Is Intense Pulsed Light Therapy Safe and Efficient?

If you are acquainted with cosmetic technology, you must have encountered intense pulsed light therapy (IPL). It is not a new technology and has been around for about 20-plus years now. Medical and cosmetic practitioners widely use it to perform an array of aesthetic and therapeutic functions, such as treating sun damage and alleviating dermatologic disease.

But did you know that our eye doctor could also use IPL to reduce the symptoms related to chronic dry eye disease? It is quite an effective alternative method that can be used in cases where other conventional methods have been ineffective.

However, you could be wondering if intense pulsed light therapy is safe. It is a valid concern, which we intend to address very shortly. So, continue reading.

An Overview of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

It might seem odd to see a cosmetic treatment being used to treat evaporative dry eye disease. However, this is possible because of the nature of this technology.

The technology employs a high-powered, hand-held, computerized gun to deliver an intense, visible, broad-spectrum pulse of light. The device can be set to release a specific spectral range using filters that can target specific structures or chromophores, such as melanin in hair, that are heated to destruction and then reabsorbed by your body.

These hand-held guns can be used to produce high-output bursts of broad-spectrum light. Cooling is done to ensure that the part of the skin in contact with the device is protected. There is a distinction between beauty-grade and medical-grade machines to ensure you get the care you need.

IPL is similar to laser treatment because these treatments use light to heat and destroy the target cells. The main difference is that lasers use a single wavelength of light, which matches one chromophore, thus treating one condition.

On the other hand, IPL uses filters, leading to broad-spectrum light that can treat several conditions.

How Does IPL Treat Dry Eyes Disease?

Evaporative dry eye disease is closely linked to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD arises because of several issues, such as skin disorders, microbial infections, and eyelid inflammation. These issues lead to increased viscosity of the fluid in the eye. This causes a cascade of biological reactions that cause inflammation and eye surface irritation.

The next thing that happens is the tear film becomes unstable, causing more inflammation and creating an endless cycle of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction.

But this is where IPL comes in handy. Our ophthalmologist on Cass Street will use IPL to deal with dry eye by improving the dysfunction of the meibomian glands.

Warming the meibomian glands will trigger the expression and release of the meibum (lipid-rich secretion that protects the eye), improving the meibomian glands’ function.

Then, the light emitted by the IPL gun will induce thrombosis of the vessels surrounding the meibomian glands, reducing the pro-inflammatory factors contributing to dry eye.

After the session, there will be an improvement in cellular functions such as collagen synthesis, motility in immunoregulatory cells, etc.

What Else Can IPL Treat?

Besides dealing with an evaporative eye disorder, our eye doctor can also use IPL to treat the following conditions:

• Sun damaged skin
• Scars
• Acne scars
• Birthmarks
• Melasma
• Spider veins
• Wrinkles
• Rosacea
• Hyperpigmentation

Some patients may opt to go for this treatment to remove tattoos or unwanted hair.

Is IPL Safe?

IPL is a safe treatment and has been used for over two decades. However, the device is only safe if it is used by someone experienced. If the practitioner is new to using the device, then there is a chance that you might experience unwanted side effects.

Also, the treatment is not suitable for everyone. If you are using blood thinners or are pregnant, you should avoid IPL. Other factors that might make the procedure unsuitable will include:

• Having active acne
• Having severe scarring
• Suffering from a skin resurfacing disorder
• Having suffered severe sunburns

However, you also need to bear in mind that there could be some side effects, such as:

• Mild pain
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Scarring

In any case, you will not undergo this treatment without discussing the technology with our ophthalmologist on Cass Street. So, contact us at Eye MD Monterey to schedule an appointment.