RED AND ITCHY EYES

After a long winter and a delayed spring, Allergists are expecting a "rough" allergy season this spring and summer. We are already seeing lots of symptomatic patients complaining of itching, watering, red uncomfortable eyes often more severe than years past.

It is imperative that you have your eye doctor examine you to differentiate between allergies and other types of eye infections (such as viral conjunctivitis) and eye conditions as often there can be similiar symptoms among various maladies.

Oral allergy medications such as Zyrtec and Clarityn are often not enough to control and alleviate ocular allergy symptoms and in many cases may result in or add to dryness of the eyes.

An eye drop is usually needed when eyes are affected by allergies and there are some eye drops that can also prevent symptoms from occuring if started early enough. These drops have antihistamine properties (reduce or eliminate itching and redness) and are mast cell stabilizers which prevent the eyes from reacting to allergens in the environment. Drops like Pataday, Lastacaft, Bepreve, Elestat, Optivar among others fall into this category and also have different dosing and side effects so it is best to consult with your doctor before using. In more severe cases steroid eydrops are often very helpful in bringing relief and eliminating symptoms. Using these drops prior to the onset of symptoms can help prevent and ultimately decrease the overall severity of the allergic symptoms.

I often tell my patients to refrigerate their unpreseved artificial tears and they love the cooling soothing effect this brings about in addition to decreasing redness and flushing out or diluting the eye allergens.

Dry eyes also can result in greater and more exagerated symptoms and it is therefor imperative to have this managed by your eye doctor as well.

Should you have any questions please feel free to email me, Doctor Kevin Rosin at eyedockev@yahoo.com. Together with Doctors Barry Farkas, Jordan Kassalow, Susan Resnick and Regina Zyskowski we focus on Dry Eye , contact lenses and Ocular Allergies.

Visit us at our website www.eyewise.com or call me at 212-355-5145

Dr. Kevin Rosin - New York City

DryEyeTreatmentLipiflow

Discussion of a new and effective treatment for evaporative dry eye (Meibomitis)



Dry Eye Treatment- combating Meibomian Gland Dysfunction - Lipiflow Thermal Pulsation

'Meibomitis' or Posterior Blepharitis - A new buzz word in eye-care but an old chronic annoying condition.

Eye Doctors - Optometrists and Ophthalmologists have been taking care of dry eye related conditions often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (reported in up to 65% of cases)for many decades. Blepharitis has also been reported in as many as 47% of patients presenting to the eye doctor.

Meibomitis is as a result of blocked meibomian glands which line the eyelids just behind the eyelashes. These glands are responsible for secreting oil into the tears and preventing evaporation of the Aqueous (watery)layer of the tears therefore keeping the tears on the surface of the eyes for longer, between blinks.

Treatment has routinely included warm compresses with eyelid massage, in addition to eye drops, supplements (fish oils) and oral medication (Doxycycline).

The mainstay management utilizing the warm compresses has come with poor patient compliance and thus varying and often undesirable results leading to a deterioration in the condition and thus worsening of Dry eye and its symptoms.

A new and dynamic therapy called 'Lipiflow thermal pulsation' has recently become commercially available and prior clinical studies have shown impressive results and amazing patient testimonials.

We, at the eye care practice of Dr's. Farkas, Kassalow, Resnick and Associates have been fortunate to be the first practice in New York to use this amazing treatment, and over the past several months have seen many happy and successful patients treated with the Lipiflow treatment. It is very exciting to finally have a treatment for this chronic and often cumbersome condition that does not require daily involvement from the patient and may keep them free from eye medications as well. Studies have shown patients reporting a reduction in there dry eye symptoms, often in excess of a year and this has been mirrored by the clinical objective findings too.

Lipiflow works by applying energy to the affected glands with warmth to the back eyelids and gentle pressure to the front of the eyelid. The procedure takes less than fifteen minutes and is well tolerated.

We also use a new and revolutionary tool called the Lipiview ocular surface interferometer to analyze the lipid (oil) layer of the tears obtaining an objective and repeatable quantification of ones tear stability, giving us more critical information in assessing Dry eye disease and its management.

Please do not hesitate to call me, Dr. Kevin Rosin @ 212-355-5145 or email me at doctors@eyewise.com should you need any other information. You can also go to http://www.tearscience.com/en/ to get information on the Lipiflow treatment and the Lipiview system.



www.eyewise.com

Kevin Rosin in association with Dr's Farkas kassalow & Resnick
Tel: 212-355-5145
30 East 60th St, Suite 201 New York, NY