If you are experiencing dry eyes or want to improve the appearance of your skin, intense pulsed light treatment may be right for you. At The Medical Eye Center, Dr. Slentz can improve your symptoms and remove unwanted spots on your skin through the advanced technology of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment.
IPL treatment is a type of light therapy that can be used to accomplish a variety of goals. Many people undergo intense pulsed light treatment to either improve dry eye symptoms or improve the appearance of their skin.
There are many reasons you may be experiencing dry eyes, and determining the root cause is key to finding an effective treatment. The IPL treatment can improve the symptoms of meibomian gland dysfunction or MGD, which is one of the most common causes of dry eye.
Your tears are made up of three primary components: oil, mucus, and water. The meibomian glands at the end of your eyelids produce the vital oil component, which helps keep the surface of your eye lubricated.
When these glands do not adequately produce the oil, the surface of your eye can become dry. During the treatment, you will be required to remove all makeup from your eyes and wear protective goggles.
First, your eye doctor will place a gel substance in the area to be treated. This gel will ensure that the light gets distributed evenly throughout the treatment area.
Lastly, your eye doctor will use the IPL machine to apply a few light flashes beneath your eyelid. The flashes of light will effectively stimulate the meibomian glands to continue to produce oil.
For those who desire to rejuvenate or improve the appearance of problem areas or imperfections in their skin, IPL treatment is an excellent non-surgical option. The IPL treatment can treat skin imperfections of many kinds, including sun damage, rosacea, birthmarks, unwanted hair, and wrinkles.
After having IPL, you may appear younger due to the new evenness of your skin tone. Recovery after IPL is minimal. While you may notice results right away, a few treatments are often needed for optimal results.
IPL can also improve the appearance of acne or acne scars. This treatment is very safe when performed by a trained doctor or technician.
Intense pulsed light treatment is a relatively quick procedure that can last anywhere between fifteen and thirty minutes. Dr. Slentz performs IPL treatment in-office, meaning you can go home the same day.
For dry eyes, IPL treatment aims to restore the normal functioning of these oil glands. During treatment, your eye doctor will apply a series of light flashes to the treatment area. The flashes of light heat up and liquefy the hardened oil to help return to normal flow, and they also improve inflammation.
The IPL treatment works similarly to improve skin imperfections.
For treatment of unwanted hair or spots, light flashes penetrate down to your dermis, which is your second layer of skin. These light flashes can reach your dermis without damaging your top layer of skin.
The flashes make contact with these unwanted spots and then form a heat that destroys them. Depending on your condition, you may need to return for a series of treatments to reach your desired goal.
To determine if IPL treatment is right for you, you will need to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for a thorough exam. You may not be a good candidate for the treatment if you are pregnant or if you are on any medication that can increase photosensitivity in your skin.
Do you want to learn if intense pulsed light treatments may be able to improve your dry eye symptoms? Schedule a consultation at The Medical Eye Center in Manchester, Nashua, and Bedford, NH, today!