Blephasteam & IPL
Blephasteam is an eyelid-warming device, which delivers moist heat therapy to promote tear quality. It has been proven to be successful in the treatment of a range of lid margin and ocular surface disorders.
How does it work?
A Blephasteam incorporates a heating device, with a chamber that will heat up to 42 degrees celsius, a temperature high enough to melt meibomian gland secretions and obstructions without harming the lid skin.
Why is Blephasteam better than warm compress?
Using traditional warm compress treatment is challenging as it is difficult to apply the warm face cloth in the correct position for the desired time and at a stable temperature.
Blephasteam overcomes these problems as the goggles keep the therapy in the correct position and at a constant temperature.
How long does the treatment take?
Each treatment session requires a warming period of between 15 and 20 minutes.
The glands are then massaged by one of our orthoptists to remove the softened blockages.
How many treatments would I need?
When starting the Blephasteam treatment, it is desirable to have 3 treatments approximately 1 week apart.
After this time your blepharitis will again be assessed and further treatment may be advised.
Do I need to do anything to my eyelids between treatments or after treatment?
Proper eyelid hygiene is always important when treating blepharitis and after the infection has resolved.
Cleaning your eyelids appropriately and using eyedrops for comfort will enhance the benefits of the Blephasteam treatments.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
IPL is the latest technological advancement in dry eye treatment. IPL may be particularly beneficial for patients with Rosacea.
The IPL technology uses intense light of a particular wavelength that targets the abnormal capillary blood vessels that are implicated in the inflammatory response around the Meibomian glands. The heat generated by the light treats these blood vessels, heats the glands from within the eyelid and possibly stimulates the autonomic nerve endings that regulate the rate of production of the oils.
IPL treatments require no preparation beforehand and you are free to resume normal activities immediately following the treatment (except sunbathing, using a tanning bed and using face products containing retinol or its derivatives). Sunscreen should be used while undergoing the treatment course, but not worn to the IPL appointment. People with significant amount of pigment in their skin are not suitable for IPL due to its effect on the pigment within the skin cells.
The treatment course is over 3-4 sessions with the first two sessions 2 weeks apart, and any subsequent sessions a month apart. Some patients benefit from a maintenance treatment every 6-12 months.