Tired of Gritty, Burning Eyes? How LipiFlow® Solves Dry Eye at the Source

Dry eye disease is a common condition that can make everyday life a challenge. If you’re like many people with dry eyes, you’ve probably tried every over-the-counter treatment available. You may have even found a degree of relief, but nothing that relieves dry eyes for long. 

At Wicker Park Eye Center in Chicago, Illinois, Daniel Tepper, MD, offers several treatment options for dry eyes, including LipiFlow®. This approach delivers impressive results for long-lasting relief from dry eyes. Here's how: 

LipiFlow treats a specific cause of dry eyes

A number of things can cause or contribute to dry eyes. One of the more common is meibomian gland dysfunction. Your meibomian glands sit at the base of your upper and lower eyelids and produce a special kind of oil.

That oil, called meibum, forms the outer layer of your tear film and helps keep your eyes properly lubricated. But your meibomian glands can become clogged, and that obstruction can prevent meibum from entering your eye, which in turn can cause dry eyes. 

LipiFlow is an in-office treatment that clears blocked meibomian glands and restores healthy, lubricated eyes. Previous treatment options required squeezing the eyelids to try to clear the glands, a frequently painful experience. 

LipiFlow takes just 12 minutes

If you and Dr. Tepper determine that LipiFlow may be right for your dry eyes, he first evaluates your meibomian glands using a special imaging device. Additional testing might be necessary. 

If LipiFlow is a good fit, you can move forward with treatment the same day. Dr. Tepper places special numbing eye drops to keep you comfortable during the brief treatment. 

Next, he places single-use activators, which are dome-shaped devices, over your eyes to protect your corneas. Next, he employs vector thermal pulsation technology to direct heat into your meibomian glands as the activators deliver a pulsing pressure. 

The heat and pulsation work together to massage the meibomian glands and liquefy the obstructions, clearing the glands for normal meibum flow. 

LipiFlow treatment takes only 12 minutes.

Recovery is a breeze

One of the biggest benefits of LipiFlow is the ease of the recovery process; you can resume your usual activities immediately after treatment. 

There’s no need for downtime, no special steps you must take, and no lingering discomfort. You simply move on with your day and enjoy healthier, lubricated eyes. 

If you’d like more information on LipiFlow or other treatment options for dry eyes, call the team at Wicker Park Eye Center or request your appointment online today.