Radiofrequency Treatment
for Dry Eyes

Radiofrequency (RF) is a nonsurgical treatment often used to tighten the skin around the eyelids, face, neck and body.  This in-office procedure is safe, noninvasive and can be performed on all skin types. Recently, RF is being used to treat dry eye as well.

About 86% of dry eye is caused by meibomian gland dysfunction where the oil glands in the eyelid become clogged with thick oil. This causes an imbalance in the amount of oil on the tear film and leads to dry eye symptoms.

During a RF procedure, a handheld probe is used to send energy waves into the inner layers of the skin. This generates heat and stimulates collagen production leading to an improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

This heat can also help improve meibomian gland function by melting the thick oil obstructions within the meibomian gland. When RF is applied to the skin adjacent to the eyes, it also tightens the skin of the eyelids helping to improve blink dynamics and aid meibomian gland function.

This painless eye treatment generally takes about 10-20 minutes to complete and feels similar to a warm stone massage. The eyes are numbed prior to the procedure and a protective corneal shield is placed in the eyes. Treatments are generally spaced out two to four weeks apart and the patient can start to notice significant changes after three to four treatments.