Dry eye impacts many people and can often go undiagnosed or untreated if you do not visit your eye doctor regularly for eye exams. Several treatments are available for those with dry eyes, including IPL.
IPL is an intense pulsed light treatment used to manage dry eyes caused by clogged oil glands in the eyelids. Your eye doctor can determine if IPL can work for you.
What Is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is an ocular surface disease marked by a chronic lack of moisture in the eye from a decrease in the quantity or quality of tears and excessive tear evaporation. Dry eye can lead to symptoms ranging from mild irritation to significant discomfort and potential damage to the eye surface. Dry eye symptoms can include the following:
- Stinging or burning in the eyes
- A sandy or gritty sensation
- Excess tearing
- Blurry or fluctuating vision
Dry eye can result from several causes, such as:
- Age
- Hormonal changes
- UV exposure
- Environmental factors
- Digital eye strain
- Medical conditions
- Medications
Moderate to advanced meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common cause of dry eye due to obstruction or clogging of the oil glands. MGD can lead to altered tear film composition lacking the oil layer, eyelid discomfort, and evaporative dry eye as tears evaporate more quickly.
Treatments for Dry Eye
Dry eye management includes various primary methods such as over-the-counter artificial tear eye drops to lubricate the eyes and warm compresses and lid hygiene to improve oil secretion from the oil glands. Other strategies for relief can include prescribed gels and ointments to reduce inflammation and increase natural tear production.
While these treatments provide relief for many, some individuals experience only marginal improvements or find that these remedies are not sufficiently long-lasting. In these cases, your eye doctor may recommend modern technologies, like IPL, for longer-lasting relief.
IPL Treatment for Dry Eye
IPL therapy has been used in dermatology practices for many years and has emerged as an additional treatment method for managing dry eye. IPL utilizes gentle pulses of light to target the underlying causes of dry eye, such as reducing inflammation and bacterial growth.
IPL also helps break oil buildup or other debris clogging the meibomian glands that produce oil for tears for a healthy tear film, effectively restoring the balance in tear composition and significantly reducing dry eye symptoms.
The Treatment Process
If you’re considering IPL for dry eye, the treatment process will begin with a comprehensive eye examination to determine the severity of your condition and your candidacy for IPL therapy. One type of IPL therapy is Lumecca intense pulsed light therapy. During the IPL treatment, your eye doctor will place a Lumecca IPL device over your eyelids to deliver gentle pulsations of light energy.
The eyelids absorb this energy and transform it into heat to loosen and melt blockages in the eyelids. During the treatment, you can feel a slight tingling sensation. While you can experience immediate relief after treatment, several sessions can help reduce symptoms and maintain eye comfort.
Who Can Benefit from IPL?
IPL treatment is not a one-size-fits-all remedy, and while many dry eye sufferers can benefit from it, not all will be ideal candidates. Those with moderate to severe dry eye due to meibomian gland dysfunction are most likely to find relief through IPL, particularly when their symptoms are ongoing despite traditional treatments.
Beyond providing an alternative for people who have found no respite through conventional methods, IPL treatment can also be advantageous for those looking to reduce their reliance on long-term eye drop use and other short-term solutions. It offers a more sustainable approach to managing dry eye and improving ocular health in the long term.
Other Treatments for Dry Eye
Because dry eye is often a chronic condition, it does require maintenance for continued relief from symptoms. Besides IPL, there are other treatment options for dry eye management, such as:
- Radiofrequency (RF) technology: Delivers radiofrequency waves deep within your skin tissue to help produce heat and help loosen blockages in your eyelids.
- Digital eye mask: Combines warming and cooling sensations to help soothe dry eye symptoms caused by digital eye strain.
- Zocular eyelid system treatment (ZEST): Helps clean and debride the eyelids that can cause dry eye symptoms.
Address the Root Cause of Dry Eye
IPL treatment for dry eyes holds significant promise as a noninvasive, nonpharmacological therapeutic approach. By addressing the root cause of dry eyes, such as meibomian gland dysfunction, IPL offers a solution for long-term relief.
Book an appointment with MB Optometry to speak to our eye doctors about a personalized approach to dry eye therapy that’s right for you. With IPL and other treatments, you can alleviate dry eye symptoms and look forward to comfortable vision and healthy eyes.