Lipiflow® Treatment for Dry Eye
If your eyes often feel dry, gritty, or tired, you’re not alone. Dry eye is one of the most common reasons people visit an eye doctor. Many treatments focus on the eyes not making enough tears, but in most cases, the real problem is that tears evaporate too quickly. That’s usually caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), when the tiny oil glands along the edges of your eyelids get clogged and stop releasing the oil that keeps tears from drying out.
For many patients, at-home care is enough: artificial tears, warm compresses, and eyelid cleansers. When those aren’t enough, we can take a closer look. Meibography is a quick, painless imaging test that shows the meibomian glands in your eyelids, so you and your doctor can see how many are working, blocked, or shrinking. For clogged glands, Pacific Eye Associates offers LipiFlow®, an in-office treatment performed by physicians.
Is LipiFlow right for you?
Our doctors can check your oil glands and talk through your options.
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How LipiFlow Works
LipiFlow warms the inner surface of your eyelids to about 108°F (42.5°C), which is warm enough to melt the hardened oil clogging the glands. At the same time, it applies gentle pressure to the eyelids to help push that oil out. Both eyes are treated at once, and the treatment takes about 12 minutes.
Results can last up to a year, and some patients repeat the treatment annually. Treating MGD matters because when left alone, it tends to get worse. Over time, it can lead to worsening dry eye, permanent loss of oil glands, and chalazia (firm, painless bumps on the eyelid caused by a blocked gland).
What to Expect
In clinical trials, most patients reported that their dry eye symptoms improved within six to eight weeks of treatment. Some people have temporary side effects afterward, such as redness, burning, stinging, blurred vision, dryness, or light sensitivity.
LipiFlow isn’t right for everyone. If you’ve recently had eye surgery, an eye injury, or an eye infection, you’ll need to wait or consider other options. Your doctor will talk through the risks and benefits with you before treatment.
Cost
LipiFlow is usually not covered by insurance. Learn more about financing your treatment through CareCredit.
Ready to talk through your options?
Our doctors can tell you whether LipiFlow or another treatment fits your dry eye.