What is Dry Eye?
If you have dry eyes, you may experience one of the many irritating symptoms, or you may experience several. Dry eyes can be chronic or acute, and your symptoms may even change at times. Visit our Dry Eye Therapy page for more information.
Dry eyes is characterized by:
- Gritty, scratchy, stinging, or burning eyes
- Feeling like you have something in your eyes
- Excessive watering
- Blurred vision
- Redness
- Light sensitivity
- Stringy mucus in the corner of your eyes
Dry eye is the result of 1 of 2 causes: either your eyes aren’t producing enough tears (aqueous deficiency), or they aren’t producing high-quality tears (evaporative dry eye). This can result in eyes feeling dry, or like they are excessively watering because your tears won’t stick to your eyes.
Your tear film has 3 layers:
- The mucus layer keeps your tears adhered to your eyes
- The aqueous (watery) layer hydrates your eyes
- The oil layer protects the other layers from evaporating or drying out too quickly
If you’re experience dry eye symptoms, first we will need to see you for an assessment to determine the exact cause. Then, we will be able to recommend treatment options based on your unique needs. Dry eye therapy is our thing. Find relief for your symptoms.
What Is OptiLight by Lumenis?
OptiLight by Lumenis is a light-based, non-invasive treatment done in the area below the eyes to manage dry eye. The first and only IPL FDA-approved for dry eye management.
The treatment is safe, gentle, and is backed by more than 20 clinical studies.
How Does It Work?
OptiLight uses precise pulses of light to reduce the inflammation that is typically associated with dry eye disease, improve tear break-up time, and increase meibomian gland functionality.
This application can significantly relieve dry eye indicators and has a multi-factorial effect, including:
- Increasing tear break-up time
- Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria living around your eyes
- Eliminating blood vessels that contribute to inflammation
- Improving meibomian gland functionality
What to Expect
Before Your Treatment
Prior to your IPL treatment, we will go over all of the steps you need to know to prepare.
This includes:
- Avoiding sun exposure and tanning beds for 4 weeks prior to your treatment
- Avoiding sun tanning lotions for 2 weeks prior to your treatment
IPL uses light therapy to help treat your dry eye symptoms. For this treatment to be effective, we need to ensure you aren’t being overexposed to UV light leading up to your appointment.
During Your Treatment
When you arrive at our office, our friendly team will greet you and lead you into our comfortable treatment room. We will review your information and go over any important paperwork, making sure you understand the treatment completely. If you have any questions, we will answer them.
To begin, we will clean your face to make sure there isn’t any residual debris or products on your skin that could affect your treatment. We will provide you with eye protection, applying shields over your eyes. Then, we will apply a gooey gel over the treatment area.
When your IPL treatment begins, you may experience a mild stinging sensation as light penetrates your skin and treats your glands beneath. This has been described as similar to being snapped with a rubber band. Your eyes are protected by shields at this time, but you will still notice an intense light.
After Your Treatment
Some patients experience a mild sunburn sensation for a few days following IPL. Right after your treatment, we will apply sunblock over the treated area to protect your skin. Makeup is generally safe to wear following your appointment.
In the first evening following your IPL treatment, avoid rubbing, scratching, or picking at the area, and use tepid water to cleanse your skin, avoiding hot water. Hydrate the area with a suitable moisturizer, aloe vera gel, or anti-burn cream or gel.
During the first 48 hours following your treatment, avoid sun exposure and tanning.
For the month following treatment, please wear sunblock protection of 30–50 SPF on the treated area each day to protect your skin.
Will the OptiLight Work for Me?
While OptiLight by Lumenis is an effective dry eye management solution, we want to make sure it’s right for you. We do not recommend this treatment if you:
- Suffer from aqueous deficiency dry eye (rather than evaporative dry eye or meibomian gland dysfunction)
- Have a history of keloid scarring
- Have severe scarring around your eyes
Ultimately, your doctor is the only person who can determine whether this option is right for you. During your next appointment, ask us if you are a good candidate for OptiLight by Lumenis.
Experience Something New
Specialty Eye is proud to offer you the latest innovations in dry eye technology to help alleviate your dry eyes. Thanks to treatment options like OptiLight and the expertise of our optometrists, we’re able to offer you state-of-the-art treatments for mild, moderate, and severe chronic and acute dry eye symptoms.
Let’s make a change to your eye care routine. Talk to us about experiencing OptiLight today.
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The Mind’s Eye Center
- 8750 122nd Ave NE
- Kirkland, WA 98033
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P: 425-800-5240
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Bellevue
- 225 106 Ave. NE
- Bellevue, WA 98004
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P: 425-454-2028
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Kirkland
- 11830 NE 128 St., Suite 1
- Kirkland, WA 98034
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P: 425-821-8900