Dry eye is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. In this issue, your lacrimal glands do not provide enough lubrication to your eyes leading the individuals to experience irritation, inflammation, and harm to the eye surface. While traditional treatments exist, they may not always provide relief.
This is where the IPL treatment for dry eyes has emerged as an innovative solution. The Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment is a relatively new concept for curing dry eyes where the blood vessels causing inflammation associated with dry eye syndrome are targeted. In this blog, you’ll learn everything about the IPL treatment, its benefits, its process, and its suitability.
A] What is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Your eyes stay lubricated and moisturized through tears. However, when your eyes produce poor quality, unstable, or no tears, your eyes will get dry. This is called dry eye syndrome.
The main cause of dry eyes is the factors affecting the healthy tear film of your eyes. The tear film of your eyes has three layers and problems with any of them can lead to dry eyes. Usually, the dysfunction of tear films happens due to hormone changes, autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, or inflamed eyelid glands.
A person facing dry eyes may have decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation. Dry eye symptoms impacting an individual include a stinging sensation in the eyes, sensitivity to light, constant irritation and inflammation, eye redness, feeling like something is in the eyes, and blurry vision or fatigue.
Due to these symptoms, it becomes difficult to wear contact lenses, drive at night, or perform routine functions properly. It hampers the quality of life significantly.
B] Introduction to IPL Treatment
Intense Pulsed Light Treatment helps improve your skin’s colour and texture without surgery. IPL uses gentle pulses of light, thereby treating the underlying reasons for dry eyes. These pulses penetrate the skin and reduce the inflammation. It also improves the gland function in the eyelids, enhancing tear production and quality.
Usually, this painless technology uses broad-spectrum light to target specific structures within the skin. The IPL treatment helps treat meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Its light helps break the buildup of oil or other debris that blocks these glands responsible for producing tears.
IPL was originally developed to treat skin conditions. Using this treatment, you can make your skin tone more even. The recovery is also better when since the light doesn’t hurt other tissues. This way, Intense Pulsed Light Therapy works well for various medical conditions, including dry eyes, acne, birthmarks, discoloured skin, fine wrinkles, freckles, rosacea redness, scars, etc.
C] Benefits of IPL Treatment for Dry Eyes
IPL treatment offers several benefits to dry eye patients. It treats the upstream inflammatory root cause of dry eyes. The light-based treatment targets the problematic blood vessels. Additionally, it targets the meibomian gland through which tears are produced.
When the light penetrates the inflamed blood vessels, it helps produce tears. It also assists in better quality tear production. This non-invasive treatment provides relief for a good time, reduces dependency on artificial tears, and improves overall eye comfort and health. This treatment for dry eye disease is proven effective with negligible risk, is relatively painless, and has a quick treatment time.
D] How IPL Treats Dry Eyes
IPL affects the underlying cause of dry eye disease and not the symptoms. The mechanism of this treatment involves several steps. First, it softens the blocked oil in the meibomian glands. The oil flows freely this way, thus becoming more effective in tear evaporation.
It also lowers the levels of inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) in the eyelids. Since meibomian gland dysfunction is the primary cause of dry eyes, the reduction in inflammation here can help cure dry eyes.
IPL for dry eye lowers the level of abnormal bacteria on the eyelid skin. The inflammation in and around the meibomian glands reduces, ensuring its appropriate functioning. When the gland works properly, the oil component of tears is produced normally. It stabilizes the tear film and rescues the dry eye symptoms.
E] Intense Pulsed Light Treatment (IPL) Procedure
Here is the step-by-step IPL treatment for dry eyes procedure a patient goes through to heal dry eyes:
1. Preparation
Before the surgery begins, the doctor will assess whether you should go for medical dry eye treatment or IPL treatment. They will tell you to avoid getting tanned or waxed, wear perfume, take aspirin, any related drug, or a medicine that makes you sun-sensitive.
The dermatologist will provide a numbing cream 30- 60 minutes before starting the treatment.
2. Duration
One session of this advanced dry eye treatment takes about 20- 30 minutes. Once you have eye protection, the doctor will rub a cooling gel on your face. They will then use the handheld device with a filter over the eyelids to melt the buildup blocking the oil glands through light.
After the meibomian glands open, the doctor will try to express a bit of oil to stimulate its natural production in your eyes.
3. Aftercare
After the Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for chronic dry eye process, you may feel like you have a sunburn for 4-6 hours. There may be mild redness or swelling, which subsides after a few hours. You can use ice packs or a cool cloth wash to feel better. Make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions and ensure to avoid what they say.
F] Who is a Suitable Candidate for IPL Treatment?
IPL for dry eye treatment is suitable for the following candidates:
- People with chronic dry eye symptoms and who haven’t found a solution yet
- Those who exhibit signs of meibomian gland dysfunction
The ones who should not get the IPL treatment include:
- Those with darker skin tones are at risk of discoloration.
- People with active infections.
- People with skin moles, tumours, or tattoos around the eyes.
- Individuals with a history of keloids.
- People with Immune system or coagulation disorders.
- Pregnant women.
- People with a history of herpes simplex near the treatment area.
Thus, patients should consider their doctor’s advice before undertaking the treatment.
Conclusion
IPL treatment for dry eyes is a promising solution for those suffering. It addresses the underlying causes and provides long-lasting relief. When patients understand the procedure and its benefits, they become capable of making informed decisions about their eye health. If you struggle with dry eyes, consider discussing IPL treatment with the Eye Care & Ophthalmology Clinic In Shrewsbury.
Contact us to schedule a consultation and get in-depth information about IPL treatment for dry eyes.
FAQ’s
Individuals with moderate to severe dry eye syndrome who have not found relief with traditional treatments can benefit from IPL. It’s particularly effective for those with meibomian gland dysfunction.
Yes, IPL has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve gland function, and enhance tear quality, providing significant relief for dry eye symptoms.
Many patients notice improvement after the first few sessions, with optimal results typically appearing after a series of treatments over a few months.
After IPL, patients may experience mild redness or swelling, which subsides within a few hours. You can experience improvement in symptoms within days, with continued progress over subsequent treatments.
Mr. Bal Manoj
With over 25+ years of experience in advancing eye care, Mr. Bal Manoj serves as director and co-founder of Paragon Clinic in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, and Stafford. His expertise in cataract surgery, glaucoma, and general ophthalmology, coupled with a track record of 10,000+ successful procedures, reflects his commitment to excellence. Connect with Mr. Bal Manoj today for expert eye care solutions.