Lumenis OptiLight IPL in Santa Monica

OptiLight by Lumenis is a non-laser intense pulsed light (IPL) device that delivers precise pulses of light, each only milliseconds long, to the skin around the eyes. It is the first and only FDA-approved IPL treatment for dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction, also known as evaporative dry eye.

IPL has a long history in dermatology for rosacea, redness and visible vessels. As clinicians saw dry eye symptoms improve in those patients, research followed, and the technology earned FDA approval for managing dry eye.

OptiLight addresses several contributors to evaporative dry eye at once.

• Reduces inflammatory factors in the tear film and on the ocular surface
• Helps liquefy thickened meibum so the glands can flow
• Closes the abnormal blood vessels that feed inflammation, especially in ocular rosacea
• Reduces demodex and bacteria on the lids and lashes
• Improves tear break-up time and meibum quality

A typical course is four sessions spaced two to four weeks apart. Some patients begin to see and feel a difference after the first treatment, and maintenance sessions can help sustain results.

Each session takes about 15 minutes. We cleanse your skin, protect your eyes with shields, apply a cool gel, and deliver a series of gentle light pulses. Most patients describe it as bright and warm, with little discomfort.

For the best results and your comfort, please follow these guidelines before each session:

• Avoid significant sun exposure, tanning beds and self-tanners for five days before treatment
• Two weeks before, avoid photosensitizing medications such as doxycycline, and do not receive Botox or fillers
• Two days before, avoid products containing glycolic acid, retinoids, exfoliants or bleaching agents

There is typically no downtime. You may notice mild redness or sensitivity for a few days. Wear mineral sunscreen and a hat, limit direct sun for two weeks after each session, and avoid retinol and abrasive scrubs.

Small brown spots that look like coffee grounds can appear on treated skin. This is a normal part of the process, and they shed naturally within about a week.