New i-Lid™ Cleanser Effectively Treats Common Eye Problems in Elderly, Says Phoenix Optometrist

PHOENIX, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Arthur Epstein, Director of the Dry Eye - Ocular Surface Disease Center and Director of Clinical Research at Phoenix Eye Care, announced in a recent webinar that the elderly now have a potent new solution for eye problems such as inflammation of the eyelids associated with blepharitis and dry eye syndrome. These eye conditions are especially common in Arizona because of the large number of retirees and the desert climate, said Dr. Epstein.

The new treatment is i-Lid™ Cleanser. It was discovered and developed by Kathryn Najafi-Tagol, MD, Founder and Medical Director of the Eye Institute of Marin in Marin County, California and scientists from NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSE MKT: NBY) in Emeryville, Calif. i-Lid Cleanser is preserved by a stable form of hypochlorous acid, a substance naturally made by the body's immune system as a first defense against microbial invaders. Lab tests show that i-Lid Cleanser not only kills bacteria, it also neutralizes the toxins produced by bacteria and is also completely safe to skin around the eye. The Food & Drug Administration has cleared i-Lid Cleanser for the removal of foreign material, including microorganisms, from skin.

"Those properties made i-Lid Cleanser an ideal treatment for eye conditions," Dr. Epstein explained. "Blepharitis is the most common and most visible problem that eye care professionals encounter," he said. "We see a tremendous amount in our practice in Phoenix."

Blepharitis is typically caused by Staph bacteria that grow on eyelids, causing swelling, redness, inflammation, irritation and a crusty build-up. "It can be very irritating," Dr. Epstein said. "The i-Lid Cleanser safely removes the bacteria and the crusty material, providing significant relief."

Doctors have been using i-Lid Cleanser regularly at Phoenix Eye Care and at the Eye Institute of Marin to treat blepharitis, as this video and this product backgrounder explain.

"Two-thirds of the patients I see are coming in for dry eye therapy," said Dr. Epstein. Dry eye is typically a result of meibomian gland disease, where the growth of Staph bacteria cause the meibomian glands to be obstructed by thick waxy secretions, causing dry eye. The i-Lid Cleanser removes both the bacteria and the bacterial toxins from eye lids and lashes. "It has tremendous utility for this condition," said Dr. Epstein.

"Overall, control of lid flora is one of the most important things we can do as physicians," said Dr. Epstein. Now, i-Lid Cleanser makes that possible.

About Phoenix Eye Care 
Phoenix Eye Care, PLLC and the Dry Eye Center of Arizona, PLLC combine the skills and experience of two highly respected optometrists, a caring staff and state-of-the-art instrumentation and diagnostic equipment. Phoenix Eye Care provides a full range of primary eye care services including comprehensive eye examinations, LASIK evaluations, pre-and post-operative management, contact lenses, diabetic eye examinations and much more.

Contact:
Dr. Arthur B. Epstein
Phoenix Eye Care
Phone (602) 549-2020
Fax: (602) 325-5536
[email protected]

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FX-MM46872-20140611.mp4

SOURCE Phoenix Eye Care