Patient Procedures at Empire Eye Physicians

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

Empire Eye Physicians has the most advanced dry eye specialty clinic in the area and we will coordinate care with your local family eye doctor.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy, is a treatment to reduce inflammation of the oil glands that line the upper and lower lid margins of the eyelids, aiding in relief of chronic dry eye disease and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). If the glands are clogged long enough, bacteria can get inside a clogged gland, causing a stye (hordeolum or chalazion). IPL therapy utilizes pulses of light to thin hardened oils that have clogged the Meibomian glands in the eyelids. IPL Therapy also affects vascularization and inflammation of the eyelids, resulting in reduced eyelid redness and stimulating healthy gland function.

Typically, relief may take up to 1-2 months as the frequency and intensity of flare-ups of Blepharitis, an inflammation of the margins of the eyelids, is dramatically reduced. Most patients notice relief by the third or fourth treatment. IPL Therapy is one of the most groundbreaking approaches to treating dry eye disease.

Learn More About IPL Therapy

Procedure Benefits

  • Designed to address the root cause of evaporative dry eye
  • Ease of treatment
  • Slows the progression of chronic dry eye
  • Symptom relief

Treatments

Your IPL treatments will begin with your doctor placing shields over your eyes to protect them from the light pulses, and a thin layer of cooling gel is applied to the treatment area. A small device is used to administer pulses of light from the edge of your ear to the bridge of your nose, just under each eye, and along the forehead region. The pulses of light help heat, liquefy and loosen oils that have clogged the eyelids’ Meibomian glands. When combined with Lipiflow Thermal Pulsation, the oil glands can be fully unclogged to attempt restoration of normal oil flow in the tear film. Oil is a very important component of the tears and prevents the tears from evaporation, which can lead to dryness.

Although many patients notice an improvement in dry eye symptoms after their first or second treatment, your doctor will recommend an initial series of four IPL treatments, performed once a month over the course of four months. This initial treatment bundle is designed to help with long-term success in treating both chronic dry eye disease and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), the root cause of dry eye disease.