If you’re tired of the constant irritation from dry eyes, you may look for a solution that goes beyond temporary eye drops. Dry eyes can make every blink feel uncomfortable, turning simple tasks, like reading or working on a screen, into frustrating challenges.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a noninvasive treatment designed to relieve persistent dry eye symptoms by targeting one of the most common root causes: meibomian gland dysfunction. It helps your eyes support themselves.
What Is IPL for Dry Eye?
IPL therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to gently treat the skin around the eyes. It’s particularly useful for managing evaporative dry eye, which often stems from meibomian gland dysfunction.
These small oil glands along the eyelid margins release oil every time you blink, forming a protective layer on your tears. When the glands are clogged, your tears evaporate too quickly, leaving your eyes feeling dry, gritty, and irritated.
IPL helps clear blockages, reduce inflammation, and support healthier tear production—often offering more lasting comfort than eye drops alone.
How IPL Treatment Helps Your Eyes
IPL treatment helps relieve dry eye symptoms by improving how your meibomian glands work.
It Warms & Unclogs Glands
The treatment delivers warm pulses of light to the eyelids, softening the thickened oil that clogs the glands. Once softened, your optometrist can express the oil, restoring proper gland function.
It Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation around the eyelids is a key contributor to dry eye. IPL helps reduce redness and irritation by targeting small blood vessels and promoting healthier skin around the eyes.
The IPL Treatment Process
Knowing what to expect can make the process feel more comfortable and familiar.
During Your Session
- Protective shields are placed over your eyes for safety.
- A cooling gel is applied to your cheeks and the skin around your eyes.
- A handheld device delivers controlled pulses of light to the treatment area.
- Your optometrist may express oil from the glands after treatment to help clear blockages.
After Your Session
One of the great things about IPL is that there’s often little to no downtime required. You can return to your day and normal activities right away. You may notice temporary blurry vision, which usually clears quickly and is a sign that oil is moving into the tear film.
What to Expect from Your Treatment Plan
IPL is a therapeutic process, not a one-time fix. For many people, a series of treatments delivers more noticeable and longer-lasting improvements.
How Many Sessions Will You Need?
A typical treatment plan involves 4 sessions, spaced about 2–4 weeks apart. Most patients feel relief after 2 or 3 treatments, but completing the full series can offer more lasting results.
How Long Do the Results Last?
Many people enjoy improved comfort for many months. To maintain your results, your optometrist may recommend a maintenance session every 6–12 months.
Is IPL the Right Choice for You?
If warm compresses and eye drops haven’t worked for you, IPL might be a worthwhile alternative, especially if your dry eye is linked to meibomian gland dysfunction.
The best way to know if IPL is right for you is to speak with your eye doctor. An eye exam and a discussion of your symptoms will help determine if you’re a good candidate. At Lowy & Sewell Eye Care, we focus on how your eye health affects your daily life. Our team takes a comprehensive and personalized approach to dry eye care. If you’re ready to explore longer-lasting relief, book an appointment with our optometrists in Vaughan today.
