Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment
At The Dry Eye Center of Orange County, we offer a revolutionary treatment using IPL technology to get rid of the root cause of your dry, red, fatigued, and burning eyes and help your eyes feel calm and clear – while reducing your dependency on eye drops.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, a light-based technology commonly used for various skin conditions, including rosacea and discoloration. During the procedure, a strategic level of light pulses is administered to penetrate your skin and target the root cause of the inflammation. As the IPL treatment treats your overall skin appearance, your eyelid inflammation is treated and improved as well. IPL procedures are highly effective, gentle, and safe.
IPL stimulates the meibomian glands to create a healthier and thicker oil layer for the tears, which often leads to a significant reduction in dryness and an improvement in redness, pain and vision.
There are a number of IPL units available worldwide that are optimized for meibomian gland IPL treatments, yet – the Lumenis M22 Optima specifically – is a versatile unit that not only treats meibomian glands but is also designed to treat numerous other skin conditions elsewhere in the body.
Dr. Austin was the first eye doctor in Orange County to treat dry eye patients with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and has performed more of these treatments than any other doctor in the county. He is a key thought leader (KOL) for Lumenis and has trained other doctors on IPL treatment for dry eyes.
There are additionally a number of publications that show the value of IPL as a modality in improving and maintaining meibomian gland function.
BENEFITS TO M22 IPL TREATMENTS FOR DRY EYE:
Treats the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms
Provides long-term relief
The procedure is safe, comfortable, and quick, with no downtime
Reduces your dependency on eye drops
This treatment is safe, with no discomfort or downtime, and will improve the comfort of your eyes and the clarity of your vision.
During the Procedure
You might experience a warm sensation as the light is applied to your skin, but the treatment is gentle and you should not feel uncomfortable. Each session lasts approximately 15 minutes.
After the Procedure
Immediately following treatment, you may experience some redness and discomfort in the treated areas, which usually disappears within a few hours. Most patients resume their daily activities the same day. Sunlight should be avoided for a few days following the treatment and sunscreen should be used.
For optimal results, 4 sessions are typically recommended, with 3-4 weeks in between. Maintenance treatments, usually once every 6-12 months, are also recommended for optimal long-term results.
