If your eyes burn, itch, sting, or feel inflamed, then LLLT may be right for you!
In a world with devices everywhere, dry eye disease (DED) has increased exponentially around the world. Apart from screens, burning, stinging, and itching of the eyes because of DED can also be caused by aging and medication, among other factors. One of the best and most affordable treatments for DED is Low Level Light Therapy or LLLT. Developed by NASA, light therapy is a medical-grade 15-minute painless treatment that uses different colors of light and heat to activate the meibomian glands in the eyelids. These glands release meibum, a type of oil that helps form your tears and keeps your eye lubricated. In addition to increasing meibum production, different colors of light therapy have several benefits.
Red light helps reduce inflammation, a major symptom of DED. Additionally, red light also increases cellular respiration, helping increase ATP production.
Blue light is extremely effective at removing bacteria from the eyelids and eyelashes. This is particularly important for patients with blepharitis or Demodex infestations, where bacteria latch onto the lids and lashes, blocking the meibomian glands from releasing oils. Because less oils are released as a result of bacteria, DED is worsened. Blue light helps alleviate this issue.
Yellow light is great for aesthetic purposes, helping tighten skin and reduce swelling. Similar to red light, yellow light increases ATP production as well as promotes the production of collagen, which helps make new cells and remove dead cells in the skin.
Lastly, the iLight device also uses near infrared light, which penetrates deep into tissue. With infrared light, blood circulation can be improved by dilating blood vessels and pain/inflammation can be reduced around the ocular area.
Based on a patient’s needs, different combinations of these lights can be used to target different issues. After coming in for a consult, a customized treatment regimen can be created for each patient using the different lights.
Call our office to schedule an appointment today!
