OptiLight IPL for Dry Eye

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What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eyes are uncomfortable and irritating! But what exactly is dry eye? Put simply, dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t produce or keep adequate lubrication to keep the ocular surface moist and comfortable.

There are two main causes why you may be experiencing dry eye symptoms. The first is known as aqueous deficiency dry eye—it happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears. The second and more commonly known is the evaporative dry eye.

Evaporative dry eye occurs when there is an imbalance in the tear film. It means your natural tears are of insufficient quality and lack the proper chemical composition.

The tear film is made up of these distinct layers, lipid (surface oil) and muco-aqueous tear (mucin and aqueous tear). Each of these layers plays an important role in keeping the ocular surface protected and lubricated. . The mucin layer spreads the tears over the eye’s surface. The water or aqueous layer keeps the eye hydrated, and the oil layer prevents the underlying aqueous tear from evaporating.

If any of these layers are out of balance, annoying and frustrating dry eye symptoms are the result. At Vision Optique, we offer comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options. The newest procedural treatment option is the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) with OptiLight by Lumenis! To learn more about dry eye disease (DED) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD): visit our “Dry Eye Center” page:

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What Is OptiLight by Lumenis?

OptiLight by Lumenis is a light-based, non-invasive treatment done around the eyes region to treat some of the underlying inflammation conditions that cause dry eye symptoms. It is the first and only IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment that is FDA-approved for dry eye management.

The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.

How Does It Work?

OptiLight uses precise pulses of light to reduce the inflammation that is typically associated with dry eye disease and improved meibomian glands’ functions.
This application can significantly help relieve dry eye symptoms, and it offers other benefits:

Increasing tear break-up time
Reducing the amount of Demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
Eliminating weak blood vessels that contribute to the inflammation cycle
Improving meibomian gland functions and long term protections

Increasing Tear Break-Up Time

Reducing the Amount of Demodex Mites & Bacteria Living Around Your Eyes

Eliminating Blood Vessels that Contribute to Inflamation

Improving Meibomian Gland Functionality

What to Expect

Before Your Treatment

At Vision Optique, our optometrists are well-known and respected dry eye experts and educators.

The first step is to perform a comprehensive baseline dry eye exam. It is necessary to determine the causes of a patient’s ocular surface symptoms and to test how well the current tear film is functioning in protecting the patient’s eyes. Many technological advancements have occurred in both diagnosing and treating dry eye disease, therefore patients need to understand why each treatment is prescribed.

A customized treatment plan is formulated for each dry eye patient, detailed explanations and steps are reviewed and emailed to the patient. IPL treatment with OptiLight by Lumenis is the newest treatment option, Vision Optique is among one of the first practices in the world to provide this for our patients. For patients with tattoos in the area, open cold sores, lacerations, or significant skin inflammation, there may be a more appropriate option. Our expert doctors are committed to helping you to find the right solutions.

Length of Your Treatment

The initial treatment requires 4 sessions scheduled 3-4 weeks apart. It can be done on the same day with MBE (microblepharoexfoliation). Many patients report increased symptom relief after each session.

The doctors at Vision Optique often combine the LipiFlow and IPL treatments for optimal results. Quarterly maintenance IPL treatments are recommended for patients who suffer from a chronic ocular surface disease, such as:

Ocular and facial rosacea
Frequent Styes
Dry eye disease associated with a systemic and auto-immune disease
Demodex
Blepharitis

During Your Treatment

This treatment is non-invasive and gentle. Doctors at Vision Optique provide the treatments. During the treatment, the doctor will apply a cool coupling gel on the treatment area and cover your eyes with either cornea or IPL shields.

As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm sensation. The treatment is gentle with minimum discomfort. The treatment itself takes about 15 minutes. Patients are asked to come with a clean face, no makeup for women, and a clean shave for men.

OptiLight IPL treatment is combined with microblepharoexfoliation (MBE) and automated thermal pulsation and meibomian gland expression (LipiFlow) procedures at Vision Optique.

After Your Treatment

A course of treatment typically includes 4 sessions spaced 3–4 weeks apart. When the sessions are finished, we will work with you to determine the best schedule for maintaining your results. Usually, we see patients for maintenance every 3-4 months.

OptiLight by Lumenis is well-tolerated and most people can resume their normal activities immediately following treatment. Most women can apply their makeup after treatment.
You might experience some redness or a warm sensation in the treatment area, but this usually resolves in less than 48 hours.

Will the OptiLight by Lumenis Work for Me?

Dry eye disease is a complex and chronic disease with many underlying causing factors. Schedule a comprehensive dry eye exam with our experienced doctors and we will help determine if the IPL treatment with OptiLight is the right treatment for you.

Before

After

You Don’t Have to Live With Dry Eye Anymore

At Vision Optique, we’re passionate about giving back to our dry eye patients control over their quality of life and eliminating frustrating symptoms. We have invested in the latest technology for both diagnosis and treatments, and we follow evidence-based protocols for all of our patients

Dr. Bridgitte Shen Lee, is a global educator on Dry Eye Disease. Since 2018, she has served as a Global Ambassador for the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS). In 2021, she was selected as one of the 120+ doctors, scientists, and researchers around the world to serve on the next TFOS Lifestyle Dry Eye Workshop report.

Learn more about the prevalence of dry eye disease and the TFOS Dry Eye Workshop Report (TFOS DEWS II).

We look forward to helping you reduce your dry eye symptoms and gaining back clear and comfortable eyes! Book your appointment today!

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