It’s not easy to live with chronic dry eyes, but with modern technology and treatments that can target the underlying causes, it is possible to get lasting relief. 

LipiFlow, IPL, and radiofrequency (RF) treatments are 3 modern approaches to dry eye therapy that can reduce blockages in your meibomian glands to provide relief from dry eyes. The key differences between LipiFlow, IPL, and radiofrequency are related to how the treatments work and who each treatment is suited for. While LipiFlow uses gentle heat and pressure, IPL therapy uses light energy, and RF treatments use safe, high-frequency electrical currents. 

Not every pair of eyes is identical, and neither is every treatment for dry eyes. While at-home remedies like eye drops and warm compresses may work for some people, others may want to explore their options for robust treatments that can provide targeted support and lasting relief. 

Learning about your options for personalized dry eye treatment can help you make the right choice for your eye health. 

Understanding What Causes Dry Eye Disease

The complex causes of dry eye disease can stem from many factors. For some people, dry, windy air is to blame, while for others, there are underlying medical conditions that lead to dry eyes. 

The most important thing to remember is there are treatments that can address each of those causes. 

For many people, dry eyes come from 2 specific underlying conditions:

• Tears that evaporate too quickly
• Eyes that don’t produce enough tears

When your eyes don’t produce enough tears, this is called aqueous-deficient dry eye. It only accounts for about 10% of dry eye cases and can be caused by a wide range of factors, from dry indoor environments to autoimmune conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome.

When your dry eye is caused by tears that evaporate too quickly, this is known as evaporative dry eye. Evaporative dry eye is typically caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), which occurs in 85% of all dry eye cases—although there are other factors that can contribute to evaporative dry eye, such as blepharitis.

What Is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

Your meibomian glands are located in your eyelids and produce meibum, a substance made of lipids that helps keep your tear film stable to stop your tears from evaporating too quickly. 

Meibomian gland dysfunction refers to a group of conditions that can disrupt your meibomian gland function, resulting in decreased meibum and, in many cases, dry eyes. 

Because MGD causes dry eyes for so many people, getting treatment that addresses MGD can be the key to lasting relief. MGD itself can have several causes, so it’s also crucial to find the right treatment for addressing MGD. 

That’s where LipiFLow, IPL, and radiofrequency treatments can make a difference. 

What Is LipiFlow?

LipiFlow is a treatment for dry eyes that uses a combination of heat and gentle pressure, much like a massage, to remove blockages from clogged meibomian glands. The treatment uses a specialized device that is carefully placed under and over your eyelids. Most people find the process for LipiFlow treatments relatively comfortable.

Before you receive LipiFlow treatment, your optometrist may use LipiView technology to confirm that your dry eye symptoms are being caused by clogged meibomian glands. 

LipiFlow can be an excellent choice for those with evaporative dry eye caused by meibomian gland blockages. It is typically a quick, in-office treatment with minimal downtime. 

What Is IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy? 

Intense pulsed light therapy was developed as an aesthetic treatment for skin care but has gained popularity as a promising treatment for evaporative dry eye caused by MGD. 

IPL uses light energy that can warm and liquefy blockages in your meibomian glands and reduce inflammation around your eyes, which can also help reduce the effects of MGD. IPL can also reduce the amount of Demodex mites and bacteria near your eyes to support healthy meibomian gland function. 

While IPL can be an effective treatment for evaporative dry eye, especially when inflammation is a factor, it may not be suitable for everyone. 

Because IPL treatment targets and relies on pigments in your skin to disperse energy and heat, those with darker skin tones may not find IPL as effective as other dry eye treatments. 

What Are Radiofrequency Treatments?

Radiofrequency (RF) treatments are similar to IPL in some ways. 

Like IPL, RF treatments have roots in skin aesthetics and can be helpful for reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production with heat. RF treatments can also be useful for treating evaporative dry eye caused by MGD. 

However, where IPL uses light energy, RF treatments use safe, high-frequency electrical currents to deliver heat to the skin. In doing so, RF technology can liquefy blockages in your meibomian glands. After an RF treatment is complete, we may also manually express your meibomian glands by gently massaging your eyelids to release any oil left inside. 

What Are the Key Differences Between RF, IPL, & LipiFlow?

The specific method used for treating MGD is the first key difference between each treatment. While LipiFlow uses a specialized device to apply gentle heat and pressure, IPL relies on light energy, and RF treatments rely on high-frequency electrical currents. 

Each person’s specific suitability for LipiFlow, IPL, and RF treatments is also a key difference. LipiFlow can be a great choice for evaporative dry eye caused by MGD, but IPL may be a more suitable choice if inflammation is a notable symptom or cause of MGD. 

Additionally, IPL may not be an ideal choice for those with darker skin pigmentation, but RF treatments can work well for people of all skin tones.

Can You Combine IPL, RF, & LipiFlow?

In some cases, we may recommend a combination of approaches for dry eye therapy, such as when the symptoms of dry eye disease do not improve with just one form of treatment for MGD. 

Treatments like IPL and LipiFlow may be combined with each other to provide more comprehensive support for the underlying causes of dry eyes, and they may be combined with other forms of dry eye treatment, such as eye drops, warm compresses, or eyelid hygiene products, to help provide lasting relief and target specific needs for dry eyes. 

Your unique eye health and need for dry eye treatment are factors that help us determine whether one treatment or a combination of treatments may be the right solution for achieving dry eye relief. 

Finding the Right Treatment for Your Dry Eyes

With so many options for addressing dry eye disease, finding the right treatment for your eyes can be the difference that helps you get long-term relief. 

When you visit us for an eye exam, we take the time to carefully examine your eyes and look beyond your symptoms to find the underlying cause of dry eyes and provide treatments that meet your specific needs. 

At Dr. Zargar Eyecare, we’re passionate about helping you get dry eye relief. Book an appointment with us today to speak with us about your dry eye concerns and find a treatment that suits your unique eyes.