When I’m discussing dry eye disease with a patient, I tell them, “people who don’t have dry eyes just don’t understand how it affects your life”. And I mean it. My personal journey of developing dry eye disease began in 2008 afterI had LASIK surgery. At that time, I was in my residency after optometry school and my day to day life was taking care of patients who had refractive surgery. For the most part, I saw happy 20/20 patients after surgery. That prompted me to undergo LASIK and I was excited to not have to wear glasses or contact lenses again. Looking back now, a few patients stand out to me now that were just never satisfied with their post-refractive surgery results. Some complained of glare and halos and discomfort. I did my best with what I knew at the time and reassured them it would get better, gave them some artificial tears and sent them on their way
Oh boy, did I have a lot to learn.
Fast forward to 2020 and that’s when my life changed. Yes, your eye doctor was starting to struggle with daily eye fatigue, pain, burning, tearing and dry eyes. All the things so many of my patients were complaining about! Coincidentally, that year Lumenis IPL was approved by the FDA to treat dry eye disease. I immersed myself in continuing education to learn as much as I could attending Dry Eye conferences where I could learn the latest new treatments and technology. Once Luminis IPL was FDA-approved, it seems that other treatments started rolling out as well like better eye drops that target inflammation and increase tear production and radio frequency which also targets MGD. I couldn’t wait to start implementing treatment to my patients and myself. Now I feel confident with not only the improvements I have felt, but my knowledge as an optometrist who strives to keep up with the newest treatments that can further benefit my patients.
For the most part, patients who are struggling with dry eye symptoms will complain, but there are some people who think those symptoms are just a part of aging, computer use or just life in general. Aside from mild redness and watery eyes, delaying dry eye treatment can affect overall comfort and visual clarity, taking a toll on your quality of life. Although at-home remedies like warm compress masks or artificial tears can offer temporary relief, persistent symptoms suggest it might be time to try new advanced treatments.
Enter OptiLight by Lumenis. This effective and noninvasive treatment uses intense pulsed light (IPL) technology to address the root cause of dry eye symptoms for long-lasting relief.
IPL offers a list of benefits, which include:
- Long-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms
- Improved tear stability (less evaporation)
- Improved redness for patients with ocular and facial rosacea
- Less irritation and redness
- Quick, safe, and noninvasive
- Enhanced meibomian gland function
- Boost in quality of life
A Closer Look at IPL Treatment
The world of eye care is changing rapidly, and the good news is that we are able to prescribe and treat dry eye disease better than we have been in the past. With modern techniques and technology, we are able to manage and treat several chronic eye conditions, including dry eye, with little downtime.
IPL dry eye therapy is a perfect example which provides benefits that support your long-term visual health and comfort. Intense pulsed light is a light-based therapy has been used for years successfully in dermatology to treat skin conditions. Its application in eye care, however, has shown impressive results for people with dry eye, especially when it stems from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
IPL delivers gentle pulses of light to the skin surrounding the eyes. This light stimulates the meibomian glands and improves the quality and natural flow of oils in tears.
Better tear production and stability mean longer relief from dryness, redness, and irritation.
The Benefits of IPL Treatment
Lumenis IPL technology is the driving force behind this treatment’s success.
OptiLight by Lumenis is a modern dry eye therapy that offers a host of benefits to bring much-needed relief from irritating symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Long-Lasting Relief
IPL therapy targets the underlying cause of dry eye for more sustainable and effective relief, which is where artificial tears (and other over-the-counter solutions) can fall short.
As a stand-alone solution, at-home remedies may not offer the same level of comfort, but they are a great tool that can help you maintain the results of your treatment.
IPL technology directly targets and stimulates the meibomian glands to improve tear quality, so that you can experience greater comfort post-treatment.
Improved Tear Stability
Tear film is thin layer of tears that bathes the cornea and conjunctiva which keeps your eye moist and creates a smooth corneal surface for incoming light.
Tear film consists of 3 different layers – oil, water and mucous. The top layer is composed of oil which prevents tear film evaporation and is made by the meibomian glands found in the eyelids. Gland dysfunction, styes, capped glands, blepharitis or demodex can affect oil quality. Poor oil quality means tears evaporate too quickly from the eye’s surface, leading to dry eye.
IPL addresses meibomian gland dysfunction by stimulating gland function and melting any blockages within the glands. This restores solid meibomian gland function and improves tear stability so your eyes stay moist throughout the day.
Minimizes Irritation & Redness
One common symptom of dry eye is redness and inflammation around the lids and eyes.
IPL treatments ease inflammation by suppressing the release of cytokines, which lead to redness and irritation. This means clearer, more comfortable eyes.
Quick & Noninvasive
Patients love IPL for its simplicity. It’s a gentle, noninvasive procedure typically completed within 20–30 minutes. Most patients return to their daily activities right after treatment, making it an ideal solution for those with busy schedules.
Enhanced Meibomian Gland Function
IPL stimulates the meibomian glands to effectively unclog blockages and restore normal oil flow into the tear film. Not only does this ease dry eye symptoms, but IPL also improves overall eye health.
Boost in Quality of Life
Delaying treatment can affect overall comfort and make it harder to enjoy or complete even simple activities, like reading, working, driving, or even watching TV. I tell my patients who are not symptomatic yet (but I can see dryness during their eye health exam), that eventually, those symptoms will come and sometimes they can be more challenging to manage later on in the disease process. Earlier treatment not only provides a more comfortable life, it also ensures that the disease has less change to progress to vision loss.
Take the First Step to Comfortable Vision
Living with dry eye doesn’t have to be your norm. IPL treatment has opened new doors for people seeking effective relief from persistent symptoms. With OptiLight technology at Bella Vision, you can trust that your eye health is in good hands. I always look forward to my IPL treatments, and I know you will too!
Don’t wait to experience the benefits of healthier, more comfortable vision. Book your consultation today with Bella Vision and take the first step toward brighter, irritation-free eyes.
