Intense-regulated pulsed light therapy is a new, effective treatment for dry eyes. It is a painless and non-invasive procedure that loosens the oils clogging the meibomian glands.
Lumenis’ patented technology, OptiLight, transforms light and allows targeted, uniform, precise, and controlled treatment. It safely breaks the vicious cycle of inflammation associated with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
Reduces Inflammation
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is effective for aqueous deficient and evaporative dry eyes. It can be used as a standalone procedure or added to pharmacologic and device-based treatments in a multimodal approach to treating DED.
During this noninvasive treatment, your doctor uses a handheld device that emits a broad spectrum of light containing chromophores absorbed by blood vessels. This light triggers a photothermolysis of vascular structures. When the light targets the tiny blood vessels that give your skin a red flush, they are destroyed, and inflammation is reduced.
IPL also reduces inflammation associated with blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). It helps melt the thick oil secretions, unclogging the meibomian glands, improves tear quality, and decreases symptoms of dry eyes and eyelid irritation.
Increases Tear Production
Intense pulsed light therapy, or IPL, is one of the most recent treatments for dry eyes that focuses on meibomian gland dysfunction, the underlying source. During the treatment, your eye specialist uses a handheld device to deliver bursts of light in specific wavelengths that reduce inflammation and liquefy the oils clogged in the oil glands. This allows your tears to form correctly, lubricating the eyes and preventing them from evaporating too quickly.
While eye drops and warm compresses can temporarily relieve dry eye symptoms, IPL treats the underlying issue to provide long-lasting relief.
Increases Osmolarity
Intense pulsed light therapy is a groundbreaking treatment that targets the root cause of dry eye syndrome, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Additionally, intense pulsed light therapy for dry eyes lower Sackville uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation around the eyes and melt oil blockages in the Meibomian glands. This allows the glands to lubricate the eyes better, significantly decreasing symptoms of dry eye such as styes and blinked tears.
IPL has been used to treat rosacea and sun damage as a dermatological treatment. The light emitted from the flash lamp is absorbed by the oxyhemoglobin in the blood vessels on the skin’s surface and converted to heat that causes coagulation of the blood vessels (photothermolysis). The destruction of telangiectasias along the eyelid inhibits the flow of pro-inflammatory mediators into the Meibomian glands.
Reduces Bacterial Growth
Inflammation and bacterial growth are common causes of dry eye syndrome. Traditional treatments such as preservative-free artificial tears, warm compresses, and eyelid scrubs often provide only temporary relief.
However, intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) offers an alternative that reduces inflammation and bacterial growth. The light used in this treatment targets the skin around your eyes and breaks down debris and oil buildup that prevents your meibomian glands from producing enough natural oil to lubricate your tear film.
IPL is a newer treatment option focusing on the underlying cause of dry eye symptoms. While IPL is similar to laser treatments, it uses a broader spectrum of light that is safer for the eyes than laser. It also stimulates oil production by opening up your meibomian glands and expressing their trapped oil.
Increases Moisture
Unlike other treatments like eye drops and warm compresses, IPL therapy addresses the root cause of your dry eyes. It uses light to open your Meibomian glands and stimulate oil production, creating a stable tear film that lubricates your eyes.
Your doctor will place a gel on your eyelids and then pass the device over your eye area. The intense pulses of light heat the room and melt away any buildup that may clog your Meibomian glands.
IPL therapy and a procedure called Meibomian gland expression (IPL/MGX) have been shown to improve symptoms of dry eyes. Many patients experience significant relief and long-term improvement after three to four IPL/MGX sessions. Your doctor will advise you on a treatment schedule. This is a very safe treatment used in cosmetic skin treatments for decades.
