Posted by: Mann Eye in Eye Health
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.
One of our optometrists, Dr. Victoria Chin, put it best when she said, “people think it’s normal to have red, itchy, burning, irritated eyes. But it’s not normal; it’s just incredibly common. And that’s not the same thing.”
Our ocular surface treatment centers are dedicated to offering the best dry eye diagnostic tools, including:
- Tear volume measurement
- Tear evaporation rate
- Ocular allergy antigen testing
- Meibomian gland imaging
- Corneal mapping for aberrations
- Lipid Layer Analysis
- Blink Analysis
If signs of dry eye are discovered, we use top-of-the-line technology to help you rediscover eye comfort. 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
When you come in for your OptiLight treatment, you’ll need to ensure your face is fresh and clean. That means no makeup and no moisturizer.
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.
OptiLight may be followed by meibomian gland expression.
After Your Treatment
One of the perks of OptiLight is its speed, and that extends to your aftercare. There is generally minimal to no downtime.
Following your OptiLight treatment, it’s normal to experience some redness. You’ll also need SPF protection (think sunscreen and sunglasses). Avoid tanning beds and direct sun exposure after your treatment.
Part of Your Custom Treatment Plan
A course of OptiLight treatment typically includes 4 quick sessions, clocking in at roughly 10-15 minutes each. Treat your dry eye and get back to your busy life.
In addition to OptiLight by Luminis, we offer other dry eye treatment options:
- ThermiEye—Temperature-controlled radiofrequency treatments that stimulate the nerves supplying the meibomian glands (where the oily part of the tears are produced), improving the quality of the tears, inducing collagen production, and tightening the skin around the eyes.
- Lipiflow Thermal Pulsation System—Targets the meibomian glands with heat, pressure, and gentle massage to soften the meibum (oil) to unblock the glands and improve their function.
- BlephEx—A gentle microexfoliation procedure used on the eyelids to remove bacterial biofilm and debris to calm inflammation.
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 eye
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. Mann Eye Institute offers cutting-edge technology to keep your eyes happy and healthy. Visit your eye doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your needs.