What Is LipiFlow and How Does It Work for Dry Eye Relief?

Dry eye disease is one of the most common complaints among patients, causing discomfort, blurry vision, and irritation in day-to-day life. While many over-the-counter drops only provide temporary relief, advanced treatments such as LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation Therapy target the root cause of certain types of dry eye.
 

Understanding the Cause of Dry Eye

Not all dry eyes are the same. For many patients, the primary culprit is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). The meibomian glands, located in the eyelids, produce the oily layer of your tears that prevents them from evaporating too quickly. When these glands become blocked, tears evaporate too fast, leading to dryness, irritation, and inflammation. Traditional artificial tears don’t treat this underlying problem.
 

What Is LipiFlow?

LipiFlow is an FDA-approved in-office procedure designed specifically to treat MGD, one of the most common causes of dry eye. Using gentle heat and pressure, LipiFlow helps unblock clogged meibomian glands, restoring their natural function. Unlike drops or warm compresses at home, LipiFlow is more precise and effective, delivering controlled therapy directly where it’s needed.
 

How Does LipiFlow Work?

The LipiFlow treatment is quick, comfortable, and highly effective:

• Application - A single-use sterile applicator, called an activator, is placed on your eyelids. It is carefully designed to avoid touching the eye’s surface while gently surrounding the eyelid area.
• Thermal Pulsation - The device applies controlled heat to the inner eyelids, warming and loosening the blockages in the meibomian glands.
• Gentle Pressure - Simultaneously, the device applies light, pulsating pressure to massage and clear the glands.
• Restored Function - Once unblocked, the glands can once again produce healthy oils for your tears, reducing evaporation and providing longer-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms.

The entire procedure takes about 12 minutes per eye, and many patients begin noticing improvements within weeks as their glands regain normal function.
 

Benefits of LipiFlow

• Targets the root cause of MGD-related dry eye
• Quick, in-office procedure with no downtime
• Comfortable and safe with minimal side effects
• Long-lasting results that improve tear quality and comfort

Take the First Step Toward Dry Eye Relief

If you’ve been struggling with chronic dry eye and haven’t found lasting relief with drops or compresses, LipiFlow could be the solution you’ve been looking for. By restoring natural tear function, it addresses the problem at its source - giving you clearer, more comfortable vision.
 

Don’t let dry eye interfere with your daily life. Schedule a comprehensive dry eye evaluation at Jeffrey H. Brown Optometry to find out if LipiFlow is right for you. Visit our office in Costa Mesa, California, or call (714) 710-8062 to book an appointment today.