OPTICAL PRISM | PARTNERSHIP
The E > Eye by I-MED Pharma treats patients using Intense Regulated Pulsed Light ( IRPL ® ) therapy .
I was in a private room , reclined in a comfortable chair with some protective goggles like the ones you wear in a tanning bed . Dr . Bahoshy also applied some soothing gel on my upper cheeks and then it was time to let the E > Eye do its thing .
Dr . Bahoshy administered five quick flashes of light at each upper cheek to stimulate the parasympathetic nerve , which controls the meibomian glands . These glands produce the meibum , or the oil layer , which is paramount in keeping our tears stable .
According to Dr . Bahoshy , many dry eye patients are suffering because these glands have stopped working efficiently or sometimes because they ’ ve become clogged from years of neglect .
Dr . Bahoshy is passionate about treating patients with dry eye .
The IRPL ® therapy attempts to kickstart the gland and help contribute to a more stable tear film . Several studies have also shown that IRPL ® can even regenerate some of the glands that may have started to die off .
During the procedure , I felt a slight prickling sensation and intense warmth on my cheek . Amazingly , the whole process was over in less than five minutes .
Many patients require three or four treatments over the course of a few months to experience the long-term benefits of IRPL ® therapy .
Thankfully , I was able to achieve some immediate relief after my first appointment .
Dr . Bahoshy ended up prescribing me just four treatments in total . It has now been five months since I first underwent IRPL ® therapy and I ’ m happy to report that my eyes are feeling better than they have in years .
Patients have reported maintaining results anywhere from six months to three years , but Dr . Bahoshy says it ’ s easy to schedule another maintenance visit if I start to feel any discomfort .
I-MED Pharma has an entire line of products dedicated to fighting dry eye disease and I was lucky enough to try out some of these complementary treatments in the comfort of my own home . Those include I-MED ’ s artificial tears made without preservatives , a daily cleansing gel for your lids and lashes as well as a hot and cold therapy eye mask .
And here ’ s something else that will make IRPL ® therapy sound more like a spa treatment than a dry eye treatment . It has been known , in some cases , to reverse the signs of aging by smoothing out some wrinkles in the area where the treatments are administered .
So , if you happen to notice smoother skin along with dry eye relief , I ’ m told that ’ s no extra charge .
Q . Why are so many people suffering
from dry eye these days ?
A . We ’ re on screens all day , compounded
with the fact that everybody is working more while they ’ re stuck at home . Research shows that when we stare at laptops or phones that we tend to blink less . Every time we blink , our meibomian glands contract and produce a small amount of meibum or oil into our tear film and if we ’ re not blinking enough the oil glands get clogged up and start to lose function and atrophy , leading to meibomian gland dysfunction . There are many other factors that contribute to chronic dry eyes including blepharitis , aging , hormonal changes , medication side-effects , certain systemic conditions and environmental factors .
Q . Why is the E > Eye such a great
asset for any ECP ?
A . Intense Regulated Pulsed Light ®
therapy as it relates to dry eye treatment results in the meibomian glands in our eyelids working much more efficiently . The higher-quality oil layer leads to a more stable tear film with improved eye
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