Dr. Zainalabidin (Dr. Zie) is Bringing New Leading-Edge Treatment for Dry Eyes to Southern Arizona

Millions of people suffer from dry eye with some studies placing the prevalence as high as 50% of the population. While the prevalence increases with age, there are many people in their thirties and forties that suffer from the condition. Dry eye happens when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or don’t work correctly.

This results in an uncomfortable feeling in the eyes and it can cause vision problems. Contact lens wear, too much screen time and inadequate sleep are common causes of dry eye, as are arid climates such as Arizona or urban areas where pollution can exacerbate symptoms. These symptoms may be itchy, watery, blurred vision, crusting, or burning of the eyes.

While conservative treatments may include eye drops, more advanced dry eye treatments may include IPL – Intense Pulsed Light. While IPL can be an effective treatment, there are some drawbacks. If someone had darker skin or a good tan, they likely won’t be a candidate for IPL treatments. IPL can also be somewhat uncomfortable with the intense light producing a rubber band sensation during treatment, and eye shields are required to avoid harm with IPL machines.

However, IPL rejuvenates the skin around the eyes, not only reducing the puffiness and swelling around the eyes, but reducing the fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Some may compare the results to Botox or fillers. IPL is relatively new to the dry eye space, with the FDA finally approving IPL use in 2021.

An even newer treatment, InMode’s latest technology Envision was released earlier this year. It’s the first ever eye focused device that has the technology of IPL and Bi-polar Radiofrequency to treat dry eye in a single unit. Dr. Zainalabidin, co-founder of Head to Toe Healthcare, PLC in Tucson Arizona is excited to be the first to provide this service in Southern Arizona.

This new technology offers a more comfortable treatment. Dr. Zie started with the standard IPL treatment, but made the large investment for the improved technology, to enhance the experience for her patients. If people qualify for IPL, then the combination of both IPL and Radiofrequency can provide quicker and more effective treatment. If people are not a candidate for IPL, they can still obtain great results with radiofrequency for their dry eyes.

Dr Zie is a pioneer in adding this new technology to her practice, as the first and only provider in Southern Arizona to offer the InMode dry eye treatment at her Tucson based practice.  The technology was released to the United States earlier this year.