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OptiLight Treatment
What is Optilight?
A dropless therapy for dry eyes
OptiLight by Lumenis is a safe, gentle, and effective treatment done to manage dry eye disease. This non-invasive procedure is the first and only FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment for dry eye management. OptiLight uses pulses of light precisely administered in the area below the eyes to reduce dry eye symptoms. This 10-15 minute procedure can relieve dry eye symptoms by:
● Increasing tear break-up time
● Reducing the amount of demodex mites and bacteria around your eyes
● Decreasing inflammation
● Improving meibomian gland functionality
How do you know if OptiLight is the right treatment for you? Your doctor will perform a series of specialized tests during a dry eye consult. These tests will give the doctor information about the quality and amount of your tears, how healthy your meibomian glands are, and if there is any corneal damage from dryness. The doctor will review these tests with you and discuss your treatment options.
In general, OptiLight isn’t recommended for patients who:
● Are taking certain medications, like Accutane
● Have active acne
● Suffer from certain skin disorders
● Are susceptible to keloid scarring
● Have severe scarring
● Have severely sunburned recently
Am I a Candidate?
What to Expect
The Lumenis OptiLight treatment takes place right in our office.
This treatment is fast and simple, taking only 10–15 minutes. During your treatment your doctor will apply a cool gel on the treatment area and cover your eyes with shields to protect them. As light is applied to the skin, you may experience a warm or a tapping sensation, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Pre-Procedure
If your eye doctor has recommended the OptiLight treatment, they will go over everything you can expect before, during, and after your appointment. To prepare for your appointment some things you should avoid include:
● Using skin brightening agents or serums for the week before your appointment
● Using tanning beds 1 month prior to your appointment
● Getting botox for at least 2 weeks before your appointment
● Taking oral isotretinoin, tetracycline, or doxycycline in the 3 months prior to your appointment
Post-Procedure Care
While side effects are uncommon, your eyes may feel slightly more dry or gritty for the day following your procedure. If you do experience dry eyes, you can use preservative-free artificial tears. Following your treatment, your skin will be sensitive, so we recommend avoiding sun exposure and wearing sunscreen.