Talking with Tami – the Lowdown on LipiFlow from a Patient Perspective

As the Director of Marketing at Virginia Eye Consultants, I spend a lot of time working on creative ways to educate people about the options available to help them with dry eye. Who knew that one day I would be one of the people who needed that help….

Dry eye snuck up on me. Here in Norfolk, Virginia, I spend many of my working hours at my computer or in air conditioning. When I’m not at my desk, I spend as much time as possible doing things outdoors or taking road trips with my husband. When I sit still for long enough, my nose is always in a book. My eyes rarely get a break.

One day I was at my desk writing a Facebook post about the signs and symptoms of dry eye, and I realized what I was writing was exactly how my eyes felt: dry, gritty, scratchy and irritated. I stopped what I was doing and went directly to our Dry Eye Coordinator’s office to ask Alexia what she thought. Our dry eye team took a look at my eyes and recommended Lipiflow. I didn’t hesitate for a moment and booked a Lipiflow treatment the very next day.

I had an idea what the Lipiflow experience might be like, but until I was in the chair really experiencing it, I had no idea how easy and effective it would be. There was a small sensation when the applicators went over my eyes to start the treatment. Next, there was a warm series of pulses that lasted less than fifteen minutes. Once it was complete, my eyes felt better immediately. It made a big difference and is even better than I expected it would be. It has also made me more aware of why blinking, taking breaks to rest my eyes and using a warm compress at night is important for overall eye health. I won’t need Lipiflow again for a year and I’m already looking forward to it. It was an enjoyable experience, kind of like a mini spa treatment. I love Lipiflow. My only regret is that I waited so long. I can tell you from firsthand experience that overlooking the signs of dry eye only leads to uncomfortable eyes. You don’t need to suffer. I can tell you from first-hand experience that dry eye relief is in sight!

–Tami Burke, LipiFlow Patient and Director of Marketing at Virginia Eye Consultants