Radiofrequency (RF) and Dry Eye Disease

Do you have dry eyes and struggle to remember to do your hot compresses? For many dry eye patients, the meibomian glands in the eyelids are obstructed leading to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). These glands have the important role of producing the oily part of the tears which help to lubricate the ocular surface and prevent the tears from evaporating too quickly. Hot compresses with a warming eye mask is an at home method of helping to improve the glands. However, this method of treatment can be time-consuming and requires a lot of consistency to see results. The good news is there are new and effective in office treatments that can be done to help restore function to the meibomian glands in addition to the traditional at home eye mask. One of these new therapies that we have at Eyedeology is Radiofrequency (RF) for dry eyes.

Radiofrequency (RF) is a heat-based treatment that uses a gentle warming heat wand moved back and forth near the eye area to unclog the meibomian oil glands in your eyelids. This helps to improve the function of the oil glands allowing for better oil secretion into the tear film.

In addition to treating dry eyes, RF also has an aesthetic benefit as it stimulates collagen growth and helps improve the skin’s texture, tightens the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Due to the skin tightening effects of RF, this procedure can be used as an option for a non-surgical lid-lift (blepharoplasty) treatment for drooping eyelids.

RF treatments for dry eyes and photofacials involve a few visits to see results. As collagen starts to deplete in your 20s, we recommend treating by the decade for skin aesthetics (2 treatments in your 20s, 3 in your 30s, 4 in your 40s, 5 in your 50s, etc).

If you have been struggling with dry eyes or interested in photofacials, book your appointment with us to discuss your treatment options and see if RF may be a good choice for you.