Dry Eyes

If you suffer from dry eye syndrome and are fed up with uncomfortable, itchy eyes, Chicago Cornea Consultants may be able to help.

Lipiflow IPL Treatment

We offer many treatment options for dry eye syndrome, including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy. As a practice committed to procuring the most innovative eye care solutions, we were the first in Chicago to offer the advanced LipiFlow® procedure.

Chicago Cornea Consultants — Your first choice for personalized eye care

Established in 1986, Chicago Cornea Consultants offers state-of-the-art ophthalmology, utilizing best-in-class, cutting-edge technology to help patients regain their quality of life and their self-confidence. Our gold-standard Midwest practice has garnered multiple awards and honors, including Newsweek America's "Best Ophthalmologists," "Best Cataract Surgeons," and Chicago Magazine's "Chicago's Top Doctors."

Our six board-certified eye doctors act as trainers around the globe, educating other physicians in their innovative techniques. They are regularly featured in newspapers, podcasts, magazines, and scientific journals and have performed thousands of successful, life-changing procedures, helping patients to see a brighter future.

What is dry eye?

The most common type of dry eye, evaporative dry eye, is caused by a lipid (oil) deficiency resulting from a blockage of the meibomian glands. Your tear film, made up of the lipid, aqueous, and mucin layers, is protected against evaporation by meibum, an oily substance found in the meibomian glands around the rims of your eyelids. When these glands are blocked or dysfunctional, your tears evaporate too quickly (between four and sixteen times faster than normal).

Aqueous deficient dry eye occurs when the lacrimal glands (located above the lateral end of your eye) do not create enough moisture to keep your eyes moist.

Symptoms of dry eye

Symptoms of dry eye can be very uncomfortable and make simple tasks such as reading, using a computer, driving, and watching television strenuous and painful. If you experience one of the following symptoms, it is important that you contact our experts in Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, or Chicago as soon as possible to determine whether you have dry eye syndrome:

Dryness
Discomfort and irritation
Tearing
Redness
Tiredness
Itching
Grittiness
The sensation that there is a foreign body in the eye
Sensitivity to light
Vision disturbance
Burning or stinging

Treatment options for dry eye

Since there are many causes of dry eye, there are many treatment options available. Often those suffering from dry eyes will try over-the-counter drops and ointments. These may provide temporary relief and can be effective for those with allergies. However, if the irritation and pain associated with dry eyes do not improve, medical intervention is likely necessary to alleviate the symptoms. There are effective prescription medications available, including Restasis. When taken regularly, Restasis can improve tear production and reduce dry eye symptoms. There are also advanced in-office treatments available at Chicago Cornea Consultants.

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IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy

IPL is an advanced treatment that uses powerful bursts of light at specific wavelengths to reduce inflammation of the lower eyelids, helping to eradicate dry eye. This is a great procedure for those who have not experienced relief with other treatments. During an IPL session, calibrated light pulses penetrate the skin to address the root causes of inflammation. Effective, safe, and gentle, IPL is ideal for patients with moderate to severe dry eyes, as well as those with blepharitis, ocular rosacea, or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

After IPL, patients may encounter mild redness and irritation, symptoms that evaporate within about 24 hours. Most can quickly resume their normal schedules on the same day as their appointment. Care should be taken to avoid exposure to UV rays for several days and to wear sunblock when outdoors. Most patients will need at least 2-5 sessions before noticing an improvement.

Click here to read more about the IPL technology available at Chicago Cornea Consultants

LipiFlow®

LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation technology offers advanced treatment for dry eye, heating the thickened oils within the meibomian glands from inside the eye, then gently unplugging these blocked glands to allow them to resume their natural production of the lipids needed for a healthy tear film. During the procedure, our practitioners combine targeted heat and pulsatile pressure to unblock your meibomian glands over the course of a 12-minute session. LipiFlow® is the only dry eye treatment that gets to the root of the problem and provides lasting relief, allowing you to once again enjoy a life free from frustrating symptoms. When LipiFlow® is performed by the precision-oriented professionals at Chicago Cornea Consultants, this revolutionary dry eye treatment can optimize your quality of life.

Click here to read more about the LipiFlow technology available at Chicago Cornea Consultants

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Lipiflow

IPL Treatment