MibiFlow Treatment For Dry Eye In Gainesville
The Most Advanced and Effective Doctor-Led Procedure for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
Although not so well-known except amongst eye doctors, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is a very common eye condition and the most common cause of severe Dry Eye Syndrome. It can be caused by a number of factors, such as age, ethnicity, corrective lens use, high cholesterol, bacterial infection, and even some medications. MGD can range in severity from relatively minor to completely debilitating to your quality of life.
What Is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is a condition caused by a blockage of the meibomian glands, which results in tear evaporation. The meibomian glands are a part of the eye, located by the inner eyelid. These glands secrete oil, which keeps your tears moist and prevents them from evaporating. When the meibomian glands are blocked or have some kind of irregularity, then an insufficient amount of oil is produced. This is known as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or MGD.
Until MibiFlow Hit The Market
Until MibiFlow hit the market, the only option for your eye doctor to treat advanced MGD was to manually express your meibomian glands — a painful and uncomfortable procedure. At the York Eye Associates, we are proud to offer MibiFlow as part of our Dry Eye treatment toolkit. This advanced device is the only FDA-approved device for effectively treating MGD.
Why Are Tears So Important?
While they often may be caused by a reaction to strong emotions or bright lights, tears have some practical health benefits, as well. When dust or small particles enter the eye, tears often form, which cleanse the eye from these materials and keep the eye moist. So when a person’s tears evaporate too quickly and the eyes become dry, it can cause mild to severe discomfort.
This lack of sufficient moisture can cause itching, irritated, or dryness in the eyes. Not surprisingly, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is a leading cause of Dry Eye Syndrome. In fact, studies show that about 86% of Dry Eye patients have Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in some form or another.
The Symptoms Of MGD
The symptoms of MGD include:
- Blurriness, which ironically, can lead to watery eyes
- Feeling as if something is in your eye, like a small pebble or other foreign objects
- Soreness, like an ache inside the eye
- Swollen eyelids
- Redness, especially if you rub your eyes excessively
- Pain and inflammation
As the condition worsens, the glands become further blocked and can even atrophy and die. This can result in even more severe Dry Eye symptoms, such as pastiness and the feeling that there is a foreign body in your eye.
What Is MibiFlow?
MibiFlow is an advanced and relatively new technology, produced by Johnson & Johnson in partnership with TearScience, with clinically proven effectiveness in treating MGD. MibiFlow is specifically designed to remove any blockages from the meibomian glands and gently express them.
The MibiFlow device works by applying warmth to the meibomian glands combined with gentle pulsating pressure to massage out the blockages and stimulate the lipids to excrete healthy, clean lipids. This combination both alleviates the immediate symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome and helps to recuperate meibomian functioning for improved long-term functioning of the meibomian glands.
MibiFlow is an important part of our Dry Eyes treatment arsenal and for severe cases, it is often the best means for regaining the protective lipid layer of the tear film, restoring comfort and quality of life.
How Does MibiFlow Work And Feel?
MibiFlow is usually pain-free and completely safe, posing no serious risks. The MibiFlow is also completely sterile, since it makes use of single-use activators each time a treatment is performed. Placed on your outer eyelids, the MibiFlow transmits automated warmth and massaging pulses to your inner eyelids to gently remove blockages and stimulate lipid expression and production.
The activators are contour-shaped above the cornea in such a way that the device does not touch the core eye surface. The low-impact nature of the MibiFlow means that the sensitive areas of the eye are safe and well-protected during the procedure.
Placing The Activators
Placing the activators and conducting the treatment procedure is usually a simple process, and patients can expect only minimal discomfort in most cases. The treatment begins immediately after placing the activators on the eyes. The MibiFlow activator heats up and pulsates with a patented Vectored Thermal Pulse (VTP), with a simultaneous therapeutic motion on the outer lid. It is this combination of vectored heat and a gentle adaptive pressure which safely removes the blockages and debris which are obstructing the meibomian glands.
Does MibiFlow Cure Dry Eyes?
It is our medical opinion and scientifically-supported view that MibiFlow can be a highly effective treatment option for Dry Eyes due to MGD. Every patient will have a different experience with MibiFlow, depending on the severity and cause of their MGD. Occasional follow-up sessions of MibiFlow are usually required, although the frequency of treatments and total treatment time varies from patient to patient. Patients generally experience significant relief from their Dry Eye for many months after the procedure is completed.
Does MibiFlow Hurt?
Typically, no. Most patients will, at worst, only experience mild discomfort during the procedure itself. Some patients may experience redness, soreness, or stinging the day of the treatment, although this is usually minor and passes quickly.
Who Can Be Helped With MibiFlow?
MibiFlow can be beneficial for the majority of patients with moderate to severe Dry Eye Syndrome due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. At York Eye Associates in Gainesville, our Dry Eye Experts will conduct a complete assessment of your eye health and the quality of your tear film. A custom treatment plan will be developed for you. If you are diagnosed with MGD, the treatment plan will likely include MibiFlow treatments.
What Is The Cost Of MibiFlow?
Pricing for MibiFlow can vary and it’s best to contact our office in order to schedule a consultation so we can quote for you the exact price. The technology is safe and proven effective for treating Dry Eyes due to MGD.
Do Insurance Plans Cover MibiFlow?
Currently, most insurance plans do not yet cover the cost of MibiFlow. We provide our patients with affordable payment solutions and treatment schedules so that you can get the relief you need.
What Is The Best Treatment Option For Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry Eye Syndrome can be due to a number of causes and varies in terms of severity. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. At York Eye Associates in Gainesville, our Dry Eye Doctor will carry out a comprehensive Dry Eye assessment to access the underlying causes of your symptoms. This could include common symptoms like blurry vision, redness, soreness or swelling, feeling like something is in your eye, or inflammation. Once the cause is determined, a personalized and custom treatment plan will be created for you.
In cases where Dry Eye Syndrome is due to MGD, MibiFlow is, in most cases, one of the most effective treatment options available. In many cases, this should be complemented by other treatment options which could include nutritional supplements, hot compresses, medicated drops, punctal plugs, and amniotic disk treatment. This can and should also include, where relevant, lifestyle changes to reduce the environmental factors contributing to you Dry Eye Syndrome.
Can Hot Compresses Do The Same As MibiFlow?
Warm or hot compresses can be useful in treating relatively mild cases of Dry Eye Syndrome. They do this by helping to encourage the glands around the eyes to produce more oil for the tear glands. However, severe cases require the meibomian glands to be expressed. In such cases, hot compresses can be an important complementary or additional treatment, but cannot replace the MibiFlow in terms of efficacy. For moderate to severe cases of Dry Eye Syndrome, MibiFlow is usually recommended for the most effective and lasting results possible.
Can I Drive to a MibiFlow Appointment? How Should I Prepare?
Yes, you can drive to a MibiFlow appointment. However, ensure that you are not wearing a contact lens to the visit. Also, do not use any artificial tear drops, eyelid creams, or ointment between 24 – 48 hours prior to the appointment day. Make sure you remove all eye makeup before visiting.
How Do You Assess If MibiFlow Is Right for Me?
At the York Eye Associates, we use a number of advanced tools to diagnose Dry Eye Syndrome and formulate a custom treatment plan. These include tear-breakup tests and those using fluorescein dye. Beyond that, the York Eye Associates has a number of more advanced technologies to diagnose your condition. We may recommend MibiFlow as part of your custom treatment plan based on the severity and cause of your Dry Eye Syndrome, as well as other medical factors we will take into account.
Here are some of the advanced diagnostic technologies we use when assessing your Dry Eye Syndrome and monitoring the progression of your treatment:
LipiView
LipiView is an Ocular Surface Interferometer, which measures lipid layer thickness and is accurate to the nanometer. This information allows us to image your meibomian gland structure and to measure the dynamic response of your lipid layer to the way you blink. This helps our Dry Eye Doctors to better assess the factors contributing to your Dry Eye symptoms.
Dynamic Meibomian Imaging
Dynamic Meibomian Imaging (DMI) seamlessly combines two innovative imaging technologies: adaptive transillumination and dynamic illumination. Each technology produces its own independent image of the meibomian glands. Both images are then processed, displayed, and combined to provide a more accurate and precise visualization of the structure of the meibomian gland. With the help of these images, the optometrist can detect any structural changes or blockages in the meibomian glands.
LipiScan
LipiScan is a dedicated meibomian gland imager. It features a small footprint and a user-friendly design. LipiScan helps to produce high-definition meibography which we use to take a highly-detailed image of your meibomian glands. This allows us to better assess the health and function of your meibomian glands.
Don’t Suffer From Dry Eyes
For more information about our MibiFlow treatment procedure, contact the York Eye Associates today. We will be happy to assess your condition and go over your options. We provide caring and specialized Dry Eye Treatment in Gainesville, Sherman, Sanger, Cooke County, and throughout Texas.