Visual acuity is a complex process. From the moment light enters the eye through the cornea to the moment the optic nerve delivers visual data to the brain, everything needs to occur in a precise way.
If things don’t happen the way they’re supposed to, you may need to correct a refractive error with prescription glasses or contacts. However, even if your vision is 20/20, you still may have issues seeing clearly if your tear production is off.
More than 16 million Americans who suffer from dry eye disease have first-hand experience with its symptoms, such as stinging, watery eyes, and blurry vision, which are caused by tear production issues. If this describes you, there’s good news. The highly skilled providers at the Tayani Institute offer a revolutionary treatment called iLUX®, which can relieve symptoms of dry eyes.
The basics of tears and eye lubrication
Let’s set the stage for this discussion by explaining what tears are and the crucial role they play in the healthy operation of your eyes. Tears are all about lubrication and nourishing the eye.
Did you know that tears aren’t just water? Tears are a combination of oil — called meibum — mucus, and water. Tears protect your eyes by washing away foreign debris, such as dust and wayward eyelashes, to keep your eyes clear and help reduce your risk of developing eye infections.
But, if your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or if the tears are low in quality, or if the tears evaporate too quickly, this can impact the lubrication and moisture of your eyes. This condition is called dry eyes or dry eye disease.
To compound the issue, dry eye disease can be exacerbated in the spring and summer if you run fans and air conditioners, and it can also be exacerbated in the winter when the air is drier and if you run the heater. Furthermore, seasonal and environmental allergens can worsen the symptoms of dry eye disease.
iLUX provides highly customizable treatment
Treating dry eyes has traditionally consisted of using eye drops and performing certain procedures — such as eyelid massages and using warm compresses — to help unblock the oil producing glands. Depending on your particular case, all of these treatments may be effective, but they’re one-size-fits-all.
At the Tayani Institute, we know that dry eye disease manifests differently from patient to patient. That’s the beauty of the iLUX Thermal Pulsation System. With the iLUX system, we can personalize a treatment plan to match the patient’s unique issues.
A vast majority of patients who have dry eye disease suffer from blocked meibomian glands or poor quality meibum. With the iLUX handheld device, we can restore high quality oil production by targeting just the oil glands that aren’t working properly. In less than 15 minutes, we can address the problem by safely heating the oil glands to the exact temperature needed to melt the oil and unblock the glands.
If you have dry eyes and want to see if the iLUX system can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with the Tayani Institute today.