What Is the OptiLight by Lumenis & How Can It Manage Your Dry Eye?
Dry eye disease is a widespread and common issue for up to 49 million Americans. Learn how OptiLight can help.
Dry eye disease is a chronic condition that can have a significant impact on your quality of life, causing a foreign body sensation in your eyes, pain, blurry vision, and dry or watery eyes. Untreated, it can even lead to further eye-health complications.
Despite these constant detrimental effects on quality of life, many dry eye sufferers are not aware that they’re suffering from dry eye disease or that real treatments exist. Instead, they just live with the discomfort.
At Vision Source, we are dedicated to treating dry eyes with ergonomic and effective solutions. We use an array of tools and diagnostic tests to diagnose dry eyes, such as a SPEED questionnaire, a slit lamp, and a Keratograph 5M.
Our use of the IPL and Lipiflow also contribute to the effectiveness of our dry eye treatment methodology, allowing us to reach the highest level of dry eye therapy possible. Our dry eye treatment plans also utilize warm compresses, holistic supplementation, pharmacological drops, and oral medications.
We’re proud to offer OptiLight by Lumenis to our patients, specially designed for dry eye management.
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
Before you receive treatment with OptiLight, you should be prepared to discuss your full systemic health with your eye doctor, including any medical conditions that you are currently suffering from or getting treatment for. We will need an updated medication list if it is applicable, and a history of your experience with dry eyes and what you have done to try and treat them. Based on your diagnostic tests, your treatment will be personalized to exactly fit your needs.
During Your Treatment
This treatment is fast and simple. During the treatment your doctor will apply a coupling gel on the treatment area and cover your eyes with shields.
As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm sensation. The treatment is gentle with minimum discomfort. The treatment itself will only take 10–15 minutes.
OptiLight is often followed by meibomian gland expression [depending on the doctor].
After Your Treatment
After you are finished with your OptiLight treatment, you will be taken care of by our warm, friendly, and professional staff. We have significant experience in treating dry eyes and can help you get back to your daily routine as quickly as possible. OptiLight treatment is not intrusive and will not require a long period of rest afterward — you will essentially be able to go back to your daily schedule as soon as you choose to do so.
Part of Your Custom Treatment Plan
A course of treatment typically includes 4 sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart. Treatment with the OptiLight will only last about 15 minutes, and a full session will take up to 45 minutes. This ensures that you are able to return to your daily life as quickly as possible — you will also not feel any discomfort that may be introduced by more invasive dry eye treatment methods.
During your appointment, you and your eye doctor may discuss how often you should attend treatment appointments — some patients may require more frequent appointments than others. Patients will also require regular maintenance treatments with OptiLight that typically occur every 6–12 months once the initial round of treatments has concluded.
Our dry eye treatment solutions are simple and comfortable. Depending on the severity of your issues with dry eyes, you should expect to see improvement anywhere from a few days to months depending on the type of therapy that you are prescribed.
Will the OptiLight by Lumenis 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.
You Don’t Have to Live With Dry Eye Anymore
Dry, irritated eyes can be managed with a new treatment that brings comfort and can restore quality of life. Visit your eye doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan tailored to your needs.