Lipiflow works by inserting a scleral shell into the eye that sits behind the lids heating the glands and massaging them to push the blockage out of the glands. The treatment is performed once and is supposed to provide treatment for one year. Each treatment requires a new scleral shell and unfortunately the cost of these and the machine is very high. Most clinics charge around £1200 per treatment. Unfortunately if the treatment is not effective the first time then a second treatment is a very expensive option.
Intense Pulsed Light treatment fires a very intense light onto the skin below the eye. The frequency of the light is tuned to the Meibomian glands and has several effects. Firstly when the light is absorbed it generates heat which melts the meibum in the glands. It also closes off blood vessels close to the skin which decreases the inflammatory markers at the glands which contribute to Meibomian gland dysfunction. IPL treatment also decreases the bacterial load on the skin. Once the treatment has been performed the glands are then expressed manually – rather than mechanically as in Lipiflow. The benefit of this is that we can see exactly what comes out of the glands – whether it is solid or liquid and also to see which glands are working and which are not. The treatment is repeated several times over 3 months to give a maximal effect and each time the glands are manually expressed and examined as well. IPL treatment costs £200-£250 for each treatment.
While Lipiflow has been shown to help treat Dry Eye, at the Dry Eye Centre we believe that IPL combined with manual expression achieves better results for clients at significantly less cost. Therefore, we generally recommend IPL for clients suffering from Dry Eye over Lipiflow.
Interested in an initial assessment to see if IPL or other treatments would be right for you? Book an appointment with us today.
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