A Gold Coast clinic, Eyecare Plus Mermaid Beach, is the first in Australia to offer non-invasive treatment for dry eye disease.
Dr Jackson Yip, optometrist from Eyecare Plus Mermaid Beach is offering an Australian-first treatment for dry-eye disease using radio frequency and intense pulsed light that clears blocked glands in the eye and relieves people of the dependence for eye drops and other topical treatments.
Dry-eye disease occurs when tears are unable to provide sufficient lubrication and can be triggered by excessive screen use or if tear glands produce poor-quality tears.
It is a plight that affects one in three Australians over 50, Mr Yip said, with many unaware they are suffering the condition.
“I do explain to patients that usually the signs of dry eye occur first and then the symptoms come later,” he said.
Symptoms include sore, red, itchy or watery eyes, gunky eyes, stinging, burning eyes or sensitivity to lights or glare.
Mr Yip said dry-eye disease was typically found in older demographics but it was becoming more prevalent in young people.
The new dry eye treatment machine known as Inmode Envision operates in a two-stage treatment process using radio frequency to heat and melt oils in the meibomian glands, helping to unblock them.
Mr Yip said the second part involved using intense pulse light on the top and lower lids of the eye, with the eye protected by a contact lens shield.
“That intense pulse light is just jumpstarting or kickstarting those oil glands – hitting the oil glands directly – to get them stimulated and improving the oils,” he said.
“I’m really trying to educate patients, show them their eyes, show them the deficiency in the tears and educate them why it’s important for the health of the eye, because if you don’t have a good healthy tear film, it affects your eye and corneal health.”
For more information about this new dry eye treatment or to book a dry eye assessment visit www.eyecareplusmermaidbeach.com.au or call 55261400.
