LipiFlow device - what the????

[spmcc]

If you remember, LipiFlow came to Toronto first (Herzig Eye Institute ).

Then a location popped up in Abbotsford BC (1+ hour's drive from Vancouver: Valley Laser Eye Centre ).

Now, there's a third location, in Richmond BC, near Vancouver Int'l airport (Central Eye Clinic)

The location in Richmond says they will offer a group rate. Four of us plan on taking advantage of this altho we don't know exactly what the discount is right now.

Is there anyone else interested in joining us? I'm assuming that the bigger the group, the bigger the discount.

Let me know!

[000053546ca]

I sincerely hope you have better luck with Lipiflow than I did. I travelled to Toronto in August after I was "assured" my chronic dry eye disease and blepharitis could be helped. It has now been nearly two months and my eyes are worse than ever. The redness and inflammation have increased and the dryness has not been relieved at all. Including travel costs, accommodations, meals and the Lipiflow procedure ($1520), I spent approximately $3,000 for nothing. I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I am that Lipiflow didn't help me with this miserable condition.

[spmcc]

I feel your frustration. I've also already had one treatment with LipiFlow in July in Toronto. I think my flights cost a little less than yours and I only stayed one night in Toronto so my total travel costs were lower than what you quoted... obviously, I paid the same as you for the assessment and treatment.

I'm going to have another LipiFlow treatment now that it's in Richmond BC. I have had some improvement over the last year, but I've done a lot: (1) had all my puncta sealed by cautery or suturing, (2) had 4 IPL treatments for dry eye, (3) had all my MGs probed with steroids injected, (4) wear moisture chambers 24/7 and (5) had LipiFlow.

So, as you can see, I wouldn't be able to identify if one thing helped me. However, what I like about LipiFlow is really the pre-treatment assessment (aka LipiView) where they measure your lipid layer thickness using interferometry. Also, LipiFlow is not painful.

If you want to read about my LipiFlow experience, I have some posts within this thread: http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showt...light=LipiFlow

I am certainly not pushing LipiFlow. But if anyone is interested in trying it, then a discounted group rate might be of some help.

As for your situation, I hope you find something that helps. Is your problem MGD and/or AD? What have you tried so far (besides LipiFlow)?

[000053546ca]

So far, I've used Restasis for nine months, Doxycycline for nine months, every type of drop and ointment the doctors can think of, flax seed oil, fish oil and most recently I had my tear ducts permanently sealed. I tried the Tranquileyes kit for four months but it didn't help at all. I have not tried IPL for dry eyes but I'll certainly check into it. I've invested so much at this point it won't matter if I invest more. Of course, getting rid of this problem is priceless. Thanks for your input.

[shanku]

Any idea on whether it is possible to treat the eyelids with LipiFlow if one has a gold eyelid weight implants? I am considering eyelid implant surgery for lagophthalmos but MGD is my other problem; so, want to know whether after having the eyelid implant I can treat the eyelids with LipiFlow.

Thanks in advance!

[shanku]

Rebecca - Have obtained the external eyelid weight from the doc after a month's wait....only docs can order it...am using it for a week now...but the tape that sticks it to eyelid does not do a good job.....since the skin is tender and loose, it basically do not stay on the lid but rather often hangs in front of the eye; so I have to take help of gentle micropore tape to hold it up which is too rough on my eyelid skin....I earlier had skin peeled from it. Also the limited color of the weights do not blend on the skin color. Moreover, I have to use sunglasses to hide my eyes at work or outdoors with the weights on my eyelids; my family also do not like to go out with me these days as I moving with sunglasses even in the dark This can not be a long term solution; hence contemplating of the above surgery.

Thanks

[Rebecca Petris]

Very interesting - appreciate the feedback as I don't have experience with those, good to know the shortcomings.

[Sammy B.]

Shanku,

Thank you for the response. I have not yet tried Lipiflow as it is not located anywhere near me! I will wait for it to come to a doctor's office in Florida before trying it.

Rose

[Tankie]

This is a must see video for anyone with meibomian gland dysfunction. Enjoy!

[DCRdryeye]

$700 per eye? That is absurd, it wouldn't cost them more than a few dollars to simply insert the device in an eye and flick a switch!! It's nothing more than profiting from illness. Whoever has that much money, perhaps spend it on scleral lenses.

[Tankie]

$700 per eye? That is absurd, it wouldn't cost them more than a few dollars to simply insert the device in an eye and flick a switch!! It's nothing more than profiting on illness.

Amen! Couldn't have said it better myself.

However, in their defence, the pad that they use for the LipiFlow is expensive and they need to used a new pad for each new client. But is the pad really worth $700? I doubt it. I doubt it very very highly.

[Anthony16]

No,not to me.However,i know there are patients whom he has advised to stop all warm heat/expresion due to the issue u speak of.

However,i agree with your point that bringing down the inflammation means the glands will recover.Easier said unfortunately.
Have u got hormone panels done?Apparently there is a positive correlation between mgd and androgen deficiency

Anthony, what if there is ALOT of inflammation inside the lids, did he mention any hinderance of this doing the expression when theres alot of inflammation which isnt under control (and is impossible to get under control- tried everything)?

[jenny2008]

i read on a post on here that lipiflow could only be done on the lower glands? is that true? and who has had success from this procedure? thanks

[jenny2008]

thanks Khasler! let us know what you find out... I live about 3 hours from the one near st. louis-Chesterfield

[Wuponastar@aol.com]

LipiFlow in Boston

LipiFlow applies thermal pulsations to the inside of each lid while the outside is massaged to help unblock the lid oil glands and restore the healthy tear film---takes 12 minutes per TearScience. A Dry Eye and Refractive specialist just outside Boston performs the procedure...he has a good info site at visionboston.com

(There is also a diagnostic system to assess your tear film to see if you are likely to benefit.)

[msny]

I contacted TearScience, the maker of the LipiFlow system and they sent me this email below with locations. I am in Chicago and travel to MN often so I am waiting for a call back from the technician to discuss this in more detail.
Keep you posted!
Kim

"Thank you for your interest in TearScience's LipiFlow® thermal pulsation treatment for evaporative dry eye.

Due to a successful launch in Canada in early 2011, there is limited availability for the remainder of this year. Until then, the Lipiflow treatment is available in the midwest at the following eye care practices:

Pepose Vision Institute- Chesterfield, MO www.peposevision.com
Minnesota Eye- Bloomington, MN www.mneye.ecom
Please visit www.lipiflow.com periodically for information on additional practices offering the LipiFlow treatment, and view the following links as further independent reference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHMeTurBDbc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaS2XjiQV64

Thanks for your post, yes please, let us know how this goes for you.

[jimi51]

Hi,
I just thought I would pass this along, I recieve in the mail today a flyer from the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA where I had been seen in the past for my post LASIK mess. They are now offering the "LipiView Ocular Surface Imaging System" and "LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation" for dry eye sufferers by Dr. Rex Hamilton at the UCLA Laser Refractive Center. The cost is $150.00 for the analysis and $750.00 per eye for the treatment. I have never had it, I have had 6 IPL treatments so I figure it probably won't help me anyway but I am thinking this is pretty expensive, also they are claiming to be the first in the western US to offer this treatment. I thought some of the people on this board have tried it and if so, what was the outcome and how much did it cost? Take care.

Brad

[Hopeful2]

I agree with DCRdryeye, maybe the inventor needs to hear about your experience. It is important for him to know that the procedure may have made things worse for you.

Thank you for sharing your experience here. There are a lot of people who visit this site and you may have saved them the expense and discomfort of going through a less than stellar Lipiflow experience. So far, I have not seen any dry eye regulars, come away with a significant improvement in their dry eye symptoms after being treated with Lipiflow. I was 'burned' by Lasik . . . don't think I want to risk getting 'taken' again any time soon.

Would you consider working with a naturopathic doctor to see if something can be done to help decrease inflammation overall in your body. Could be that this approach will help your eyes. . . in any case it will help you to achieve better health and improve your quality of life

[Hopeful2]

Chemia,

You mentioned that birth control (I guess, the pill) helped with acne in the past. Have you tried it with dry eyes? Have you had all you hormones tested? I wonder if you are low on either estrogen or progesterone? So high testosterone can cause thick sebum. . . I wonder if that changes at menopause, because testosterone cream is supposed to improve MGD. You mention that your skin is dry, do you think you might be hypothyroid?

Have you hear of the herb Maca? I believe it is supposed to act as a hormone balancer, although it may act like testosterone . . . I'm not sure if it could help in the case of hormonal MGD.

You are fortunate to already have healthy eating habits. I think I do better when I eat gluten free. My next healthy eating goal is to get my body to be more alkaline. I read somewhere that many immune issues are caused by a diet to high in acid forming foods. So hello to apple cider vinegar and chloryphyll drinks, and good by to coffee and tea

[shanku]

The thing that upsets me most is the realization that -

with all these dubious dry eye treatments (like IPL, LipiFlow etc.) we observed that doctors may lie to their patients about their condition when it serves their interests and thereby mislead them.

These bad experiences made me lose my trust in some doctors.

Am wondering how does patients figure out early-on those few good ones from the average & typical doctors? How does patients conclude what is the state of their actual condition? On their own - by symptomatic improvements or worsening?

[jenny2008]

I haven't heard anymore news about lipiflow.. was curious if anyone else has tried lipiflow and those who have tried it-how are the results?? Are your glands staying open?

[Tankie]

My LipiView scores were 29 and 33

[Rebecca Petris]

ARGHHH!

I want so much to see studies on Lipiflow, and here's one, but what does it do? Tells me that Lipiflow beats iHeat! You have GOT to be kidding me. Anything beats iHeat, whether it's the hated washcloth, or the ridiculous hot potato or boiled eggs I hear patients saying their doctors recommended, or just me holding my coffee cup against my eyelids... to say nothing of my beloved rice baggies or Thermoeyes or the myriad warm compresses sold commercially which, unlike iHeat, actually stand a chance of producing heat sufficient to liquefy meibum. No offense to the manufacturers but, er, when I tested it, iHeat was about as low on the warm compress totem pole as you can go.

I literally cannot conceive of a less useful treatment to compare Lipiflow efficacy to. Next please!

A New System, the LipiFlow, for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).

PURPOSE:
To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the LipiFlow System compared to the iHeat Warm Compress (WC) for adults with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
METHODS:
This was a non-significant risk, prospective, open-label, randomized, crossover multicenter clinical trial. One hundred thirty-nine subjects were randomized between LipiFlow (n=69) and WC control (n=70). Subjects in the LipiFlow group received a 12-minute LipiFlow treatment and were reexamined at 1 day, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Control subjects received a 5-minute iHeat treatment with instructions to perform the same treatment daily for 2 weeks. At 2 weeks, they crossed over (LipiFlow Crossover) and received the LipiFlow treatment. Effectiveness parameters: meibomian gland (MG) assessment, tear break-up time (TBUT) and dry eye symptoms. Safety parameters: adverse events, ocular health exam, ocular surface staining, intraocular pressure, visual acuity and discomfort.
RESULTS:
LipiFlow resulted in significant improvement (P < 0.05) in MG secretion at 2 and 4 weeks (mean ± standard deviation at baseline = 6.3 ± 3.5; 2 weeks = 14.3 ± 8.7; 4 weeks = 16.7 ± 8.7); and TBUT at 2 and 4 weeks: (at baseline = 5.5 ± 2.9; 2 weeks = 6.9 ± 5.0; 4 weeks = 7.4 ± 5.5). There was no significant change in MG secretion or TBUT in the control group. LipiFlow resulted in a greater significant reduction in dry eye symptoms than the iHeat WC. The crossover group demonstrated similar significant improvement 2 weeks post-treatment with the LipiFlow. There was no significant difference between groups in the incidence of non-serious, device-related adverse events.
CONCLUSION:
The LipiFlow System was significantly more effective than iHeat WC. These results support its safety and effectiveness in the treatment of MGD and dry eye symptoms.

Cornea. 2012 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]
Lane SS, Dubiner HB, Epstein RJ, Ernest PH, Greiner JV, Hardten DR, Holland EJ, Lemp MA, McDonald JE 2nd, Silbert DI, Blackie CA, Stevens CA, Bedi R.

[spmcc]

My thinking about LipiFlow vs iHeat is that LipiFlow might work better for people with rosacea who simply cannot put heat on/near their face (especially not every day.

[dave25]

Okay so I noticed that several people have written on here about their experience with Lipiflow and I wanted to throw in my 2 cents.

I got the procedure done on Dec. 7, 2011 at the Pepose Vision Institute in St. Louis, MO. I was very lucky because this is only like 30 minutes from my house. The procedures total cost was $1690 and was split up into 3 different appointments. $190 for the initial testing, $1500 for the main the procedure, and no cost for the final checkup visit.

Pros-
1) The Lipiflow procedure only lasts about 15 minutes total
2) Relatively painless
3) Tests provide information on the 3 layers of tear film. (Mucous layer, Aqueous layer, Lipid layer)

Cons-
1) Too expensive
2) If you have small eyes, like me, it can be a little uncomfortable
3) If you have plugs in the procedure can loosen them or remove them completely
4) Not enough studies have been done to show how well the procedure really works

So, overall I would say I am a little disappointed with Lipiflow. I waited almost 2 months to write this review because I wanted to give it a chance. My aqueous layer and mucous layer tested normal before the procedure and I was happy to hear this. My lipid layer however was very low. They measure by a scale of 0 to 250. Anything above 115 is considered normal. My left eye was 37 and my right eye was 47 before the procedure. A month after the procedure they tested again and my left eye was 49 and my right eye was 61. (37/49 and 47/61) So there was a small improvement. I barely notice the change, maybe a very slight improvement. (Certainly not worth $1500)

So basically I was a perfect candidate for Lipiflow and I only received a very small improvement from it. With that said, I would have this procedure done again. If the price comes down greatly, to maybe like $300 for the procedure I could easily see myself putting this money aside every year and getting this done, but no way for $1500.

[Sooz]

That's what I have been told. Insurance companies and Medicare apparently still consider it experimental. I am really annoyed with my eye doctor. His clinic just got the machine, and that's all he offered me. I'm going elsewhere.

[LiliS]

i had the procedure myself in march 2015 in Italy,i was so eager and hopefull that it will work...but it didn,t ,in fact i,m dissapoinrpted and scared,because when i wnr ther i had Shirmer 8 in both eyes and now i hwve only 4 and excruciating pains ...i was a perfect candidate too for Lipiflow after the doctor,s oppinion,more than that i am allergic to all the artificial tears i tried ,so it was the perfect choice...it wasn,t ...i spent alot of money ( burroughed,still paying for them) and my life is braking down...i will try the autolougous serum drops,fortunately i found a doctor in my country who prepares them ( i live in Romania and noone cares too much about dry eyes patients here and some doctors don,t even know half ot the treatments for them...)

[hasan]

thanks for sharing the story