Intense pulsed light therapy for dry eye
The age of onset of dry eyes is decreasing year by year. However, the treatment of dry eye is no longer limited to eye drops, artificial tears, and hot compresses. Intense pulsed light therapy, which is commonly used in medical and aesthetic clinics, has become the mainstay of treatment in recent years with good results.
Dry eye can be divided into two categories, namely aqueous dry eye and evaporative dry eye, among which evaporative dry eye is the most annoying and may evolve into corneal neuropathy if left untreated. Taipei Veterans General Hospital held a press conference today and reported that since the introduction of intense pulsed light therapy in 2020, more than 100 patients with evaporative dry eye have been effectively improved with no side effects.
The treatment mechanism is to constrict blood vessels, anti-inflammatory and decrease antioxidant, stimulate and regulate the nerves of the eyelid glands, and promote glandular secretion to achieve the therapeutic effect.
The pulsed light machine used in the treatment of evaporative dry eye is much lower in energy than that used in medical clinics, and the risk of safety is relatively low.
As for the side effects, Dr. Nai-wen Fan pointed out that there are references in literature mentioning skin redness, blisters, loss of eyelash or vitreous floaters, but most of them are self-limiting conditions, and more than 100 patients currently treated with intense pulsed light therapy at Taipei Veterans General Hospital have not experienced these side effects.
However, the intense pulsed light therapy for dry eye is currently not covered by the national health insurance. Dr. Nai-Wen Fan mentioned that the discomfort caused by dry eye, in addition to the typical dryness, also includes itching, stinging, foreign body sensation, fatigue, reflexive tearing, intermittent blurred vision, inability to look at things for a long period of time, etc. It is recommended that people should develop a regular life, a balanced diet, and avoid excessive eye use.
ㄒ 
