OptiLight: The New, Innovative Solution for Dry Eye

Are you affected with dry eye? Are you constantly putting artificial tears in your eyes to help relieve what feels like dust and grit? Perhaps you frequently feel a burning sensation in your eyes. 

You no longer have to live with perpetual eye irritation. At long last, scientists have developed a treatment that addresses the cause of dry eye – not merely the symptoms.  

Our board-certified ophthalmologists at Santa Monica Eye have invested in the latest technology to treat dry eye. OptiLight by Lumenis is the first FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy that was specifically crafted to treat dry eye disease caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). 

What is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)?

Your eyes are intricate mechanisms with many parts. As with any mechanism, sometimes a part malfunctions. You have tiny glands (called meibomian glands) on the edges of your upper and lower eyelids that produce oils that form a clear layer of fluid over your eyes. 

When the glands function normally, they provide just the right amount of oil to keep your eyes from drying out. But sometimes, the glands become blocked or stop working properly. When that happens, you don’t produce enough tear fluid. Now you have MGD. 

MGD causes most cases of dry eye. Now, there’s a solution that targets the meibomian gland dysfunction. 

How OptiLight works to treat dry eye

In 2021, the FDA approved OptiLight as a dry eye treatment. Its precise pulses of broad-spectrum light target the underlying cause of MGD: abnormal function of your meibomian glands. 

A noninvasive treatment, OptiLight shoots bursts of light that stimulate and help release the fluid in your glands, specifically targeting the skin below your eyes to improve gland function and reduce symptoms of dry eye. It calms inflammation and lowers bacterial overgrowth, including Demodex mites, which can exacerbate dry eye symptoms.

Is OptiLight painful? 

No. You’ll likely feel a warm sensation and feel taps to your skin. You may have a bit of redness or swelling immediately after the treatment, but it subsides quickly. 

Is OptiLight treatment completed in one visit? 

You will need four OptiLight sessions spaced three to four weeks apart. The treatment only lasts about 15 minutes, and you can resume your daily activities after your appointment. You’ll begin to feel an improvement after two to three sessions and continue to experience improvement over time. 

OptiLight is effective 

If artificial tears and prescription medications haven’t helped your dry eye, OptiLight may be the solution you need. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with MGD, your medications have treated the symptom but not the root cause of your dry eye. We examine your eyes, review your symptoms, listen to your concerns, and develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. 

Have chronic sensations of burning, scratchiness, or tearing compromised your quality of life? There’s no longer a reason to live with these uncomfortable symptoms. As us about OptiLight and take an innovative path toward lasting relief from dry eye. 

Call Santa Monica Eye or book an appointment through our online portal today if you’re troubled by dry eye.