What Is IPL Treatment for Dry Eye?
Tears keep the eyes lubricated and moist. Thus, an imbalance in tear production can lead to dry and irritated eyes. There are several ways to treat dry eye symptoms, including home remedies and medical interventions. A relatively new therapy is intense pulsed light therapy (IPL).
Are you tired of constant eye discomfort? Are OTC eyedrops not working anymore? Intense pulsed light therapy can help relieve the symptoms and signs of dry eyes by addressing the root cause. The treatment can treat chronic dry eyes caused by ocular rosacea and meibomian gland dysfunction.
What Is Intense Pulsed Light Treatment?
IPL treatment is like skin treatment to improve dry eyes. Dermatologists have been using it for more than two decades. IPL therapy is a painless treatment involving the delivery of gentle light pulses to the skin adjacent to the eyes to eliminate bacterial infection and reduce inflammation.
How Does Intense Pulsed Light Work With Dry Eyes?
The light pulses melt the thick eyelid secretions and release oil buildup to unclog the meibomian glands. The treatment triggers the natural flow of oil into the tear film. That helps stabilize the tear film, alleviating dry eye symptoms. The mitochondria of the meibomian glands absorb light, stimulating and making them more active. The meibomian glands produce better oil, improving the quality of your tear film.
IPL treatment also targets ocular rosacea. The tiny, porous capillaries in ocular rosacea absorb light flashes, helping seal them off, resulting in less eye redness and inflammation. Intense pulsed light therapy also kills Demodex and bacteria on the surface of your eyelids. Essentially, this treatment helps break the vicious cycle of dry eye disease.
Evidence of IPL
It helps reduce specific signs of inflammation in meibomian gland dysfunction
IPL is an effective and safe treatment for MGD
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there is evidence that the treatment works to improve symptoms of dry eyes
A systematic review suggests that it can help trigger meibomian glands
The treatment relieves MGD symptoms better than near-infrared light
IPL can help with itchy eyes and allergic conjunctivitis
The Procedure
Your eye doctor will begin with a comprehensive eye exam to determine your skin type and the severity of your condition. This assessment will help the doctor determine the ideal treatment plan for you. If you are a good candidate for IPL, your eye doctor will schedule a minimum of four treatment sessions over three months. You may require top-up treatments every six to twelve months.
Here is how the procedure works:
Your doctor will ask you to remove any makeup or skin products from your skin
The doctor will then place IPL eye pads over your closed eyes and shield them with protective goggles
Next, the doctor will apply conductive gel beneath your eyelids
You will get a complete pass of the pulsed light to ensure even treatment of the eyelid area
The eye doctor will apply more gel before giving you a second pass
Finally, the doctor will remove the gel if the IPL flashes you received are enough
Most patients notice a significant improvement after the third treatment. Some see an improvement after the first treatment. Although each patient is different, about 90 percent of patients enjoy a significant improvement with IPL.
For more information on IPL treatment for dry eye, contact Highlands Optometry at our office in Bristol or Wise, Virginia. Call (276) 466-4227 or (276) 679-5612 to book an appointment today.
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