iPL (INTENSE PULSED LIGHT) eye  treatment

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How fast does IPL work?
Each session of IPL usually takes 10 – 15 minutes. You can expect to experience relief within a few minutes of your first session. Once you’re able to complete the whole course of treatment, you can anticipate more improvement and evident comfort and relief from dry eyes.

What are the side effects of IPL for Dry Eye?
Like any other treatment, you’re probably wondering about the potential side effects of IPL. In rare circumstances, you may experience a few adverse side effects after undergoing IPL treatment, but they are typically minor and temporary.
You may experience the following side effects after the IPL treatment.

• Discomfort
• Redness on the treated skin area
• Tingling sensations
• Mild mucus discharge
• Slight inflammation which might be caused by glad expression rather than the IPL treatment itself
• Lightening of the skin for dark-skinned or tanned individuals

As stated, these side effects are relatively mild and somewhat rare. If any of these side effects persist, call your doctor immediately.

How much IPL Dry Eye Cost?
Prior to your treatment, Dr Truong will discuss the likely number of treatments with you and our staff will notify you about pricing.

Typically, this is around four treatments. Treatments are often spaced between two to four weeks apart.

Is IPL for dry eye covered by insurance?
Insurance does not cover the cost of IPL, and the charge for each treatment session will be explained to you  depending on the length of the treatment you are opting for

How often do I need to have IPL
for dry eye?
Patients can expect visible improvement in their dry eye symptoms after the first series of IPL treatment. Your doctor might recommend occasional maintenance treatments.

Your optometrist may advise you to come back for an additional session of IPL treatment every three to six months, depending on how severe your dry eyes are and how your eyes will initially react to the procedure.

Are you tired of the constant discomfort and trouble because of your dry eyes? Are over-the-counter artificial tear solutions not doing the trick anymore? Fortunately, here at Crystal Vision we are proud to announce we have procedures (dry eye treatment) help relieve the signs and symptoms of dry eyes by dealing with the root cause.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, is a type of light therapy generally used for skin complications and other dermatological diseases but, it can now be used to treat chronic dry eyes caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

What is Intense Pulsed Light Treatment?
Also known as flash lamp therapy, Intense Pulsed Light or IPL treatment uses a series of a controlled spectrum of light, quite similar to photo flash. Many optometrists consider IPL as one of the most groundbreaking procedures for dry eye disease.

It can directly deal with one of the leading causes of dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD is the leading cause of over 80% of dry eye cases along with other factors. This dysfunction occurs when the meibomian glands don’t produce enough oil for the tears which keeps the eye moist.

How can IPL help with dry eyes?
The IPL treatment stimulates the meibomian glands, helping them liquefy and release hardened oils clogged in the glands. IPL acts like a potent warm compress that relieves eyes from the aggravating dry eye symptoms.

IPL also reduces the excessive formation of blood vessels and inflammation of the eyelids that also contribute to MGD and dry eyes. It helps treat eyelid redness, stimulating healthy gland function and offering long-term treatment of chronic dry eye disease.

The IPL procedure
Dr Tiffany Truong will start with a comprehensive eye assessment to diagnose the severity of the meibomian gland dysfunction and determine your skin type. The assessment guarantees an appropriate treatment action plan specially tailored for your particular dry eye case.

Once Dr Tiffany Truong confirms that IPL is right for you, we will schedule a minimum of one sessions of IPL treatment and additional sessions as needed.

Here’s how the IPL with Meibomian Gland Expression procedure works:

• Patients remove makeup and other skin products from the skin.
• The doctor will place a laser grade corneal shield in each eye to completely block any light from penetrating the corneas, and then an additional protective IPL lashes protective cover.
• The doctor applies conductive gel over both the upper and the lower lids and throughout the upper face area.
• The patient receives 2-3 full passes of the pulsed light with overlapping flashes that ensures even treatment of all 4 eyelids and upper cheek areas.
• After the removal of the IPL gel, the patient will lie back for a 15 minute hot compress with optimized temperature heat masks.
• The Doctor will then apply anesthetic gel on the eye lid margins and perform Meibomian Gland Expressions of the 4 lids.
• After expression of the glands the Doctor will give the eyes a saline rinse and prophylactic antibiotic drops.

IPL treatment restrictions
There are a few factors that may prevent you from getting IPL treatment.

• IPL is not advisable for pregnant women.
• IPL should be used with discretion if you have skin phototype VI or very dark skin. Darker skin pigment tends to absorb light.
• You can’t undergo the treatment if you have birthmarks, moles, keloid scarring or tattoo near your eyelid areas and if you have a fake tan.
• Conditions like xeroderma and lupus disease can also prevent you from undergoing IPL treatment.
• Taking collagen injections, certain medicines that increase photo-sensitivity, vitamin A, RetinA, or glycolic acid, doxycycline, ibuprofen, and aspirin can also affect your eligibility for IPL treatment.

How to prepare for IPL treatment
Before your scheduled IPL treatment session…

• Avoid too much sun exposure.
• Do not expose your skin to UV light and artificial tan (sprays, lotions, gels, etc.) before and in between your IPL sessions.
• Avoid swimming in strongly chlorinated water before your treatment
• Don’t use exfoliating or peeling products for a week before your appointment.
• Avoid intake of aspirin or ibuprofen for a week before your scheduled session. Inform your doctor if your taking medications beforehand.
• Remove all makeup and other skin products.
• Keep the area to be treated clean and dry.

IPL aftercare 
After you undergo an IPL treatment session…

• Avoid too much sun exposure to reduce chances of dark and light spots formation on the treated area.
• Apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on the treated area.
• Do not expose the treated area to UV light.
• Do not pick on the treated area.
• Avoid hot baths, showers or sauna for a week. Humid conditions can aggravate the treated area.
• Make sure you use moisturizer if applying make up after the treatment.

Dr Tiffany Truong might also advise supplements and dietary recommendations, natural remedies, lifestyle changes, and other best practices to ensure the health of your eyes and meibomian glands.
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Intense Pulsed Light Treatment FAQ

• Is intense pulsed light the same as laser?

IPL utilizes broader range wavelengths of intense light, unlike laser treatment that operates on a narrower, specific wavelength, making IPL safer and gentler than laser.

• Does intense pulsed light hurt?

You may experience some redness and a little discomfort in the treated areas, but they are mild and will only last for a few minutes or hours after the session.

• Will I still need drops if I finish a course of IPL?

You no longer need eye drops once you have finished a course of IPL treatment. If you feel like your symptoms are coming back, though it can be after a very long time, you can go for an extra session of IPL treatment.
Why should you consider IPL for Dry Eye?

• The intense pulsed light treatment deals with the root cause of dry eye disease.
• Unlike laser treatments, IPL is easy on the skin. You may even notice an improvement in the treated skin area after the sessions.
• IPL can also improve your vision and provide eye comfort.
• The treatment is safe and ensures little to no discomfort during the procedure.
• By dealing with the root cause of the disease, IPL reduces your dependency on eye drops and other pharmaceutical remedies.

Once you experience dry eye symptoms, they are most likely to linger for the rest of your life. Dry eyes may not be permanently curable, but proper management and the correct treatment can offer long-term eye comfort and relief from the distressing dry eye symptoms.

Continually dealing with irritating dry eyes with medications and artificial tears with little to no success can get vexing. It might be best to consider a more advanced treatment like IPL therapy.

Contact us today to start your IPL therapy as soon as possible

Call us now!

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​Here is a video of how an IPL machine is used in the treatment of dry eye. It shows the application of the flashes to the lower eyelids through to how this works to help with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction:

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