Can IPL to the eyelids help dry eye disease? IPL (intense pulsed light) has become a popular and common treatment for many skin conditions. It is also an increasingly common treatment for dry eye disease. Unlike skin treatments, when treating dry eye disease it is very important to be able to treat the eyelids directly, which most machines cannot. By treating the eyelids directly we can eradicate any mites around the eyelashes (demodex), and improve the oil-producing glands in the eyelids that reduce tear evaporation (meibomian glands). IPL to the eyelids is also a very effective treatment for people with recurrent styes. Prior to even considering IPL it is very important to formally diagnose dry eye disease. We do this using symptom questionnaires, as well as 10 different observations of the eyes with a microscope and a piece of equipment specifically designed to detect dry eye. This allows us to also determine the type of dry eye disease (some types do not respond to IPL). I am often surprised that many people think they have dry eye disease, but testing shows they actually do not. Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03, Village Centre, Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY Can IPL to the eyelids help dry eye disease ? IPL ( intense pulsed light ) has become a popular and common treatment for many skin conditions . It is also an increasingly common treatment for dry eye disease . Unlike skin treatments , when treating dry eye disease it is very important to be able to treat the eyelids directly , which most machines cannot . By treating the eyelids directly we can eradicate any mites around the eyelashes ( demodex ) , and improve the oil - producing glands in the eyelids that reduce tear evaporation ( meibomian glands ) . IPL to the eyelids is also a very effective treatment for people with recurrent styes . Prior to even considering IPL it is very important to formally diagnose dry eye disease . We do this using symptom questionnaires , as well as 10 different observations of the eyes with a microscope and a piece of equipment specifically designed to detect dry eye . This allows us to also determine the type of dry eye disease ( some types do not respond to IPL ) . I am often surprised that many people think they have dry eye disease , but testing shows they actually do not . Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03 , Village Centre , Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY