Inna Lazar, OD, has been focused on dry eye treatment since she opened Greenwich Eye Care in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 2017. Her journey into this specialized field is deeply personal; she has experienced the discomfort of nocturnal lagophthalmos. “I used to tape my eyelids shut at night, especially during the winter months,” she says. When she heard that Lumenis was introducing OptiLIFT to address impaired blinking and lid laxity, she got on board and made herself her first patient. “After incorporating OptiLIFT into my regimen, I noticed an immediate improvement.”
Dr. Lazar has long been relying on other Lumenis technologies as part of her care protocol for dry eye patients: OptiLIGHT, an intense pulsed light system; OptiPLUS, a dual-frequency radio frequency system; and gland expression. These methods effectively addressed meibomian gland dysfunction, but she recognized that many patients, particularly those with lower lid laxity, still struggled to express meibum effectively. “Even if people have healthy meibomian glands, lid laxity can hinder the eyelid muscles from effectively squeezing out meibum with blinks,” she explains.
NEW LEVEL OF CARE
The addition of OptiLIFT in February 2025 marked a significant advancement in her practice. This innovative technology uses Dynamic Muscle Stimulation technology (DMSt™), for a comprehensive, non-invasive approach to addressing lower lid laxity and impaired blinking. “OptiLIFT has changed the way I treat impaired blinking and lower lid laxity,” Dr. Lazar says. “It enhances the quality of the blink, which is crucial for patients who struggle with lubrication.”
What sets OptiLIFT’s approach apart is its unique repurposing of DMSt technology for the area below the eye. “This technology allows us to retrain the periorbital muscle for a stronger blink,” Dr. Lazar explains.
Since incorporating OptiLIFT, Dr. Lazar has observed remarkable improvements in her patients. “After just four weekly treatments, many patients report better lubrication and comfort,” she says. “The quality of their blinks has improved significantly.”
AESTHETIC BENEFITS
By combining DMSt with Radio Frequency, OptiLIFT achieves aesthetic benefit that are readily apparent. “After I treated one eye, I looked in the mirror and was surprised. I didn’t even know that I had eye bags until I saw that the area under my treated eye was almost entirely gone.”
Patients notice, too, as they provide overwhelmingly positive feedback. “I take anterior segment photos to help explain to patients why they’re miserable at certain times of day, for example. I’ll note how this approach addresses lower lid laxity and impaired blinking, but I also add that it often shows other benefits, such as aesthetic enhancements and a naturally lifted look.”
As this device has both functional and aesthetic impact, she has expanded her patient base of those who are interested in it. “Many male patients are thrilled because their eyes feel good and look good. These patients might not go to a spa and get a laser treatment, but they’ll come here.” she says.
INCORPORATING THE TREATMENT
Dr. Lazar is the only OD in the practice who treats dry eyes. Her three associates refer their dry eye patients internally for a workup. There are two dry eye treatment rooms. One is equipped with an OptiLIGHT and one with the M22, an earlier version of the OptiLIGHT technology. The OptiPLUS and OptiLIFT are small units on wheels, so they can be moved easily. Dr. Lazar has two certified technicians who can perform the OptiPLUS and OptiLIFT protocols. She conducts OptiLIGHT and the gland expression.
However, she can move between rooms as the technicians are each dedicated to one of the rooms. It’s an efficient use of time and space.
THE ROI
Two days a week, Dr. Lazar sees patients for dry eye consultation. And two days a week, patients are scheduled for treatments. Because of the increased demand, however, she’s planning on adding a third treatment day to each week.
Each day, she has between five and eight patients in for treatment. Most patients choose a package of weekly treatments—a combination of therapies—for four weeks. She will offer pricing options for maintenance visits, if patients want that before the treatment cycle starts again, about six months later or as needed.
At this pace, she calculates that she will have paid off her OptiLIFT within two months. Not only does that make OptiLIFT great for patients, it’s also a solid business-builder for her practice.
In addition, she’s expanded her referral network, something she’s been working on. She receives referrals from oculoplastic surgeons, OB/GYNs who refer patients under treatment with hormone replacements and more. “It takes work,” she says, “but the hard work pays off.”
Dr. Lazar recommends OptiLIFT to her colleagues in the field, emphasizing its competitive advantage. “It takes eye care practice to the next level,” she says. “Now we can stimulate muscle strength. This is crucial, especially as we see more children with incomplete blinking from screen time.”
Her own experience and that of a growing number of patients support her conclusion. “OptiLIFT is a game-changer for my patients, and I am excited to continue offering this innovation.”
