Irritating dry eye symptoms can get in the way of living your daily life to the fullest. Dry eyes are not only uncomfortable, but they can also impact your job performance, make daily tasks significantly more difficult, and so much more!
Our optometry team is committed to providing you with the vision care you deserve and need. At our office, we’re proud to offer OptiLight to our patients, specially designed to help you find relief from dry eye disease. Book a consultation today to see how OptiLight can help you!
Dry eye disease is a common eye condition that occurs when there is an issue with any one of the three components of your tears.
Your tears are made up of 3 distinct layers, all of which work together to keep your eyes healthy:
The oily layer prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly
The watery layer delivers nutrients to your eyes
The mucus layer keeps your tear film stuck to the surface of your eyes
Dry eye disease is a widespread and common issue for up to 49 million Americans. This chronic condition can have a significant impact on your quality of life, causing a foreign body sensation in your eyes, pain, blurry vision, and dry or watery eyes. Untreated, it can even lead to further eye health complications.
Despite these constant detrimental effects on quality of life, many dry eye sufferers are not aware that they’re suffering from dry eye disease or that real treatments exist. Instead, they just live with the discomfort.
We’re proud to offer OptiLight by Lumenis to our patients, specially designed for dry eye management.
OptiLight by Lumenis is a light-based, noninvasive treatment done in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye. The first and only IPL FDA-approved for dry eye management.
The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.
Increasing tear break-up time
Stimulates Higher-Quality Tears
The absorbed light energy causes the glands to produce better-quality oil, which helps to prevent the evaporation of tears.
Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
Eliminating blood vessels that contribute to inflammation
Improving meibomian gland functionality
While IPL is an effective dry eye management solution, we want to make sure it’s right for you. We do not recommend this treatment if you:
Are taking or have recently stopped certain medications, like Accutane.
Have active acne
Have certain skin disorders
Have severe scarring
Have severely sunburned recently
If we have recommended the OptiLight treatment, they will go over everything you can expect before, during, and after your appointment.
To prepare for your appointment you should avoid:
Using skin brightening agents or serums for the week before your appointment
Using tanning beds 1 month prior to your appointment
Getting botox for at least 3 months before your appointment
Taking oral isotretinoin, tetracycline, or doxycycline in the 3 months prior to your appointment
This treatment is fast and simple, taking only 10–15 minutes. During your treatment your doctor will apply a cool gel on the treatment area and cover your eyes with shields to protect them.
As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm or a tapping sensation, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.
While side effects are uncommon, your eyes may feel slightly more dry or gritty for the day following your procedure.
If you do experience dry eyes, you can use preservative-free artificial tears. Following your treatment, your skin will be sensitive, so we recommend avoiding sun exposure and wearing sunscreen.
How do you know if OptiLight is the right treatment for you?
During an eye exam, we will determine whether or not it is the right option for you. In general, OptiLight isn’t recommended for patients who:
Are taking certain medications, like Accutane
Have active acne
Suffer from certain skin disorders
Are susceptible to keloid scarring
Have severe scarring
Have severely sunburned recently
