How Does IPL Treatment Work?
The primary cause of dry eye syndrome is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), which occurs when the oil-producing meibomian glands are clogged up and unable to produce a healthy tear film. The oil is crucial as it stops your tear film from evaporating too rapidly.
During the IPL procedure, the heat emanating from the light helps liquify and release oils that have hardened and clogged the meibomian glands in the eyelids, thus reducing blockages that cause dry eye symptoms and improving the quality of your tears.
IPL Treatment
We start your IPL treatment by placing shields over your eyes to protect them from the light pulses. Following that, a thin layer of cooling gel is applied to the treatment area and a small device administers the pulses of light to the region around the eyelids, which then dislodge oil buildup.
After administering IPL, Dr. George Fung will express oil from the glands, which will restore normal oil flow in the tear film. Though patients usually notice an improvement in dry eye symptoms following their first or second treatment, it is generally recommended they undergo monthly IPL treatments over a period of 4 months. This ensures long-term success in treating both chronic dry eye syndrome and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
After IPL Treatment
While certain patients notice immediate improvements in their dry eye symptoms, it generally takes a series of treatments to experience drastic change.
Following the treatment, you may experience blurred vision for several days. There is no reason for concern, as it indicates that your meibomian glands are expressing more oil than your eyes are accustomed to. Aside from this, no downtime is required and you should be able to return to your daily activities right after the treatment.
How Is IPL Different From Other Dry Eye Treatments?
Standard dry eye treatments, such as eye drops, artificial tears, hot compresses, and eyelid scrubs, aim to temporarily relieve symptoms instead of treating the root cause of the condition. IPL is unique in that they each target the source – the blood vessels surrounding the glands — enabling them to secrete oils naturally and resume their moisturizing function. This not only relieves symptoms but also slows the progression of chronic dry eye.
If you have tried various treatments and still struggle with unpleasant dry eye symptoms, we can help. Contact Airis Eye for help today.
Our practice serves patients in Bellevue WA and surrounding communities.
Alright, let's simplify this:
You know how sometimes your eyes feel dry and itchy, like there's not enough water in them? Well, there's a cool new way to help fix that called Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy.
Here's how it works: Inside your eyelids, there are little glands that make oil to keep your eyes moist. But sometimes, these glands get clogged up and can't make enough oil, so your eyes feel dry.
During IPL Therapy, a special light is used to warm up your eyelids. This helps to melt away the clogs in those glands so they can make more oil again. It's like giving them a little warm-up exercise!
Before the treatment, they'll put special shields over your eyes to keep them safe. Then, they'll put some cool gel on your eyelids to make sure they stay comfy. After that, the doctor will use the light to help unclog the glands.
After the treatment, your eyes might feel a bit blurry for a few days, but that's just because they're making more oil than usual. Don't worry, it's totally normal!
What's cool about IPL Therapy is that it helps fix the problem of dry eyes right at the source, so you don't have to keep using temporary fixes like eye drops or hot compresses. And even though it might take a few treatments to see big changes, it can really help make your eyes feel better in the long run!
