment cycles of 3–4 sessions at intervals of a few weeks. A typical treatment schedule consists, for example, of two sessions about 14 days apart and a further two or more sessions about one month apart. In one session, usually 4–5 light pulses are applied to the skin around each eye; the eyes are closed and covered with a tight protective shield.
One possible explanation of the mechanism of action is the absorption of IPL light by the natural iron pigment in red blood cells, with corresponding warming and increased skin and gland activity. Other possible positive effects range from antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects to a direct improvement in gland metabolism.