Intense pulsed light for dry eye is now mainstream in UK clinics

Most chronic dry eye is evaporative: the meibomian glands in the eyelids fail to release the oil layer that stops tears evaporating. Drops alone treat the symptom, not the cause.

How IPL helps

Pulses of light applied to the skin around the eyes reduce inflammation and warm the glands so blocked oil can be expressed. A typical course is three or four sessions a few weeks apart.

What results look like

Many patients report less grittiness, less burning and more comfortable screen time. Maintenance sessions are often needed once or twice a year.

Why this matters before eye surgery

An unstable tear film distorts the measurements used to calculate a lens implant, and makes recovery less comfortable. Treating dry eye before surgery is one of the least glamorous and most valuable steps in the whole process.

Signs worth acting on

Fluctuating vision through the day, watering in the wind, and eyes that feel worst in air-conditioned offices are all classic patterns.

What this means if you are considering surgery in the UK

New technology only helps when it is matched to the right eye. Ms Tahmina Pearsall FRCOphth is a UK consultant ophthalmic surgeon on the GMC specialist register with more than 40,000 eye procedures performed, and she assesses every patient personally before recommending anything. If dry eye treatment before surgery is relevant to you, a consultation will tell you whether it changes your options — or whether a simpler, better-established treatment gives you a safer result.

Book a consultation with Ms Pearsall

Consultations are available at clinics across the UK, including London Harley Street, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Reading and Southampton. You can book a consultation, arrange a free 15-minute call, see treatment prices, read verified patient reviews or find your nearest clinic.