IPL Treatment for Dry Eyes in Temple Fortune

Dry, gritty, tired eyes? There is a longer-term option

Dry eye is one of the most common eye complaints, and drops alone do not always solve it. If your eyes feel gritty, sore or oddly watery by mid-afternoon, especially after a day at a screen, the cause may be the tiny oil glands in your eyelids rather than a shortage of tears.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a treatment aimed at that root cause. This guide explains what IPL is, what happens during a session, what the research honestly shows, and how to find out whether it could help you, whether you live or work in Temple Fortune, Golders Green or the wider NW11 area.

What actually causes dry eye?

For many people the problem is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The meibomian glands run along the edges of your eyelids and release an oily substance called meibum. That oil forms the outer layer of your tear film and slows evaporation. When the glands become blocked or the oil changes quality, tears evaporate too quickly and the eye surface becomes irritated. MGD is considered the leading cause of evaporative dry eye, the more common form.

MGD is usually a long-term condition, which is why treatment that looks after the glands, rather than only topping up tears, can make a difference.

Symptoms of dry eye: what to look out for

The NHS lists the main signs of dry eye as eyes that are itchy, sore, gritty, red, blurry, sensitive to light, or more watery than normal (NHS). Symptoms usually affect both eyes and tend to get worse through the day (NI Direct). When meibomian gland dysfunction is behind it, you may notice a particular pattern:

• A gritty or sandy feeling, as if something is stuck in your eye.
• Burning or stinging, which some people notice even after putting in drops.
• Blurred vision that comes and goes, often clearing for a moment when you blink.
• Tired, strained eyes that feel worse after reading, watching TV or working on a computer.
• Watering eyes. Poor-quality tears do little to soothe the eye, so you can have watery eyes and still have dry eye.
• Red, sticky or crusty lid edges, especially first thing in the morning.
• Sensitivity to light or glare.
• Discomfort with contact lenses, which are a known risk factor for dry eye.

When to get checked. If symptoms continue after a few weeks of home care, book an eye examination. See an optometrist or your GP straight away if your eyes are very painful or red, or your vision gets worse. Sudden loss of vision needs urgent medical attention.

Sources: NHS, NI Direct, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

What is IPL, and how does it help?

IPL uses short bursts of broad-spectrum light, applied to the skin around the eyes, to treat the glands in the eyelids. It was first used for skin conditions and has since been adapted for dry eye. Moorfields Eye Hospital describes it as targeting the meibomian glands to improve their function and tear quality.

Clinicians believe the light helps in a few ways: calming inflammation and abnormal blood vessels around the lids, and helping the glands release their oil more easily. The exact mechanisms are still being studied. In April 2021 the US Food and Drug Administration approved an IPL device for dry eye, according to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The light is applied to the skin, not directed into the eye itself.

How IPL can help with dry eye symptoms

Artificial tears, warm compresses and lid wipes can ease symptoms, but Moorfields Private notes that they bring symptomatic relief rather than a long-term solution. IPL is aimed at something different: the glands that make the protective oil layer of your tears.

According to Moorfields, the treatment uses brief pulses of broad light, with UV and blue light filtered out, applied to the skin around the eyes. The aim is to rejuvenate the meibomian glands so they open up and release their oil more readily. Moorfields reports that this can improve tear quality, reduce symptoms and slow the progression of chronic dry eye. Here is how that maps onto the symptoms above:

• Gritty, burning or sore eyes. Unstable tears leave the eye surface exposed and inflamed. A better oil layer and calmer lids may let tears protect the surface for longer.
• Blurred, fluctuating vision. The tear film breaks up between blinks. A steadier tear film may give clearer, more consistent vision.
• Tired eyes after screens. Blinking less lets tears evaporate faster. Better-quality tears may last longer between blinks.
• Red, crusty or sticky lids. Blocked glands and inflammation along the lid edge. Treating the glands and surrounding inflammation may reduce build-up and redness.
• Watery eyes. Poor-quality tears fail to lubricate, so the eye over-produces tears. Improving tear quality may break the cycle of dryness and reflex tearing.

This is a plain-English guide to how the treatment is meant to work. Individual results vary, and the research section below explains how strong the evidence is.

How soon might I notice a difference? Moorfields says some patients notice an improvement within hours of the first session, although up to four sessions, two to three weeks apart, may be needed for the best results, and an annual top-up is usually recommended. You can keep using your usual drops during treatment. Your own plan at Barnard Levit will be set after your assessment.

What to expect at your appointment

1. An assessment first. Your optometrist examines your tear film and eyelid glands to confirm that MGD is behind your symptoms. IPL is not right for every kind of dry eye, so this step matters.
2. A short course of sessions. Research studies have typically used two to four sessions. Your exact plan is agreed after your assessment.
3. The treatment itself. Your eyes are protected, then pulses of light are applied to the skin along the lower lids and cheeks. Your clinician will explain the sensation and adjust the settings to keep you comfortable.
4. Aftercare. You will be given advice to follow between sessions, which usually includes protecting the treated skin from the sun and continuing any lid care you have been prescribed.

Does it work? What the research says

The evidence is encouraging but not settled, and it is worth knowing both sides.

• More recent reviews are positive. A 2024 meta-analysis of 13 studies (280 adults, mostly with severe evaporative dry eye from MGD) found that two to four IPL sessions cut symptom scores by roughly 16 points on the OSDI questionnaire compared with placebo, as reported by Review of Optometry. Used as an add-on to other care, the gain was smaller, at about 7 points, and the authors noted a moderate risk of bias in the studies.
• Another review favoured IPL. A 2022 systematic review in Lasers in Medical Science concluded that IPL appeared better than conventional treatments for MGD-related dry eye.
• The most cautious view. The Cochrane review found the evidence to be low or very low quality, with few trials, and was uncertain about both benefit and safety. It only covered studies up to August 2019, and later reviews include newer trials.

In plain terms: many patients and clinicians report real benefit, but the trials are mostly small and short, results vary from person to person, and IPL is not a guaranteed cure. Follow-up in the studies Cochrane reviewed ran from 45 days to nine months, so ongoing maintenance may be needed.

Is IPL right for you?

IPL may be worth discussing if you have persistent dry eye symptoms despite using drops and warm compresses, and an assessment shows that MGD is a significant part of the problem.

IPL may not be suitable if you have a darker skin tone (because of the risk of skin discolouration), an active infection, skin tumours, moles or tattoos around the eyes, a history of keloid scarring, or an immune or clotting disorder, or if you take anticoagulants or are pregnant. Caution is advised if you have had herpes simplex near the treatment area. Moorfields Private lists these exclusions, and also advises avoiding sun exposure and using suncream in the weeks before and after treatment. Dry eye caused mainly by too little tear production, rather than poor-quality tears, is less well studied. Your optometrist will go through your history and skin type before suggesting a treatment, and will tell you plainly if something else would serve you better.

Other treatments that work alongside IPL

IPL is rarely the whole answer. A good dry eye plan often combines several approaches:

• Lubricating drops to ease symptoms day to day
• Warm compresses and gentle lid hygiene to keep the glands clear
• Prescription drops where inflammation is a factor
• Punctal plugs, tiny inserts that slow tear drainage
• Gentle expression of the meibomian glands in clinic
• Low-level light therapy, which some devices combine with IPL

Your optometrist can explain which of these fit your symptoms and lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions

Does IPL for dry eyes hurt?

Sensations vary. Most people feel pulses of light and some warmth on the skin. Tell your clinician if anything is uncomfortable and they can adjust the settings.

How many sessions will I need?

Studies have typically used two to four sessions. Your plan will be set after your assessment.

How long do the results last?

Research follow-up has been fairly short, and MGD is often a long-term condition, so some people need top-up sessions or ongoing lid care. Your clinician will talk this through with you.

Is it safe?

Reviews generally describe an acceptable safety profile, but many trials did not report side effects in detail, so the evidence is not complete. That is why IPL should only be carried out by a trained clinician after a proper assessment.

Do I need an eye examination first?

Yes. An assessment confirms what is causing your symptoms and whether IPL is appropriate.

Is IPL for dry eyes available on the NHS?

NHS patient information from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust states that IPL is currently not available on the NHS, so it is usually offered privately.

Book a dry eye assessment in Temple Fortune

If dry eyes are wearing you down, the first step is a proper assessment to find out why. Barnard Levit Optometrists, led by Professor Simon Barnard and Dr Alex Levit, has a long record of early adoption of eye-health technology, including being the first practice in Europe to use OCT in 2005.

Book your dry eye assessment: call 020 8458 0599 or book an appointment online.

Find us: 58 Clifton Gardens, London NW11 7EL.

This article is general information and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please see an optometrist or your GP if you have persistent eye symptoms, pain, or sudden changes in vision.

About Professor Simon Barnard

Professor Simon Barnard leads Barnard Levit Optometrists alongside Dr Alex Levit. He graduated in optometry from City University, London, in 1976 and was awarded a PhD for his research on eye movements in 1999. He is a Fellow of the College of Optometrists, the American Academy of Optometry and the European Academy of Optometry and Optics, and has been a registered Independent Prescribing optometrist since 2011, which allows him to treat eye conditions within the optometric scope of practice, including by prescribing medication.

Professor Barnard spent two decades as a lecturer in clinical optometry at City University, and later, as Director of Ocular Medicine at the Institute of Optometry, developed the first General Optical Council accredited therapeutic course in the UK. He is currently Visiting Professor of Clinical Optometry at Hadassah College in Jerusalem, where he oversees the clinical sections of its Master's degree in optometry.

He has published more than 50 clinical papers, including early research on punctum plugs, a treatment used in dry eye care, and is co-editor and author of the textbook Paediatric Eye Care. He has also given hundreds of invited lectures and research presentations across Europe, Israel and the USA. Under his leadership, Barnard Levit was the first practice in the world to introduce the Intuitive Colorimeter, in 1993, and the first in Europe to use OCT, in 2005.

Sources: Doctify profile, Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College faculty page and Association of Optometrists.

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