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 nuances, many people silently suffer because they are not aware that dry eye disease or that real treatments exist. Instead, they just live with the discomfort.

Our team at Advanced Eye Physician is committed to using the latest strategies to provide long-lasting, soothing results. We believe that your eye comfort is an essential part of your well-being, so by personalizing your treatments to address specific dry symptoms, our goal is to improve your quality of life.

We’re proud to offer OptiLight by Lumenis to our patients, specially designed for dry eye management.

What Is OptiLight by Lumenis?

OptiLight by Lumenis is a light-based, non-invasive 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.

How Does It Work?

OptiLight uses precise pulses of light to reduce the inflammation that is typically associated with dry eye disease, improve tear break-up time, and increase meibomian gland functionality.

This application can significantly relieve dry eye indicators and has a multi-factorial effect, including:

• Increasing tear break-up time
• Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
• Eliminating blood vessels that contribute to inflammation
• Improving meibomian gland functionality

What to Expect 

Before Your Treatment

We begin our treatment process by determining the root cause of your dry eye symptoms and if you are a candidate for IPL therapy. No pair of eyes are ever the same, so our thorough exam process ensures we can develop a strategy suitable to your needs. Some of the most common diagnosis techniques include:

• Discussing your symptoms
• Schirmer tear strips
• Measuring tear break-up time
• Slit-lamp examination
• Fluorescein staining

If you’re a candidate for OptiLight IPL therapy, we’ll go over what you can expect from your treatment and book your first session.

We’ll have you avoid direct sun exposure for a few weeks before your treatment and recommend using sunblock as much as possible. When you come in for your appointment, please ensure your face is free of makeup, creams, and lotions. We’ll also provide a facial wash right before and after your treatment.

When it’s time for your session, we’ll take you to one of our private rooms to answer your questions, address concerns, and cover your eyes with a protective eye shield. During Your Treatment

This treatment is fast and simple. During the treatment your doctor will apply a coupling gel on the treatment area and cover your eyes with shields.

As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm sensation. The treatment is gentle with minimum discomfort. The treatment itself will only take 10–15 minutes.

After Your Treatment

You should experience results after about 3 days.

Treated areas may be a little red and sensitive after your OptiLight session, but this is completely normal and should disappear in the next 24 hours. After about 2–3 days, you may notice some irritation or skin peeling similar to a sunburn, but this is also normal to the process. These symptoms should subside over a couple of days.

Please make sure to keep your skin protected from the sun by wearing sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses. You may also use hydrating lotions to help soothe any irritation you may have.

Part of Your Custom Treatment Plan

A course of treatment typically includes 4 sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart.

Alongside our OptiLight treatment, we may recommend other strategies to soothe your dry eye symptoms. Some of these methods can include prescription eye drops, over-the-counter eye drops, warm compresses, and punctal plugs.

Will the OptiLight by Lumenis Work for Me?    

While OptiLight by Lumenis 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:

• Suffer from aqueous deficiency dry eye (rather than evaporative dry eye or meibomian gland dysfunction)
• Have a history of keloid scarring
• Have severe scarring around your eyes

Ultimately, your doctor is the only person who can determine whether this option is right for you. During your next appointment, ask us if you are a good candidate for OptiLight by Lumenis.

You Don’t Have to Live With Dry Eye Anymore

Dry, irritated eyes can be managed with a new treatment that brings comfort and can restore quality of life. Visit Advanced Eye Physicians to get an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your needs.