Are There Any Side Effects of IPL?

Many dermatologists use intense pulsed light to help improve the skin’s texture and colour. Recently researchers discovered they could treat dry eyes and rosacea with IPL.

Eye-light IPL treatment helps stimulate the Meibomian glands to resume everyday activities because of thermal impulses. When applied around the eyes and on the cheekbones, the therapy stimulates gland contraction to increase the lipid stream by reducing tear evaporation.

If you are tired of the constant discomfort and challenges you confront because of dry eyes and over-the-counter solutions aren’t working appropriately, Eyelight IPL treatment can help treat the condition caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) besides ocular rosacea. Therefore instead of letting the persistent irritation of dry eyes control your everyday life, it helps if you seek treatment from the eye doctor near you for relief.

IPL Treatment Explained

As mentioned earlier, dermatologists have used IPL treatment for over two decades. However, recent discoveries that IPL is also beneficial for dry eyes open new avenues because people receiving IPL treatment for rosacea noticed significant improvements in their condition. In addition, IPL directly deals with the leading causes of dry eyes resulting from MGD, which is the primary cause of 86 percent of dry eyes, along with other elements.

How Does IPL Help with Dry Eyes?

Sparkles of light to the skin near the eyelids and the face are involved in IPL treatment. The mitochondria of the meibomian glands absorb the light helping it to switch the glands. As a result, the glands become younger and more active and produce better meibomian oil to improve dry eyes. IPL therapy also targets ocular rosacea because the light flashes are absorbed in this condition’s tiny, leaky capillaries. In addition, IPL therapy helps kill bacteria and Demodex on the eyelid’s surface. Therefore IPL helps switch on the eyes to break the vicious circle of dry eyes.

Evidence Supporting IPL

Systemic reviews provide evidence that IPL is safe and effective for MGD.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers proof that the signs and symptoms of dry eyes improve with IPL. IPL also helps reduce specific signs of meibomian gland dysfunction. It is also effective for allergic conjunctivitis and itchy eyes.

Many celebrities have received dry eye treatment in America. The treatment is now available in Canada from Seton ophthalmology if you want relief from dry eyes and over-the-counter eyedrops or artificial tears inefficient.

The IPL Process

If you seek treatment from Seton ophthalmology for dry eyes, expect a comprehensive assessment of your eyes to diagnose the severity of MGD and determine your skin type. The evaluation helps the optometrist create a tailored treatment plan for your situation.

After your optometrist confirms that IPL suits your needs, they will schedule around four sessions of IPL treatment over three months. The treatment is not painful or causes any stress and only requires you to remove make-up before the optometrist works on your face after applying a conducive gel beneath the eyelids. During the procedure, the doctor squeezes meibomian gland contents compressing the lower eyelids.

Most people notice significant differences after their third treatment session. On the contrary, you may also see improvements after one session. Although every patient is different, most notice significant differences with IPL.

Side Effects of IPL Treatment

The side effects you experience after IPL treatment is temporary and insignificant. They include discomfort, redness on the treated skin, tingling sensations, mild mucous discharge, and mild inflammation caused by a glad expression instead of IPL treatment. Dark-skinned or tanned patients may experience a lightening of the skin.

As mentioned earlier, the side effects are relatively mild and rare in many cases. However, if you experience persistent adverse effects, do not hesitate to call your doctor for advice.

After-Care for IPL

After undergoing an IPL session, following the tips below helps ensure you don’t aggravate any side effects. They are:

It helps avoid sunlight exposure to minimize the chances of forming dark and light spots on the treated area.

You must apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on the treated area.

Avoid exposure of the treated area to UV light and refrain from hot baths, showers and saunas for at least a week. Humid conditions can also aggravate the treatment site. It helps to use a moisturizer if applying makeup after your treatment session.

The mild and temporary adverse effects result in helping make your eyes look younger and rejuvenated by IPL treatment that helps prevent the problem of dry eyes. Therefore if you are struggling with this problem, it helps if you discuss your situation with Premier Eye Care — Seton to assess your eyes and deceive Eyelight IPL therapy because you will soon notice significant differences.