What Is the OptiLight by Lumenis & How Can It Manage Your Dry Eye?
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 as well as, 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.
At Modern Eye Gallery, our team of dedicated professionals is committed to delivering the most up-to-date and effective dry eye relief solutions. We take pride in our use of cutting-edge technology and techniques, including slit lamps, meibography, stains, and the IPL procedure. Our knowledgeable staff is equipped with proper information and tools to help you achieve relief from dry eyes.
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 performed in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye. It is 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
Before your IPL treatment, you should avoid undergoing any skin-related treatments such as using Retinol. You will also want to discontinue using certain antibiotics and St. Johns Wort supplements as well if it is applicable to you. Ask your eye doctor for more information about what supplements and medication to avoid before your treatment.
It is recommended that you avoid sun exposure and tanning beds before your appointment. Also, you should ensure that you have waited a few weeks after any botox or cosmetic treatments with filler before attending your OptiLight appointment.
When you arrive for IPL treatment, you will first have to fill out a survey to determine skin type. Next, the treatment area will be cleansed if you are wearing makeup — it is not recommended to wear makeup, skin products, moisturizers, or sunscreen when arriving at your appointment.
During Your Treatment
This treatment is fast and simple. After cleaning the face, an eye shield is put in place and a coupling gel is applied to the treatment area which allows proper light transmission to the skin.
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.
OptiLight is often followed by meibomian gland expression [depending on the doctor].
After Your Treatment
After the conclusion of your appointment, you may notice the treatment area appears red for a few hours — this is normal, and lasting side effects are rare. After your fourth treatment session, a separate in-office gland expression will completely remove all oil debris from your glands.
Part of Your Custom Treatment Plan
A course of treatment typically includes 4 sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart — if this doesn’t work for you, your doctor will recommend a different treatment schedule. Once you have completed all 4 treatment sessions, you will have the option to attend recommended maintenance treatments every 6–24 months.
OptiLight treatment sessions typically take 10-15 minutes to perform. The procedure is non-invasive and allows you to return to your daily life without any feelings of discomfort or obtrusive side effects.
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
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 your eye doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your needs.