If you often struggle with dry, irritated eyes that feel like there’s something stuck in them, know that you’re not alone. Dry eye disease is a widespread concern, affecting nearly 1 in 3 Canadians.
Chronic dry eyes can lead to severe discomfort and vision impairment without effective treatment. The good news is that therapies are available that can help you experience long-lasting relief from dry eye symptoms.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eyes is a noninvasive therapy that uses light energy to help reduce inflammation, restore oil gland function, and improve tear quality.
IPL can offer longer-lasting relief by targeting a common root cause of symptoms, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
What Is Dry Eye Disease?
Dry eye disease occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or when the tears you produce are of poor quality.
A healthy layer of tears, known as the tear film, is essential for protecting the surface of your eyes, facilitating smooth and comfortable blinking, and maintaining clear vision.
There are 2 main types of dry eye: evaporative and aqueous. You can also experience a mix of both types.
1. Evaporative Dry Eye
Evaporative dry eye is the most common form of dry eye, often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
These glands in your eyelids produce the oily layer of your tears. When they’re blocked or not working properly, tears evaporate too quickly and can’t spread evenly across the eye’s surface.
2. Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye
Aqueous-deficient dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears. It’s less common, often linked to age or autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis.
Common Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye symptoms can vary in intensity and frequency, but often include:
- Redness or bloodshot eyes caused by irritation & inflammation
- Burning or stinging sensations, often worse in dry or windy environments
- A gritty, sandy, or “foreign body” feeling, like there’s something stuck in your eye
- Blurry or fluctuating vision, especially when reading, driving, or using screens
- Watery eyes as your eyes react to dryness by overproducing poor-quality tears
- Eye fatigue or heaviness, especially at the end of the day or after prolonged focus
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia), causing bright lights to feel uncomfortable
- Stringy mucus around the eyes, sometimes present with severe dry eye
Experiencing any of these symptoms, even if they come and go, can be a sign of an underlying issue that IPL can help address.
How Does IPL Treatment Work?
Lumecca IPL uses controlled light pulses to help reduce inflammation, unclog meibomian glands, and restore healthy tear film. It’s a noninvasive treatment that can get to the root cause of evaporative dry eye, rather than just managing symptoms.
Here’s what IPL can do:
- Stimulate natural oil production
- Improve tear quality & hydration
- Reduce redness & inflammation
- Support long-term eye health
Initially used in dermatology to treat skin conditions such as rosacea or sun damage, IPL can significantly improve eye comfort by restoring gland function and reducing inflammation in the surrounding eye area.
Why Choose Lumecca IPL at Prairie Vision?
At Prairie Vision, we use Lumecca IPL, a technology that gives our optometrists the ability to personalize your treatment to help effectively address your unique symptoms and eye health needs.
Lumecca IPL is designed with more precision and power, promoting deeper penetration and faster treatments. Lumecca often requires fewer sessions—usually just 1 to 3—than traditional IPL, which typically requires 4 to 6 sessions to achieve similar results.
Most patients benefit from a series of 4 IPL sessions, spaced a few weeks apart. After that, occasional maintenance treatments help keep your glands functioning and your eyes comfortable.
IPL vs. Other Dry Eye Treatments
Dry eye treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, and options may include:
- Artificial tears or lubricating eye drops
- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
- Medicated drops
- Punctal plugs
- Warm compresses & eyelid cleansing
Many of these can provide short-term relief, particularly during symptom flare-ups. However, IPL therapy offers a unique advantage by directly addressing the source of the issue, particularly if your dry eye is due to MGD, making it a valuable option for long-term management.
What to Expect During IPL Treatment
The procedure is quick and comfortable. Here’s what a typical Lumecca IPL session looks like:
- We apply a cooling gel to the treatment area.
- We’ll provide you with protective goggles to wear during the procedure.
- Your eye doctor uses the handheld device to apply light pulses to the skin around the eyes.
- We may perform a gentle expression of the glands after IPL.
Most patients describe the sensation as a mild snapping or warmth on the skin, like a quick flick of a rubber band. There’s minimal to no downtime, and you can resume your normal routine right after.
Start Your Dry Eye Relief Journey in Wainwright
Living with dry, gritty, or irritated eyes doesn’t have to be your normal. At Prairie Vision, our experienced optometrists are here to uncover the root cause of your dry eye symptoms and help you find lasting relief.
Whether you’re new to dry eye therapy or have tried other treatments without success, we’re dedicated to helping you experience meaningful relief with IPL. Book your consultation today at our Wainwright location, and let’s help your eyes feel comfortable again.
