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What Is the OptiLight by Lumenis & How Can It Manage Your Dry Eye?
Jun 27, 2022

What Is the OptiLight by Lumenis & How Can It Manage Your Dry Eye?

Dr. Lee in office with equipment

Dry eye disease is a widespread and common issue for up to 49 million Americans. This chronic condition 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. If left untreated, dry eye disease can have potentially serious consequences such as pain, discomfort, blurry vision, and other problems. Dry eye disease can even damage to the surface of your eyes over time, making it incredibly important to find and treat as early as possible.


Detecting dry eye disease early is crucial to effectively manage the condition and prevent further complications. Here are some key signs and symptoms to look out for:


· Persistent Dryness and Irritation: If you frequently experience dryness, itchiness, or a gritty sensation in your eyes, you could suffer from dry eye disease. You might notice that your discomfort is worse in certain environments, such as air-conditioned rooms or windy outdoor conditions.


· Excessive Tearing: While it might seem counter-intuitive, dry eye disease can cause your eyes to produce excessive tears; this is a protective response to the dryness. If you find yourself frequently wiping away tears, you might have underlying dry eye issues.


· Redness and Inflammation: Dry eye disease can cause the blood vessels on the surface of the eyes to become inflamed, leading to redness and causing your eyes to look bloodshot.


· Blurred or Fluctuating Vision: Persistently dry eyes can affect the quality of your vision, causing it to become blurry or fluctuate throughout the day. This can make it difficult for you to focus, especially during activities that require prolonged visual concentration such as reading or using a computer.


· Sensitivity to Light: Do you notice discomfort or a stinging sensation when you’re exposed to bright lights or sunlight? This could be a sign of dry eye disease, as the condition causes your eyes to become more sensitive to light.


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.


We’re dedicated to providing innovative dry eye solutions to help you overcome your symptoms and get the relief you need. From diagnosis to your final appointment, we ensure your experience is high quality and personalized to your unique condition.


We’re proud to offer OptiLight by Lumenis to our patients, specially designed for dry eye management.


What Is OptiLight by Lumenis?

20/20 Optometry offers OptiLight IPL by Lumenis as well as a wide variety of other treatment options to suit your specific condition(s). 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.Whether it’s intense pulsed light (IPL), Miboflo, Lipiflow, at-home treatments, or recommendations for diet and lifestyle adjustments, we’re dedicated to solving your dry eye and providing you with tools for lasting relief.


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

It’s important to note that OptiLight IPL is unique when it comes to eye treatments because it only uses light, not a laser. OptiLight is generally considered safe, with the treatment covering the area surrounding your eyes, not the eyes themselves.



To prepare for treatment, please don’t use any medications or creams that can make the skin more sun-sensitive and reduce your sun exposure. If you wear makeup, don’t use any on the day of your treatment. If you have facial hair, please shave before treatment. You should also wear glasses instead of contacts as your contacts will be removed before treatment.


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.


After Your Treatment

The treatment area may be sensitive for 48 hours after treatment. You may feel a mild sunburn sensation that should go away soon after the procedure. As long as you follow the aftercare plan your doctor provides, you should have no issues post-treatment.



Part of Your Custom Treatment Plan

A course of treatment typically includes 4 sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart. 


We’re proud to offer a wide variety of treatment options to suit your specific condition. Whether it’s Miboflo, LipiFlow,  at-home treatments, or consultations on diet and lifestyle adjustments, we’re dedicated to solving your dry eye and providing you with lasting relief.


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.

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