OPTICAL PRISM | PARTNERSHIP
Dr . Bahoshy ' s sleek and modern clinic in Stoney Creek , ON
comfort and more stable vision . By allowing our own body to produce a higher-quality tear film to properly lubricate our eyes , we are less dependent on artificial tears and other dry eye
supplements . As a bonus , the E > Eye has a small footprint . It only weighs 20 pounds and you can plug it into any standard electrical outlet . We ’ re a small clinic and those factors were important when we were deciding on the suitability of this technology for our clinic . It was so easy to set up . The rep hand-delivered the device . We just plugged it in , tapped through some menus and that was it . Training my staff didn ’ t take long at all either .
Q . What makes the E > Eye superior to competitors ? A . Each of the five flashes from the E > Eye is actually eight
mini flashes and this is what separates I-MED ’ s device from the traditional IPL therapy . The E > Eye uses patented Intense Regulated Pulsed Light ®. Each of the eight mini flashes within the primary five flashes are specifically calibrated and the energy delivered is equal from the beginning to the end of each pulse . Other traditional IPL devices start at a peak energy and kind of die off before the end of the flash . With the E > Eye , you get a more targeted energy per flash . This technology has been developed from the ground up to specifically target and stimulate the meibomian glands . The current protocol calls for 3-4 sessions to achieve the desired long-term outcomes . Each session involves five flashes per eye targeting the parasympathetic nerve which innervates the meibomian glands of the eyelids . The flashes of intense pulsed light are applied to the upper cheek area just under the eyes and not the eye itself as they are covered by protective metal goggles . The procedure is very comfortable and pain-free and there is no down-time for the patient .
Q . Why is using some brands of eye drops on a regular
basis not recommended ?
A . A lot of over-the-counter drops are preserved with
benzalkonium chloride , also known as BAK , and using too much of that can actually lead to more irritation . Some people also fall into the trap of using " get the red out " drops . These drops will temporarily constrict your blood vessels , diminishing the appearance of redness and the eyes will temporarily appear more white , but if you use these drops too often their effectiveness tends to diminish over time . In addition , they are only providing a temporary cosmetic effect and not properly lubricating the eyes and stabilizing our tear film . I-MED ’ s line of artificial tears , I-DROP ®, is made without preservatives . The bottle is designed with a one-way valve , which eliminates the possibility of any product re-entering the bottle . This greatly reduces the chance of contamination and negates the need to use preservatives in the product .
Q . What kind of feedback are you getting from patients ? A . I ’ ve been getting great feedback from patients , especially
the patients that have tried a whole bunch of other stuff and they ’ re just not getting the relief . Patients are generally much less symptomatic and in many cases become symptom-free . Patients tell me their eyes don ' t feel gritty , sandy or watery anymore . Patients ' eyes also appear to be noticeably whiter and this is especially the case with those who suffer from ocular rosacea . This procedure also helps close off some of the engorged and dilated blood vessels on the eyelid margins . For some patients who suffer from more moderate to severe chronic dry eyes , the condition can severely impact their quality of life . It is really great to hear the positive feedback from patients on their follow-up visits and to know that you are making such a positive difference in their lives . As with any procedure , the key is to identify the patients who are good candidates and would benefit from the procedure .
Q . Does the E > Eye IRPL ® therapy REALLY get rid of
wrinkles ?
A . I ’ ve heard from some other doctors , anecdotally , that
they see some smoothing out of wrinkles ... kind of like an unintended positive side effect on the treatment area ... but your mileage may vary with that ! OP
24 OPTICAL PRISM | March 2021