Struggling with Dry Eyes? AT Huxter & Davy, we have a new treatment – IPL.

While many treatments for dry eye focus on relieving symptoms to reduce your discomfort, we are now able offer a treatment that targets a major cause: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). MGD is responsible for as much as 80% of dry eye cases.

IPL (Intense Pulse Light) treatment can be a pain-free and effective way to treat dry eye conditions related to MGD. It works to improve your tear quality and reduce the uncomfortable symptoms you experience.

Many patients report feeling an improvement in their dry eye symptoms within just a few hours after their first treatment. Depending on how severe your condition is, we usually recommend a course of 3-4 treatments, spaced over 2-3 weeks. The benefits of these initial treatments can last for up to a year, and typically, patients require just one ‘top-up’ treatment annually to maintain the results.

IPL works by using pulses of light. It helps to close these abnormal blood vessels through a process called photocoagulation and is also thought to stimulate the cells in the area. Additionally, IPL treatment helps to open up the meibomian glands and gently liquefy the thickened oil within them. This enables us to express the glands, allowing the glands to function more effectively going forward.

MGD happens when the meibomian glands, located in your eyelids, don’t work as they should. These glands are crucial because they produce the oily layer of your tear film. This oily layer acts like oil in a car engine, preventing your tears from evaporating too quickly and keeping the eye’s surface well-lubricated. Patients with MGD often have tiny, abnormally dilated blood vessels (called telangiectasia) along the edges of their eyelids, which can be a source of increased inflammation.

We offer an easy way to spread payment for this revolutionary treatment through our IPL and Complete Care Dry Eye Plan.

Blephex: Professional Eyelid Cleaning at Huxter & Davy

Understanding the cause is the first step to managing blepharitis. It can stem from factors such as microscopic Demodex mites, an overgrowth of natural eyelid bacteria, or other related skin conditions.

We are committed to using the latest advancements to offer you the best long-term care and treatment. Our aim is to significantly reduce your symptoms and discomfort, and help you to keep the condition under control.

Dry Eye Clinic

At Huxter and Davy, our team, led by expert optometrist Danielle, is highly experienced in the effective management of dry and watery eyes. We are committed to using the latest advancements to offer you the best long-term care and treatment. Our aim is to significantly reduce your symptoms and discomfort, and help you to keep the condition under control. We will carefully assess your tear profile and develop a tailored management plan to treat and relieve your symptoms and reduce the damage to your eyes caused by the condition.

Blepharitis is a common and often uncomfortable condition where the edges of your eyelids become inflamed. This frequently results in symptoms like dryness, grittiness, and redness.

A cornerstone of effective blepharitis management is professional eyelid hygiene, and we are pleased to offer Blephex. This in-practice treatment provides a level of deep cleaning that is simply not achievable with home methods. Blephex uses a precise, gentle exfoliation tool to safely remove the accumulated bacteria, stubborn biofilm, and debris from your eyelid margins and the base of your lashes – directly addressing a primary cause of inflammation and irritation.

For ongoing management, we typically recommend regular follow-up appointments, often every 6 months. During these visits, we can perform the Blephex treatment and attend to other factors like clearing your essential oil-producing meibomian glands if necessary. If your blepharitis is linked to Demodex mites, we also provide targeted treatments, including a very effective Tea Tree Oil formulation. This comprehensive approach, including our Blephex service, is available through our Dry Eye & Lid Hygiene Plan, making it simple to access the care you need at Huxter & Davy.

Omnigen: A Biological Bandage to Help Your Eye Heal

Sometimes the surface of the eye needs extra help to heal and recover. At Huxter & Davy, we offer treatment with Omnigen, a natural ‘biological bandage’ made from amniotic membrane.

Amniotic membrane is a special tissue from the innermost layer of the tissue which keeps the baby safe during pregnancy. This is usually discarded after birth. However, not only do the cells within mimic corneal cells,  they also contain powerful natural properties that help protect and heal tissues, reduce inflammation, and support regeneration – making it very useful in eye care. The membrane used for Omnigen is safely collected from consenting mothers and prepared to high medical standards – screened, sterilised and preserved to reduce any risk.

Applied to the eye’s surface, Omnigen acts like a protective dressing:

  • Promotes Healing: It provides a supportive environment and natural factors to help your eye’s own healing process.

  • Reduces Discomfort: It protects the damaged surface from blinking, offering pain relief.

  • Calms Inflammation: Helps to reduce redness and swelling.

  • Supports Recovery: Facilitates healing and can help prevent scarring.

 For conditions like dry eye disease, we primarily use Omnigen as a temporary patch, held in place by a specially designed soft contact lens (Omnilenz). This cover protects your eye while it heals underneath, providing relief and helping restore the eye’s surface, typically over about one week.

Applying Omnigen with OmniLenz is a simple and quick process done in our practice – usually taking only a few minutes. It avoids the need for costly or complex surgery. We use anaesthetic drops to ensure your comfort during the application.

Omnigen offers a natural boost to your eye’s healing, limiting inflammation and facilitating recovery in a straightforward, outpatient procedure.

Dry Eye Care Plans

Our Dry Eye Care Plans offer great value from £22 a month via direct debit. View our plans below and contact us for more details.

Basic Dry Eye & Lid Hygiene Plan

  • Full dry eye assessment and treatment plan

  • 2 follow up checks per year

  • 2 Blephex treatments per year

  • 20% Discount on any dry eye products

  • Additional Blephex treatment at reduced rate

The IPL Plan

  • Full dry eye assessment and treatment plan

  • 2 follow up checks per year

  • IPL Treatment (Cycle of 3)

  • Meibomian Gland Expression

  • 20% Discount on any dry eye products

  • Additional IPL treatment at a reduced rate

The Complete Care Dry Eye Plan

  • Full dry eye assessment and treatment plan

  • 2 Follow up checks per year

  • IPL Treatment (cycle of 3)

  • Meibomian gland expression

  • 2 Blephex treatments per year

  • 20% Discount on any dry eye products

  • Additional IPL treatment at reduced rate

  • Additional Blephex treatment at reduced rate

Contact Huxter & Davy Opticians

We offer an easy way to spread payment for this revolutionary treatment through our IPL and Complete Care Dry Eye Plan. Contact us for more information today.

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