New dry eye device unveiled in NZ
NVision's Ryan Mahmoud, Eyetek's Jeremy Rebion and IOG's Neil Human with the first Rexon-Eye in New Zealand

New dry eye device unveiled in NZ

April 6, 2020 Lesley Springall

A new dry eye device, which claims to treat evaporative dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and the less common and more difficult to treat aqueous deficient dry eye has arrived in New Zealand.

 

Rexon-Eye is a new dry eye device adapted from technology originally developed to speed wound healing, said Jeremy Rebion from Eyetek, the first Australasian distributor to bring the relatively new device Downunder on behalf of its manufacturer, Italian-based Resono Ophthalmic.

 

Unlike intense pulsed light (IPL) machines, that were originally developed for the anti-wrinkle world and now dominate MGD treatment, the Rexon-Eye is a non-invasive treatment, requiring no external cooling systems, which uses electrodes to stimulate the metabolism and regeneration of cells. Resono calls this operation principle quantum molecular resonance. QMR delivers alternate electric current patterns at frequencies ranging from 4MHz to 64MHz that resonate with biological tissue molecular bindings which reactivates their correct physiological behaviour and restores health, it says.

 

Unveiling the device for the first time in New Zealand, optometrist Ryan Mahmoud from NVision in Auckland, which specialises in treating dry eye patients, said he was impressed by the literature and how QMR technology had been used successfully in other areas of the body for chronic wound healing.

 

“I mainly see dry eye patients, so I see differences in severity and what people need. There is a cohort of patients who have mixed MGD and aqueous deficient dry eye, so I see this as a good option.”

 

Neil Human, chief executive of the Independent Optometry Group, was also present at the unveiling at NVision, to assess the new technology for his members.

 

Mahmoud’s Rexon-Eye is now sited alongside his IPL E>Eye machine and his LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System, designed to remove meibomian gland blockages. He says he’s keen to properly test the Rexon-Eye’s claims for himself and is currently in talks with Associate Professor Jennifer Craig, head of the Ocular Surface Lab at Auckland University, about running a formal study, though this still at the ideas stage at the moment, he stresses.

 

There are several studies taking place on the Rexon-Eye across the world, but only one has been completed to date, led by ophthalmologist Dr Giulio Ferrari from IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, a university and research hospital in Milan. Twenty-five MGD patients were subjected to the recommended four treatments of 20mins each at one-week intervals and then re-examined one month after their last treatment. Corneal fluorescein staining improved by 62.5%, tear breakup time increased by 30.9% and the patients’ ocular surface disease index score improved by 37%. Their meibum quality and number of expressible meibomian glands also increased (35.7% and 12%) and Schirmer test scores increased by 16.5%, with no adverse events observed.

 

As it’s still a relatively new technology, the Rexon-Eye is currently more expensive than its competitor IPL products, but it doesn’t require ongoing consumables, said Rebion. “And it’s safe in comparison to IPL; there is no risk of burning or mis-use if not used properly.”

 

All this made it very appealing, admits Mahmoud. “It’s quite a compelling proposition, particularly as it’s very non-invasive and easy to use. No device treats 100% of patients, so if one device doesn’t work, I’ve now got the option of using another device to get some results for my patients.”

 

NVision dry eye seminar

 

NVision is holding a CPD event on dry eye diagnosis and management, followed by a dry eye evaluation workshop, on Thursday 23 April at 6:30pm at NVision’s office in Albany. For more information, please email Ryan Mahmoud directly at Ryan@nvision.nz