BUSINESS WIRE
Carolina Vision Center Opens Dry Eye Clinic to Help Frustrated Dry
Eye Patients
MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TearScience,
Inc., a privately-held medical device company, today announced that
Fayetteville, North Carolina-based Carolina
Vision Center, is the first eye care center in United States to
commercially offer the LipiFlow®
Thermal Pulsation System, a breakthrough treatment for evaporative
dry eye disease. TearScience’s LipiFlow is designed to address
meibomian gland dysfunction, allowing for the treatment of eyelid gland
blockages during a non-invasive procedure administered at an eye care
office. Opening the blocked eyelid glands allows the glands to resume
the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for a healthy tear film.
TearScience received U.S. FDA
clearance for its LipiFlow® medical device on June 28,
2011.
“I am very pleased with the results since receiving the LipiFlow®
treatment at Carolina Vision Center,” said Suzanne Hughes, a Raleigh
resident and long time dry eye sufferer. “My eyes are no longer red or
itchy. The LipiFlow® treatment was painless. It felt like my
eyes were being gently massaged with mild heat. I would highly recommend
this treatment for those with chronic dry eye.”
Evaporative dry eye is caused by a deficiency in the lipid layer of the
eye’s natural tear film, resulting from blockages in the lipid-producing
meibomian glands located in the eyelids, called meibomian gland
dysfunction. A lipid deficiency can lead to evaporation of tears at a
faster rate than normal, which can leave eyes feeling dry, irritated,
tired and red. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide,
approximately 65 percent have evaporative dry eye.
“Carolina Vision Center prides itself on using the most advanced
technology to provide excellent patient care,” said Dr. Michael
Woodcock, founder at Carolina Vision Center. “The LipiFlow®
system provides us with an entirely new way to help a host of very
frustrated dry eye patients. I was very impressed with the science
behind the LipiFlow® and the clinical trial results. I’m
delighted that we are the first in the U.S. to offer this advanced
treatment.”
TearScience’s technology platform is comprised of the LipiView®
Ocular
Surface Interferometer and the LipiFlow® Thermal
Pulsation System. LipiView® allows physicians to visualize
the tear film of patients with dry eye disease. LipiFlow®
applies a precise combination of heat and pulsatile pressure to a
patient’s eyelids during a 12-minute in-office treatment, which is
designed to alleviate meibomian gland blockages. “We are very proud to
work with Carolina Vision Center, one of the most innovative eye care
centers on the east coast,” said Jeff
O’Hara, vice president of North American sales for TearScience.
“This is a very exciting time for dry eye patients who now have a viable
alternative to traditional dry eye treatments.”
About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience® has
pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the
treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye
sufferers worldwide, approximately 65 percent have evaporative dry eye,
which is often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid
deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular
Surface Society (TFOS)
workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from
around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and
is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. TearScience’s
integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to
effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed
meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.TearScience.com.
About Carolina Vision Center
Carolina Vision Center serves its patients with the most advanced
technology, the most skilled physicians and the most knowledgeable and
caring staff. Carolina Vision Center specializes in dry eye, cataracts,
macular degeneration, LASIK, glaucoma, and premium lenses. Dr. Michael
Woodcock, the founder of Carolina Vision Center, has been involved in
numerous clinical trials and has been voted on America’s Top
Ophthalmologist list each year since 2004.