Dry eye is a common issue that affects millions of people. Symptoms of dry eye can include redness, burning, stinging, watery eyes, reduced contact lens wear time, inability to wear contact lenses, and variable vision with blinking. Optometrists are encountering a significant increase in the volume of patients that present with complaints of dry, gritty, and uncomfortable eyes, with blurred vision and chronic redness. This can be attributed to several different reasons such as: the use of digital devices for a long period of time, shifts in diet, the use of certain medications, autoimmune conditions, contact lens wear, certain cosmetics, altered lid microbiome build up, or the inability to close the eyelids completely. Also, it is estimated that 85% of dry eye symptoms are associated with problems pertaining to the meibomian gland (Sci Rep. 2021; 11: 23412). The purpose of the meibomian gland is to secrete the final lipid layer of the tear film. This outermost layer of the tear film is beneficial to prevent evaporation of the tears. Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD) is a chronic abnormality of the meibomian glands resulting in a lack of tear homeostasis, reduced tear film quality, inflammation, and ocular surface disease. Although MGD is complex and multifactorial, MGD arises from a combination of the following conditions:
Abnormal meibomian secretion
Eyelid inflammation
Corneal/Conjunctival inflammation
Epithelial damage
Ocular bacteria
Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eye utilizes pulses of light to liquify and release thickened oils that have clogged the meibomian glands in the eyelids. IPL also affects vascularization and inflammation of the eyelids, reducing eyelid redness and stimulating healthy gland function. Our IPL treatments may also include a photobiomodulation mask of a specific wavelength to stimulate gland efficiency around the eyes to maximize cellular and gland enhancement. Dry eye is an inflammatory eye disease. This inflammation damages the glands primarily in the lower and upper eyelid, leading to decreased oil production, loss of eyelashes, and scarring and thickening of the lid margin. The oil is required to protect the ocular surface from drying out, and is important for good vision and comfort.
Although artificial tears may temporarily make your eyes feel better, they do nothing to address the cause of the inflammation. The only procedure we have found to be successful at addressing the cause of this inflammation is IPL. It will destroy the small blood vessels that cause the inflammation and may even promote your glands to function better. Although many people notice improvement in dry eye symptoms after their first or second treatment, Dr. Trefts usually recommends an initial series of 3-5 IPL treatments, performed over 6 to 8 weeks. This initial treatment program is designed to help with long-term success in treating both chronic dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), the root cause of dry eye disease.
After the initial series of IPL treatments, most people will need only occasional maintenance treatments, depending on the severity of their dry eye condition. Dr. Trefts may also recommend combining IPL treatments with other dry eye therapies, such as punctal plugs or medications to maximize effectiveness and enhance symptom relief. In the past, IPL has been commonly used in dermatology to treat rosacea. The link between rosacea and MGD is well established with 80% of rosacea patients suffering symptoms of MGD. IPL stimulates facial tissue through controlled light pulses, creating heat and coagulating blood vessels which reduces its appearance below the skins surface. As the IPL treats your overall skin appearance, your eyelid inflammation is treated and improved as well. IPL procedures are effective, gentle and safe. As an added bonus, it is the only dry eye treatment that has an aesthetic benefit.