Dry eyes are a very common problem that will affect most people at least once during the course of their life. In most instances, dry eye resolves itself with little to no professional intervention. However, if you suffer from chronic dry eyes, you’ll almost certainly need professional intervention to help you find relief from your symptoms. One of the treatments that is regularly offered to people with chronic dry eyes is IPL.

What is IPL and How Does it Treat Dry Eyes?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is an innovative new approach to treating chronic dry eye syndrome. IPL treatment involves using technology to deliver a series of rapid light pulses that are performed in a specific pattern to the meibomian glands. These are tiny glands found in and around the upper and lower eyelids and are responsible for tear film production. Although it varies between people, there are around 25-40 meibomian glands in each of the upper eyelids, and approximately 20-30 in each lower eyelid.

The meibomian glands play an essential role in tear film production. That’s because their purpose is to make and secrete oils that provide the slipperiness and lubrication of tear film, as well as to prevent tear film from evaporating too quickly. If the meibomian glands become compromised, such as when hardened oil deposits block the gland exits and prevent oil from joining the other tear film components, it can lead to the symptoms associated with dry eye.

What Happens During an IPL Treatment Session?

IPL treatment is extremely straightforward. Once you are comfortable on the chair or bed, your technician will carefully clean around your eyes before placing special goggles over them to keep them safe from the light (which could cause damage to your eyes if they are directly exposed at such close proximity). A clear gel is then placed onto the skin and the IPL device is placed onto the eyelid. One eyelid will be treated at a time, but each treatment is very short and most patients can have their session incorporated into their lunchbreak without any difficulty.

How Many IPL Treatments Will I Need?

IPL treatment is rarely performed as a one-off session, although you may be able to notice some improvement right away. In most cases, patients will be recommended to have a course of treatment spanning a number of weeks in order to receive the greatest level of improvement in their condition.

Does IPL Treatment Hurt?

Many people are concerned that any treatments affecting the eyes will cause pain. However, IPL doesn’t cause any discomfort at all, and you will not need any sort of anesthesia or sedation. There is also no downtime, meaning that you can go back to your usual activities right away.

There are no long-lasting consequences from IPL treatment, and it has been proven to be very effective in helping patients to overcome the unpleasant and debilitating symptoms associated with dry eye.

To learn more about IPL or to schedule an appointment, please call our dedicated care team at Look Optometry in Manhattan Beach, California at (310) 796-5665.