Most people with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) can significantly benefit from IPL, RF, or both – but no, they aren’t right for everybody. That’s why it’s important to get an initial evaluation to assess the cause of your dry eye symptoms and whether there may be factors that don’t make you a good candidate for the procedures.

​​​​​​​For instance, IPL is not suitable for patients who have certain skin conditions, who are taking certain medications, or who have a history of skin cancer. Your optometrist will evaluate these factors during your evaluation and recommend the best course of treatment.

When possible, we recommend doing both IPL and RF because they target different aspects of dry eye. While each treatment is still effective on its own, IPL and RF together are shown to have better long-term outcomes for patients.

However, because not everyone is a good candidate for both procedures, your optometrist may recommend only proceeding with one of them as the safest course.

IPL and RF can be done together in a single session. It’s generally recommended that patients get 4-5 sessions each spaced a few weeks apart, although your exact pace of treatment will be determined with your doctor. In all, the initial treatment course is expected to last about 2-3 months. After that, the patient should return once every 6-12 months for a maintenance session.

If you’re doing both IPL and RF, the session only takes about 30 minutes. There is no downtime required afterward, and most patients can easily drive, return to work, and go about their day.

Patients should avoid sun exposure as much as possible during the course of treatment, which means lots of sunscreen and no sunbathing.

Generally, both treatments are tolerated very well, with most patients reporting little to no pain. IPL may produce some mild discomfort described as a warm, tingling feeling, but it quickly subsides. RF is described as feeling like a warm compress around the eyes.

Many patients do not experience side effects from IPL or RF treatments, but some report temporary redness or swelling, sensitivity to sunlight, or stinging that feels like a mild sunburn. All of those side effects usually resolve in a couple hours or 1-2 days.

More rare and serious side effects include blistering, cheek swelling, conjunctival cyst, and floaters. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your optometrist immediately.

In addition to improving dry eye symptoms, IPL and RF have long been used to improve skin complexion and elasticity. Dermatologists often use IPL to reverse sun damage, treat scarring and rosacea, and minimize the appearance of pores. Both IPL and RF stimulate collagen production in the skin, so you may see tighter, more radiant skin around the eyes as an extra benefit of treatments!

You can technically start IPL and RF treatments at any time, as long as you’re able to come into our practice regularly over 2-3 months for the initial treatment course.

The best time of year to do treatments is winter and spring, when you’re likely to get less sun exposure. IPL makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so you must avoid direct sun exposure for 2-4 weeks after each treatment to prevent hyperpigmentation and avoid burns. That means using a high-SPF sunscreen and wearing hats and sunglasses, if you are going to be out in the sun.

A single treatment ranges from $450-550. Looksie offers package pricing that includes discounts for multiple sessions and multiple therapies. Contact us at admin@looksieoptometry.com or (415) 593-5348 for more information on pricing.

Unfortunately, IPL and RF are generally not covered by insurance.

However, your initial dry eye evaluation is eligible to be covered by medical insurance, including Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Blue Shield of California. Contact us at admin@looksieoptometry.com or (415) 593-5348 to see if Looksie accepts your medical insurance.