What is Dry Eye?
Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your eyes cannot maintain a healthy, stable tear film—either because you don’t produce enough tears, or because they evaporate too quickly.
Tears are made up of water, oil, and mucus, all of which work together to keep the eyes comfortable and vision clear. When this balance is disrupted, the eyes can become dry, irritated, and inflamed.
In many cases, dry eye is not just about tear quantity, but tear quality—often linked to dysfunction of the oil glands in the eyelids.
If you struggle with Dry Eye, we can help!
Common Treatments for Dry Eye
Treatment for dry eye often begins with conservative, at-home approaches aimed at improving comfort and supporting the tear film.
Artificial tears are typically the first step. These lubricating drops can provide temporary relief by supplementing natural tears, but they do not address the underlying cause.
Warm compresses are commonly recommended to help loosen and soften oils within the eyelid glands. When used consistently, they may improve oil flow and reduce tear evaporation.
Lid hygiene—such as gentle cleansing of the eyelid margins—can help reduce debris and inflammation that contribute to gland blockage.
In some cases, prescription eye drops may be used to reduce inflammation and support tear production.
While these treatments can be helpful, they are often ongoing and focused on managing symptoms rather than correcting the root cause of dry eye.
Introducing IPL — A Modern Treatment for Dry Eye
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is one of the latest advancements in dry eye treatment. Originally used in dermatology, it is now widely recognized for its effectiveness in addressing one of the most common underlying causes of dry eye—meibomian gland dysfunction.
IPL uses controlled pulses of light applied around the eyes to help reduce inflammation, improve oil gland function, and restore a healthier tear film. By targeting the source of the problem rather than just the symptoms, it offers a more advanced, long-term approach to managing dry eye.
For many patients, IPL represents a meaningful step forward when traditional treatments are no longer enough.
How IPL Treatment Is Performed
IPL therapy for dry eye is a quick, in-office procedure performed in a series of sessions to achieve optimal results.
Treatment is typically scheduled every 2 to 4 weeks, with most patients completing an initial series of about 4 sessions. This staged approach allows the therapy to gradually reduce inflammation and improve the function of the oil glands over time.
During the procedure, controlled pulses of light are applied to the skin around the eyes. Most patients describe the sensation as mild warmth with minimal discomfort, and there is little to no downtime afterward, allowing normal activities to resume immediately.
After the initial series, many patients benefit from maintenance sessions approximately every 6 months to help sustain improvements in tear quality and symptom relief.
Over time, IPL can help improve tear stability, reduce inflammation around the eyelids, and decrease reliance on artificial tears—supporting longer-term comfort rather than short-term relief.