Did you know there is actual science behind IPL helping Dry Eye Disease and it’s been proven many many times?
This review article published last year goes through the various studies that have proven that IPL helps dry eye disease.
Let’s learn some terminology and learn the science behind it.
IPL is Intense Pulse Light Therapy
MGD is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or Disease
DED is Dry eye disease
DED is caused by either low water layer (aqueous deficiency) or low oil layer (evaporative) or a combination. It is actually much more complex with inflammation as the root cause which worsens both the water and oil layers.
Where does the inflammation come from? It can be autoimmune like in patients with rheumatoid disease or even diabetes. But more commonly it’s actually from the clogged and dysfunctioning oil glands (meibomian glands) in your eyelids. They secrete inflammatory cytokines (chemicals) which make the surface of the eye dysfunction more and it becomes a downward spiral.
How do we break this inflammatory cycle? There are many ways and sometimes all are necessary to help stop dry eye disease and help you get your life, your eye comfort and your vision back to normal.
The basics include using omega-3s by mouth. Read my omega-3 page to learn more about which ones are the best for your eyes.
IPL is a great modality that has been around for decades in the dermatology world and has been used in the eye world for about 5-6 years. In fact, Dr. Pradhan has been doing IPL for dry eye disease since December of 2017!
What does IPL do?
IPL uses light therapy of a specific wavelength to help stop the blood vessels that are growing abnormally like in ocular rosacea. This causes the leaked inflammatory cytokines to stop being on the ocular surface and helping break the cycle.
IPL helps melt the meibum (the oil) in the dysfunction oil glands and helps reset the functioning of the oil glands. IPL also helps increase the oxygen levels in the oil glands by decreasing the scar tissue that develops around them over time with inflammation.
IPL helps kill demodex, which is a little mite that lives in the lashes of patients and creates inflammation. Demodex mites also cause inflammation so killing them decreases the inflammation on the ocular surface.
IPL also helps kill other skin bacteria that may be living on the eyelids and skin and causing inflammation to be worse like in patients with rosacea or chronic crusting (blepharitis) of the eyelids.
IPL helps skin rejuvenation by boosting collagen synthesis and this can help the eyelid position to be more natural against the eye and allow better distribution of the tear film.
IPL can potentially help the mucus production on the surface of the eyelid which would help a smoother blink rate and lubrication of the eye as well as can help eye allergy symptoms. It can also help the dry spots/staining of the corneal surface.
Is it approved in all patients?
IPL has been studied in white patients, Korean patients, Chinese patients, Indian patients. All of these patients had improved dry eye disease signs and symptoms.
IPL is not approved for patients of African American origin whose skin color is darker than a Fitzpatrick IV as it can cause skin color changes and/or keloids.
Can it hurt you?
If IPL is done by a trained professional, like Dr. Shilpi Pradhan who has many years of experience, there is little downside to doing the procedure. Dr. Pradhan makes sure your eyes are fully covered by laser grade metal shields and you are comfortable during your entire procedure.
If IPL is not done by a trained professional with proper protection of your eyes, it can cause retinal damage, inflammation inside your eyes, loss of vision and skin surface burns.
How many treatments do I need?
Many patients improved with even just one treatment but the recommended is a series of 2-4 treatments approximately 3-4 weeks apart.
Call today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pradhan 804-270-3333
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7330664/
