Low Level Light Therapy
Gentle photobiomodulation that restores oil gland function
Low level light therapy, sometimes called photobiomodulation, uses specific wavelengths of light at low intensity to change how cells behave. In dry eye care that means warming and softening the thickened oil trapped inside the meibomian glands while simultaneously reducing the inflammation that caused the blockage.
Treatment is delivered through a soft mask worn over closed eyes. There is no heat discomfort, no bright light exposure, and nothing touching the eye surface itself. Patients frequently describe the session as relaxing.
Because it is so well tolerated, low level light therapy is an excellent option for patients who are not candidates for intense pulsed light, including those with deeper skin tones or photosensitivity.
Where light therapy fits in your dry eye plan
Low level light therapy is most effective as part of a layered protocol. Used immediately before meibomian gland expression, it softens hardened oil so the glands clear more completely and with less discomfort. Used alongside an IPL series, it extends the anti inflammatory effect between visits.
A typical starting course runs over several weeks, with the exact number of sessions determined by gland imaging performed at your dry eye evaluation. Our Firefly slit lamp with meibography lets us photograph the glands directly, so progress is measured rather than assumed.
Sessions last fifteen minutes, require no preparation, and carry no downtime whatsoever.
Light therapy softens blocked meibomian oil and calms lid inflammation in a painless fifteen minute session with no downtime.
