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**neilw** · 07-Nov-2012, 16:21

I posted a while ago that Lipiflow was avialable in Sydney. That was only a trial and sadly the place that had it (The Eye Practice) has not continued with the machine.
But there is now a trial in Melbourne with the Melbourne Excimer Laser Group. Apparently this is a practice of 16 ophthalmalogists. I spoke with the technician there and he said they are trialling it for 2 months. He indicated that they would offer it for "cost" price during the trial so perhaps it may be a bit cheaper than the normal high price. (I did not ask what the actual price would be.)
Their contact details are 160 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. Tel: +613 9639 4635.

**Max** · 09-Nov-2012, 15:08

http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern....jsp?id=741069

I visited a NC group associated with Duke University to investigate if this treatment could help me.

I was told that after long testing I would be rated as 1 (most treatable) to 10 (impossible to treat due to predominately atrophied malbomian glands). I was rated as 9 to 10. My malbomian glands are pretty much gone. No tear production at all.

It cost about $3000 per treatment and multiple treatments are required throughout your life.

It was suggested I go ahead and get the treatment. I was floored.

Made no sense to me so I decided to wait and see what becomes of this.

My ophthalmologist has minor dry eye and was considering using the treatment in his practice so he had it done after being rated a 1 or most apt to respond. He noticed no change at all.

This is an FDA approved treatment but tested only by the company that developed it. No peer reviews that I could find.

Anyone with info to share?

**ferbear** · 11-Feb-2013, 17:26

Hi all,
It's been a while and I wanted to share my thoughts about three months after Lipiflow. I had it done at one of the affiliates in the greater DC area. I found the experience with that clinic to be very pleasant, and the doctor seemed "dry eye literate"--she is not my primary dry eye specialist, but she certainly seemed to know all the treatments all of us internet fiends know and have tried, etc. The Lipiview was interesting--it showed dry eye in both my eyes, with the right worse than the left. I'm not sure it told me anything I didn't know before, but it was nice to have things quantified and to see the way my eyes worked. The Lipiflow procedure was relatively painless.

I would say, three months out: it wasn't a miracle cure and it hasn't reduced my reliance on drops at all. However, I did feel that it relieved some of the pressure in my eyelids. I really noticed a good decrease in my lid pain and inflammation, and the doctor commented on that without prompting at the (free) follow up. Could that be from finally having results in months of good lid hygiene? Maybe.

I'm likely to try IPL. My local eye doc just told me that the dry eye clinic at Hopkins just got the IPL equipment, which I confirmed--for anyone in the DC area, that's great news.

Also, for the truly strong prescriptions out there--I spoke to the MEGS people about how high of a prescription the frames can take. The answer is 13.00, with a PD of no greater than 66. I just got mine... the local lab had a bit of trouble with it, but they were able to make it work. Not sure if they'll do for long-term (hopefully I won't need them long term!), but they're certainly a heck of a lot better than the Guard Dogs Over-Rx were for me at -12.25 in both eyes.

Hang in there, all--keep fighting every day.

**rppnj** · 18-Feb-2013, 22:58

Undergoing Lipiflow treatment on April 4. I'll report results. Been suffering going on 4 years now. Nothing really working. Hopefully Lipiflow will end this misery. If anyone has any positive results from Lipiflow, please let me know your story. Regards, rppnj

**ryan12345** · 21-Feb-2013, 17:57

Hi everyone, this is my first post here!

I came across this forum when researching Restasis, because I thought that it would certainly fix my problem, or at least help it, however after doing a little more research, I think Restasis is not actually what I need. Let me explain:

I'm 21 years old. For as long as I can remember, I've had extremely dry eyes - or, so I thought. See, my eyes water ALL the time. They are EXTREMELY and CHRONICALLY sensitive to any sort of wind, no matter how light the wind is. For example, I cannot walk in grocery stores, malls or airports without looking like I'm crying. I guess it's something to do with the air quality in large open air spaces that affects it so much? Either way, it is so embarrassing and I can't even begin to tell you how this affects my life. It forces me to be anti-social because the embarrassment of having watery eyes is just too much for me to handle, it just always looks like I'm crying.

Another interesting point to note - and I don't know if it's related - but my watery eye symptoms seem to be exacerbated when I'm nervous. For example, when I answer questions or I am called upon in class at school, somehow that pressure of the whole class looking at me makes my eyes water. Likewise, I experience this when I meet new people too. It's horrible because again, it looks like I'm crying. It also just consumes me in situations like these because I'm not really a nervous person - it's more the thought of the embarrassing watery eyes coming on that makes me nervous and it seems like the more I think of it, the faster and more my eyes water.

Anyway, I've had contact lenses for ten years. I wear my contacts all day long and I do not follow that "rule" that you have to take them off a few hours before you go to bed for your eyes to breathe. I never have - I don't have time for that and I can't do that. That being said, I have no way of knowing if my watery eyes are also exacerbated by wearing contact lenses, because I never go long periods of time without wearing them (I need them), but it seems likely.
- That being said, I investigated laser eye surgery as not just a means for having better vision, but also to free myself from contact lenses and the watery eyes that [may] come with them. However, as I'm sure you all know, apparently PRK lasik makes dry eye symptoms even worse, so that option seems unavailable to me now. I do not want to wear glasses and will NOT go back to them. So I'm stuck with contact lenses.

Moving on: I seem to do a little research on dry eyes every once in a while - I guess because I was going on the logic that my eyes water because I don't have enough tears, so my tears are over producing or something - either way; dry eyes.

However after doing some research into Restasis and whether or not it would work for me, I asked a few people (not professionals, though) and they said they don't think Restasis will help me. They told me it sounds like I'm having no problem at all producing tears - and that this is what Restasis helps with. They said it sounds like I have Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, where I am making enough tears, but the quality of my tears are so poor that they don't spread well over my eyes and this may be causing my eyes to water, because my bare eyes are exposed to the wind and the elements.

So that research brought me to LipiFlow. If you don't know what LipiFlow is, see this video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9T8-AYz6hA

There is a very reputable eye institute where I live (Herzig Eye Institute for anyone from Toronto) and apparently they offer LipiFlow for $800.00. I can't remember where I read this, but I read that this treatment lasts a full year. A FULL YEAR WITHOUT WATERY EYES? HELL, I'D PAY THOUSANDS FOR THAT!!!!! Honestly guys, this may sound pathetic, but my watery eyes inhibit me as a person so much that money is ABSOLUTELY NO OBJECT if there is a way for me to cure this, even if it's for a year; half a year.... a month! I actually talk to people less because I'm scared of my eyes watering infront of them. I hold myself back SO much and so I just do not care how much it costs, I WANT THIS PROBLEM FIXED NOW.

Do you guys think Lipiflow will work for me? Should I try Restasis instead?

By the way - I also saw in my research that fish oil/flax seed extracts helps to build good tear film. So, I bought these pills called Thera Tears that are basically fish oils. I've been taking them for about 4 days. So far I don't think I notice a difference at all but I realize it'll probably take a while. But I'm assuming that this is a very minor, very temporary fix, if that, so my focus is on researching Lipiflow and Restasis - but if you have experience with fish oils please let me know if they worked!

Thanks everyone - I AM DETERMINED TO END MY WATERY EYES AND THEIR GRIP ON MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!

**robster** · 13-Mar-2013, 16:27

I'm due to have a Lipiview test Tuesday and depending on the results of that Lipiflow afterwards. I've got post-LASIK dry eye with MGD being the culprit apart from that my eyes are in perfect health. I've been researching Lipiflow and haven't seen any negatives on having it done apart from the fact it might not work. Does anyone know if Lipiflow has any drawbacks? Thanks as as always for any answers.

**EternalTears** · 24-Apr-2013, 17:00

Over the last 4 years if i were to add up the money, time, effort, discomfort, and frustration in treating my Dry Eye, it would seem the hard way with only short term relief. Since i live about 45min south of UCLA, I can get scheduled in about 3 weeks for both the exam and lipiflow for $800 per eye (i would only do the left eye as right not needed). The typical time frame for the treatment to last is about 9 months. I figure if i get just half of that it would be worth it. Below is more info on the institute and the DR that performs it. My understanding is the Lipiflow procedure has been available sinc 2011.

http://lasik.ucla.edu/los-angeles/dry-eye-treatment.htm

http://lasik.ucla.edu/los-angeles/ou...amilton-md.htm
D. Rex Hamilton, MD, MS, FACS
Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology
Director, UCLA Laser Refractive Center

Ground-breaking Dry Eye Treatment Now Available at the UCLA Laser Refractive Center

The UCLA Laser Refractive Center at the Jules Stein Eye Institute is proud to be the first eye center in the Western United States to offer the LipiFlow� Thermal Pulsation System, a revolutionary new treatment for the most common cause of Dry Eye disease. The oily portion of the tear film is essential to prevent evaporation of tears. More than 65% of patients suffering from dry eye complaints (dryness, irritation, light sensitivity, vision fluctuations) have oil deficient dry eye due to obstruction of the oil producing tear glands found in the eyelids. The LipiFlow� treatment is a twelve-minute, in office therapy using a device that comfortably heats and massages the eyelids to remove the obstruction of the oil producing glands. Preliminary studies demonstrate and average duration of symptom relief of 9 months. Contact office # 310-825-2737.

**EternalTears** · 20-May-2013, 14:24

Here is a summary of my results and diagnosis for Lipiview prequalification at UCLA Refractive Center today.

They used a Ocular Surface Interferometer and my left eye ave 35 right eye is 50
My Evaporation rate is 4 sec (half of what is normal)
He said 60% of my Meibobian glands are functioning (40% are either blocked or have developed atrophy (shrinkage, decay)
He checked only my lower lid glands as the upper glands are typically difficult to analyze.
My symptoms are minor but the pathology of the meibobian glands is minor to moderate
He did say the quality of my tears were good but the production is low due to atrophy.

He decided to hold off on any lipiflow procedure and instead prescribed a steroid called Lotemax using it 4x daily for week 1, 3x daily week 2, 2x daily week 3 and once a day week 4. He also wanted me to use Biotears 4x daily, (Im already using Genteal 2x daily for past 3 years)

I never had need for Lasik�s, contact lens, surgery, probing, IPL. My tear film is very stable.

The reason Dr is holding off on Lipiflow is due to atrophy of up to 40% of lower meibomian glands, the lipiflow procedure could have just a limited affect. He is open to doing Lipiflow but wanted to try steroid and Biotears first and if it makes a significant difference then lipiflow not needed.

I mentioned to DR I suspected my dry eye may have been a result of getting 23 treatments of chemo between Oct 2008 and Jan 2009 as my symptoms from dry eye began Mar 2009.

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LipiFlow device - what the????

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