Such is the light impulse treatment, which effectively treats dry eyes – That’s how quickly Kati noticed the change – 2024-03-08 17:04:05

Instrumentarium has seven clinics specialized in dry eye treatment around Finland. Dry eye clinics do not only treat the symptoms of dry eye, but try to find the root cause behind them. The treatment is individually tailored according to the root cause of dry eyes.

Dry eye clinics use an IPL light impulse device to treat troublesome dry eye symptoms. In light impulse therapy, strong light and heat are applied to the eye area at the same time. The treatment improves the quality of the tear fluid and the function of the Meibomian glands. In addition, it reduces eye discharge and redness of the eyes and lids.

36-year-old Kati applied to Instrumanterium’s Dry Eye Clinic last fall. He shares his experience with IPL light impulse treatment, which is still relatively unknown in Finland, but is already a widely used treatment for dry eyes in the world. In studies, it has been found to be currently the most effective way to treat the condition of the Meibomian glands.

Why did you initially apply to Instrumentarium’s Dry Eye Clinic?

– I have suffered from dry eyes since I was a student, and in recent years the symptoms have worsened. When symptomatic, the eyes feel itchy and tired, and they bleed easily. It feels like you should blink constantly, but it doesn’t help, says Kati.

What happened in the first study?

– At the clinic, the eyes were examined with two devices: a keratograph, which describes the tearing time of the eye’s tear fluid, and a microscope. The video was used to illustrate how long the tear fluid remained evenly on the surface of the eye after blinking. Keratograph images were used to check the condition of the eyelashes and lid edges. Colored drops were placed in the eyes to see if there were signs of dryness in the cornea.

– The tests showed that my Meibomian glands were otherwise in good condition, but they were blocked in some places, which explained the dry eyes. In the clinic, they tried to open blockages by pressing on the top of the gland with a cotton swab, Kato says.

– At the clinic, I received home care instructions for cleaning eyelid scars and heat treatment. I also got a recommendation for good eye drops. I was instructed to use a moisturizing drop first and an oily drop on top of that, which forms a protective film over the eye.

– I booked a check-up visit about a month later, where the effects of the home treatment were evaluated and follow-up treatment was agreed upon, he continues.

How did following the home care instructions go?

– As long as you approach the treatment instructions correctly, they are not difficult to follow. For example, cleaning the edges of the eyelids can be done when washing the face and takes less than a minute.

– Every day I didn’t remember to do the heat treatment, but I feel that it has been useful in preventing gland blockages, says Kati.

– I’ve gotten used to using eye drops before, so there were no problems with using them. The oily drop clouded the vision for a moment, but seemed to lubricate the surface of the eye effectively.

Why did you decide to try IPL light impulse therapy?

– The dry eye specialist recommended treatment, because even though the home treatment had eased the situation a little, there were still blockages in the Meibomian glands.

– The treatment seemed interesting, and I have read experiences according to which many have been helped by it. In addition, according to the dry eye specialist, light impulse therapy can slightly reduce facial skin pores, which was only a plus, says Kati.

What happened in the IPL light pulse treatment?

– At the very beginning, similar plastic protections were put on the eyes, which were used in solariums at the time.

– Ultrasound gel was applied to the skin of the treatment area, after which the dry eye specialist used the device to direct intense light and heat in short pulses to the areas surrounding the eyes, says Kati.

– After the device treatment, a heat bath was placed on the eyes for a while, so that all the benefits of the treatment can be extracted.

– The IPL light impulse treatment was performed four times in a series, approximately every three weeks. The treatment is quick. Half an hour is reserved for that, where we also had time to go through the Meibomian glands and test the composition of the oil they produce.

How did the treatment feel?

– Light impulse therapy feels a bit special, but by no means disgusting. The light is so bright that you can detect its flash even with eye protection. However, the impulse is very fast. The heat feels quite hot for a flash, but it’s over quickly and doesn’t leave a burning sensation on the face.

– The dry eye specialist first started the treatment with a lower heat and gradually increased it.

How did the effects of light impulse therapy show?

– After the second treatment, I started to notice clear changes. My eyes no longer felt nearly as dry as before, and I no longer felt the constant need to put eye drops. Sometimes putting the drops in during the work day could even be forgotten, when the eyes no longer showed symptoms of dryness.

– It was also noticed in the examinations at the clinic that the condition of the eyes had improved. There were no more blockages in the meibomian glands and the oil was, so to speak, runny, i.e. the way it should be.

– Some symptoms of dryness still occur from time to time, especially in dry, cold and windy weather. However, overall, I am very satisfied with the effects of the treatment, says Kati.

Read more: What happens at the dry eye clinic? Kati was surprised when she saw a close-up of her eye

Even half of Finns suffer from dry eyes

Dry eyes are a common problem that affects approximately one in two Finns. In recent years, dry eye has increased, especially among young people.

According to estimates, one of the reasons is the use of phones and increased close viewing. Dry eye can easily become chronic if the symptoms are not treated early enough. In the cold weather of winter, the humidity of both indoor and outdoor air decreases, which worsens the symptoms of dry eyes.

The eyes become dry when not enough tear fluid, which lubricates and moisturizes the eyes, is secreted on their surface. Dry eyes can also be caused by the fact that the quality, i.e. the composition, of the tear fluid is poor.

The Meibomian glands located in the eyelids secrete oil, which helps the eyelid to spread tear fluid in an even layer on the surface of the eye. The oil forms a film on the surface of the eye, which prevents the tear fluid from evaporating too quickly. However, the glands can become blocked or even atrophy completely, causing the tear fluid to evaporate faster.

Book an appointment for Instrumentarium’s dry eye examination!

Read more: This is why dry eyes are worse in winter – One effective treatment can help