Intense Pulsed Light Is an Effective Dry Eye Treatment

If you have lived with the discomfort of dry eyes, you probably have tried remedies such as eye drops and prescription medications without getting much relief. Traditional treatments aim to relieve symptoms instead of addressing the underlying cause. Intense pulsed light (IPL) is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the United States. Yet, it has also gained popularity as an effective dry eye treatment in recent years. Saline Optometry/Chelsea Eyeglass Co., with optometry offices in Saline and Chelsea, MI, offers this non-invasive treatment that provides relief for irritating eye conditions.

Why an Eye Doctor Will Prescribe IPL Cosmetic Treatments

The most common condition that optometry practices use IPL for is dry eye syndrome. Aging, medications, environmental factors, aging and some medical conditions can cause it. Symptoms range from mild to debilitating and can include:

•             Redness, irritation and gritty eyes

•             Eye fatigue

•             Light sensitivity

•             Burning or itching

•             Mucus around the eyes

When left untreated, dry eye syndrome can lead to corneal damage and vision loss. Patients should always get a thorough eye exam to diagnose dry eye syndrome and get treatment recommendations.

Other conditions that an optometrist near me may recommend IPL treatments for are:

•             Blepharitis, causing eyelid inflammation and irritation

•             Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) occurs when the meibomian glands do not function properly, leading to poor production of eye lubrication

•             Ocular Rosacea, causing redness and inflammation of the face and eye area from an excessive presence of unhealthy blood vessels

How IPL Works

IPL is an FDA-approved therapy that releases light from many different wavelengths instead of just one in a series of pulses. Each session takes 30 minutes or less. The number of treatments you may need depends on your condition's severity and your body's response to treatment. Most patients need three to five treatments over several months to achieve optimal results. Among the benefits IPL produces are reduced inflammation and microbes, ridding glands of old and hardened lubricants, and helping control blood flow to the eye area.

Schedule Your Eye Exam at an Optometrist near You

Find an eye doctor who can administer IPL treatments by scheduling a consultation at Saline Optometry/Chelsea Eyeglass Co. Contact our Saline, MI, office by calling (734)-429-9454 or our Chelsea, MI, office at (734) 475-1122. You can also contact us through our online form.