IPL Therapy Blog

Millions of individuals suffer from dry eyes as a result of an inability to produce enough, or proper quality tears to lubricate the eye. Check out one of our member's Twitter posts to learn more about Dry Eye and at-home remedies to help treat the condition: https://twitter.com/AZretinaproject/status/1596164833476767744

There is a new treatment being developed to provide relief for those with certain forms of the conditions. Intense pulse light therapy (IPL) can be very effective!

It is an effective treatment for those who experience increased tear evaporation due to blocked oil glands. This occurs when the meibomian glands become clogged for whatever reason. 

IPL is an outpatient procedure that uses selective light wavelengths to destroy abnormal blood vessels that cause inflammation in the eye due to dry eye, meaning this is a skin treatment performed by dermatologists. The light is converted to heat and improves the ability of the oil glands to produce tears by dislodging oil buildup. 

Patients will usually notice an improvement in dry eye symptoms after one or two visits, but they recommend a series of at least four treatments to ensure oil production is maintained at an adequate level and there is long-term success.

Depending on the severity of the condition, occasional maintenance treatments may need to follow the initial series of treatments. This will help optimize effectiveness and promote healing.

Although this seems like a miracle treatment, there are some side effects of IPL to treat dry eye. Some people may experience redness on the treated skin area, mild mucus discharge, inflammation caused by gland expression, and lightening of the skin in darker tones individuals. Considering these possible side effects, there are also restrictions to avoid mishaps with treatment. Typically, they advise against pregnant people, darker skinned individuals, those with birthmarks, scarring, tattoos, or fake tan near the eye, or those who take collagen injections.

References:

https://dryeyedirectory.com/ipl-dry-eye/#:~:text=IPL%20can%20help%20relieve%20the,control%20of%20your%20daily%20life.

https://www.eyelink.com/eye-care-services/dry-eye-optometrist/dry-eye-treatments/intense-pulsed-light-therapy-ipl/

https://www.nebraskamed.com/eye-care/dry-eye/health/new-light-therapy-treatment-provides-relief-for-dry-eye-disease