
Many different factors contribute to dry eyes, including the aging process, environment and climate, lifestyle, medical and health conditions, and the side effects of different medications. Regardless of the primary cause, this condition causes discomfort and can negatively affect the quality of your daily life. At Wichita Vision Institute in Wichita, KS, we can design a dry eye treatment plan with IPL and LLLT to rehydrate your eyes and restore your quality of life.
Sometimes it takes more than just over-the-counter eyedrops to treat and resolve the symptoms of dry eyes, which is why we offer effective treatments that provide solutions for reducing your symptoms and rehydrating your eyes. If you’re among the 100 million individuals worldwide who suffer from dry eyes, you’re not alone, and there are treatment options that work.
We offer customized treatment plans at Wichita Vision Institute to treat and resolve this condition. Our treatment options don’t just mask the symptoms of dry eyes, a condition also known as dry eye syndrome, but they target the cause of dry eyes at the source. Our treatments can alleviate the most common symptoms, including:
- Overall dryness
- Eye discharge
- Redness and inflammation
- Changes in vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Foreign body sensation in the eye
- Grittiness, itching, burning, or stinging
- Watery eyes or tearing
- General eye fatigue
Targeting Dry Eyes at the Source
While different factors can contribute to dry eye syndrome, on the biological level, this condition results when the eyes either don’t produce enough tears or they do produce tears, but those tears just evaporate from the eyes too quickly. Both IPL and LLLT are two treatment options that are designed to target the biological causes of dry eyes by addressing different glands using non-invasive and pain-free light therapy techniques.
IPL
IPL stands for intense pulsed light and is often associated with cosmetic treatments designed to deliver skin rejuvenating benefits. However, we can use IPL to treat the root cause of dry eyes and resolve your symptoms. One of the primary causes of dry eyes is inflammation, and intense pulsed light can treat this condition by reducing the inflammatory response that causes dry eyes to reduce symptoms.
It can also heat different glands in the eyes that have been ineffective at hydrating the eyes due to blockages. The heat energy in the device can cause these glands to function normally by clearing blockages to secrete the oils necessary to hydrate the eye area.
What To Expect From the Treatment Process
IPL treatments are non-invasive and pain-free. The treatments typically take 20 to 30 minutes and don’t require any downtime post-treatment. Repeat treatments are typically scheduled four to five weeks after the initial treatment if needed. We will use the IPL device to apply the intense pulsed light directly to the eyelid area during the treatment process.
Patients can expect a noticeable improvement in their symptoms after one treatment. Typically, the treatment schedule includes four IPL treatments for the best results, and maintenance treatments every three to six months can help patients maintain adequate eye hydration long-term.
LLLT
LLLT stands for low-level light therapy: a treatment that uses LED lights during treatment to safely increase the temperature of the eyelids to stimulate certain glands to respond with an oil-release reaction that hydrates the eyes, reduces symptoms, and improves patient comfort.
This treatment addresses the Meibomian glands, which can become blocked for various reasons. LLLT treatments use light energy to unblock those glands to treat symptoms and, in doing so, correct dry eye syndrome.
What To Expect from the Treatment Process
Low-level light treatments are completely non-invasive and pain-free. Treatments take 15 minutes and don’t require any recovery or downtime. There are no side effects and no post-treatment limitations.
LLLT provides a safe option for both adults and children alike. Patients who undergo this treatment can expect noticeable improvements in dry eye syndrome and the accompanying symptoms within hours of their first treatment.
Diagnosing Dry Eye Syndrome and Developing Your Dry Eye Treatment Plan
If you are suffering from the symptoms of dry eyes, we can schedule a consultation to confirm your diagnosis and then design your treatment plan accordingly. During your first treatment, we will perform advanced dry eye testing with a TearLab Osmolarity test. This test is designed to measure the salt concentration of the tears to determine the severity of your condition.
After this test, you’ll receive an osmolarity score after we take a sample of your tears to analyze and then design your treatment plan accordingly. During your consultation, Dr. Reena Patel will evaluate your eyes to determine which treatment or combination of treatments can best address your condition. You can expect a thorough examination of your:
- Tear film
- Tear production
- Tear concentration
- Blinking habits
- Lid position
- Tear ducts
- Meibomian glands
Treatment Eligibility
You may qualify for a treatment plan that includes either IPL treatments, LLLT treatments, or a combination to reduce your symptoms and hydrate your eyes. Our goal is to design a unique plan that not only reduces your symptoms but prevents this condition from affecting the quality of your life long-term.
Begin a Dry Eye Treatment Plan That Works
Whether you’ve been suffering from dry eyes for days, weeks, months, or years, you don’t have to live with this condition because there are safe, non-invasive treatment options that work. An initial consultation is the first step in this process and will enable us to learn more about your symptoms and your condition and design a dry eye treatment plan that will restore full function and health to your eyes.
I Can See Clearly Now
by Don Burrows
Category: cataract surgeryDr. Patel saved my wife’s vision and mine too. I now live 770 miles from her office and would still make the trip, even if it required a cross-country trip.
I highly recommend Dr. Patel
by Jim Guhl
Category: cataract surgeryDr. Patel is a physician whose sincere goal is to improve the quality of life for her patients. When I first became a patient under Dr. Patel’s care, I was diagnosed with cataracts in both of my eyes; dry eye syndrome; and astigmatism. Previous records from my Lasik surgery, which occurred 17 years ago, were no longer available. The Lasik surgery documentation was important in determining the exact corrections that now needed to be made to properly correct my astigmatism. Dr. Patel wisely recommended I postpone the cataract removal and astigmatism correction procedure, until she received newly developed diagnostic equipment. This newly developed technology would provide her with the most accurate metrics possible. New specialized lens implants were also becoming available, which would correct my astigmatism. Dr. Patel explained my chances for a successful outcome would be significantly increased if I would be patient and wait a little longer. Dr. Patel is truly a physician with high integrity and would never perform surgery until she knew it was the right time. She truly cares about providing her patients with the best care she can. Dr. Patel successfully treated my dry eye symptoms with a regiment of eye drops, cleansing techniques and vitamins, which prevented me from requiring more extensive - and more expensive treatment. Prior to the surgery on my right eye, she provided me with sample eye drops from her office and coupons for the eye drops I would need to purchase after my surgery. She did all she could to reduce my expenses. During preparations for right eye surgery, Dr. Patel spent quality time with me explaining the results of my pre-surgery testing and asking questions to determine my vision goals. One of my desires was to once again see the front sight on a pistol. I thoroughly enjoyed going to the firing range, but due to the cataract in my right eye I could no longer see the sights, on my pistol. Although the cataract in my left eye was not as bad yet – I was also experiencing difficulty seeing and firing left handed. Using a blue gun (authentic plastic replica of a Sig P229 pistol), Dr. Patel took additional measurements which she used in determining the correct lens to implant, during my surgery. My right eye surgery took place on November 1, 2017. Two days after the surgery, I happened to glance at my mobile phone and for the first time in 10 years or more, I could read the information on the screen without glasses. I pulled the Sig out of its case and – wow! – The sight picture was there clear as a bell. So the right eye cataract is gone along with the rainbow halos around cars at night and the astigmatism has been corrected better than I dreamed possible. Quality of life restored! The process included the latest diagnostic equipment; the newest technology in an intraocular lens implant; and the use of a laser surgery technique performed by Dr. Patel. Sadly, insurance does not cover much of the cost for the process that produces the optimal results. When it comes to the long term correction of your vision and significant increase in the quality of life it is well worth the investment. Dr. Patel is a very accomplished and highly competent physician and surgeon. I will be forever grateful to her for restoring my vision. I highly recommend Dr. Patel. Jim Guhl Wichita, KS November 13, 2017
In Good Hands
by Luke F.
Category: lasik surgeryTalk about a life changing surgery!!! From the consultation to the surgery I knew I was in good hands. I would recommend WVI to anyone who is considering LASIK. Thanks WVI!
Life Changing!
by Ashley J.
Category: lasik surgeryI love Dr. Patel! After having my dreams crushed at another place when they told me I wasn't a candidate, I went to Dr Patel for a lasik consultation. She is very thorough and gave me information about my eyes that no doctor in almost 20 years has told me. A week ago I had Lasik and it has been life changing! I couldn't be happier and I'm so glad I chose Dr Patel. She truly cares about her patients and her passion shows. The wait time can be very long, but if you are prepared for that ahead of time, you won't be disappointed once you see the doctor. I'm recommending WVI to everyone I know. She is now the only doctor I trust for my eyes.
Impressed with Dr. Patel and Staff
by William D.
Category: cataract surgeryI first saw Dr. Patel about 6 years ago when my left eye wandered to the left side and stayed there. She sent me to the Dean McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City for further evaluation. No reason was ever found as to why it did that but it corrected itself after about two months. Since then I have been seeing Dr. Patel regularly. I damaged the left eye in an accident and had to have a vitrectomy performed. She referred me to another specialist Dr. Paul Weishaar and that outcome was also great. The eye did develop a cataract and she performed that surgery a few months ago and suggested a plan for treating dry eyes. It was outstanding and since wearing glasses for over 50 years, I now just wear sunglasses. Simply amazing. Dr. Patel and her staff are the greatest and they know other great professionals if the need arises. They also do charity work and they are all a total blessing to me. I would not even consider going anywhere else. Just gotta love them.
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