Dry Eye Syndrome is a common and irritating condition that can be due to a variety of causes. In general, dry eye symptoms are caused by the occasional lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. One common culprit behind dry eye is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), characterized by blocked meibomian glands in your eyelids. These glands are responsible for keeping your corneal well lubricated.

MGD can dramatically decrease the lipid quantity (fatty oils) of your tears, which makes the tears evaporate too quickly. In fact, eye care experts estimate that about 86% of all dry eye sufferers can blame MGD for their painful symptoms.

The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System, by Johnson & Johnson, is a new and specialized medical therapy to improve meibomian gland function and give sustained relief from dry eye irritation. If you and your optometrist at Eyecare Associates of Boise determine that you are a good candidate for LipiFlow treatment, we are happy to report that our sister clinic, Eyecare Associates of Nampa, offers this effective breakthrough treatment and this is available to all of our patients in Boise. What's even better is that your Boise optometrist has the opportunity to follow up with you both during and after this treatment, allowing the level of continuity of care that we pride ourselves on at Eyecare Associates of Boise.

How Does LipiFlow Work?

LipiFlow consists of a console and a single-use sterile Activator tool. To begin, our Nampa optometrist will insert numbing eye drops so that the procedure does not cause any discomfort or pain. Then, we will gently place a contoured eyepiece over your cornea, vaulting over your eye’s surface in order to protect the delicate parts of your eye. When activated, LipiFlow uses peristaltic energy pressure and therapeutic heat to massage your eye. Numerous sensors are built into the device to regular the pressure pulses and temperature precisely. The combination of massage and heat works to expel any meibomian gland obstructions; any stagnant content in your glands is liquefied and pushed out. Start to finish, the entire procedure takes about 12 minutes in the comfort of our Nampa office.

Is LipiFlow Safe?

LipiFlow is FDA-approved, drug-free, and regarded as highly safe. The heat is regulated with high accuracy by multi-point sensors and continuous feedback, and the pressure is applied intelligently, with a specialized sequence of pulses that prevent any unnecessary intraocular pressure. Altogether, the procedure causes minimal discomfort with maximum safety and results.

Visit Our Dry Eye Specialist for LipiFlow

Every case of dry eye is unique. That’s why you need an experienced eye doctor to assess your condition, identify the cause, and recommend the most helpful dry eye treatment. Don’t let dry eye get in the way of your comfortable vision! Schedule an appointment with our optometrist at Eyecare Associates of Boise for a thorough eye exam and we will provide you with personalized treatment options, including LipiFlow at our sister clinic Eyecare Associates of Nampa, to alleviate your dry eye pain.