How Can IPL Treat Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes are a common eye condition that affects millions of people in the United States. It is caused by a lack of tear production or an imbalance in the quality of tears. This can lead to discomfort, irritation, and even vision problems if left untreated.

Fortunately, there are treatments available for dry eyes. One of the most popular treatments is IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy.

What Is IPL Therapy

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a modern technology that produces bright, multicolored light. These short pulses of light are carefully arranged into an organized sequence. The required energy, spectrum, and duration are carefully configured. This way, your Meibomian glands are reactivated so that they can operate as usual. The Meibomian glands are found along the eyelids, where your eyelashes are. They help produce an oily layer to prevent tears from quickly evaporating. This lubrication is essential for overall eye tear health and functionality.

IPL therapy uses short pulses of light to reduce inflammation and stimulate tear production. It’s designed to provide relief from symptoms associated with dry eyes. This procedure is easy to go through with zero to minimal pain since it does not involve any needles or injections.

How Does IPL Therapy Work

IPL therapy can be beneficial for patients suffering from dry eyes. One possible explanation is that the heat generated from the IPL device destroys blood vessels that carry oxygen-containing hemoglobin. This helps relieve the symptoms of dry eye by reducing inflammation and congestion. Thus, improving patient comfort.

It’s also been suggested that the gentle warmth around your eyes brought about by IPL therapy could be beneficial in alleviating dry eye symptoms. This consistent heat might help open blocked Meibomian glands and then destroy bacteria that cause swelling and redness.

What Does the Treatment Look Like

To ensure your safety, your doctor will always put eye shields over your eyes before IPL treatment. Additionally, a cooling gel will be applied to the skin near your eyes to make sure its delicate surface remains unharmed.

Your medical practitioner will use a specialized device to apply pulses of light to your eyelids. The heat generated from this helps melt the thick, crusty secretions that block your Meibomian glands. Once the IPL opens up your oil glands, your doctor may express a limited amount of oil from the Meibomian glands in your eyelids to promote regular oil secretion. This is done to ensure that these glands remain open and function well.

Patients may experience relief from dry eye symptoms soon after the initial or second IPL session. But for maximum outcomes, it is usually best to have additional treatments every month for four months.

For dry eyes that are particularly severe, additional treatments may be beneficial. This is to maintain healthy Meibomian gland functioning and prevent the issue from reoccurring. IPL therapy, when integrated with other dry eye treatments, can be incredibly helpful in relieving chronic eye conditions. Eye specialists often suggest this approach to ensure better and longer-lasting results.

Do you want to learn more about the technology behind IPL therapy? Get long-lasting dry eye relief from our team of eye doctors at Advanced Vision Institute. Call our clinic today in Las Vegas, Nevada, at (702) 819-9800 to schedule an appointment.