DELIT for Dry Eye

How does dry eye light impulse therapy work?

DELIT uses a two-step process to improve the function of your eyelid's oil-producing glands (called Meibomian glands) which are essential to keeping your eyes well-lubricated. It is believed that Meibomian gland dysfunction is the primary cause of dry eye syndrome.

When intense pulsed light is applied around the eyelids, its absorbed by tiny abnormal blood vessels, causing them to coagulate and collapse. Because these vessels secrete inflammatory agents, by eliminating them we reduce swelling in the eyelids that can block special oil-producing Meibomian glands in your eyelids. This light therapy also inhibits bacterial growth which is another culprit in clogged oil glands.

After treatment with light therapy, the second step of the process involves manual massage of the glands to squeeze out oil and debris that's clogging them up. The net result is that the oil glands starting flowing again and increase the oil content of your tear supply. This, in turn, slows down tear evaporation, making your eyes feel less dry and irritated.

What happens during a DELIT procedure?

• An eye shield is taped over your eyes to protect them from the visible white light coming from the IPL handpiece.
• Cooling gel is applied to the postage-stamp-sized surface of the handpiece which is then placed gently on your skin and flashed. You'll feel a mild snapping sensation as you perceive a bright white light through your eye shield.
• The doctor then moves the handpiece slightly to the side and repeats the cycle of gel application and flashing as the handpiece is moved inch by inch across your lower eyelids and face.
• After your initial round, light therapy is applied to the entire treatment area a second time. The intense pulsed light therapy takes about 10 minutes in total.
• Once your light therapy is complete, the cooling gel is gently wiped off your face and your eye shields are removed.
• Next, anesthetic eye drops are placed in your eyes for your comfort and the doctor uses a sterile cotton swab to massage your upper and lower eyelids, squeezing out the thickened oil and debris that´s clogging your oil glands. This process is called Meibomian gland expression.

Does DELIT Hurt?

Most patients describe some mild discomfort associated with the squeezing of their eyelids, but they're so pleased with the improvement in their dry eye symptoms, that they feel the discomfort experienced is well worth it!

What can I expect after a DELIT session?

Once your anesthetic eye drops wear off, you should feel comfortable and your visual clarity will not be affected by DELIT treatment. There is virtually no downtime following a DELIT treatment. After several sessions, you should notice a significant improvement in your dry eye symptoms.

Does DELIT have negative side effects?

During clinical testing, most people tolerated DELIT treatments quite well. Negative side effects were mild, with only 13% of patients experiencing mild redness and swelling that resolved within a couple of days.2

How often does DELIT therapy need to be done?

We´ve had good results in our dry eye patients when they've undergone one treatment every month for 4 months and follow-up with maintenance treatments every six months.

Will my insurance cover DELIT therapy?

You should know that DELIT therapy is not covered by most vision insurances and it may not be appropriate for patients with certain skin types. If you’re looking forward to freedom from dry, burning eyes, and difficult to explain blurry vision, contact the Assil Gaur Eye Institute today!

Why AGEI is your best choice in dry eye treatment

AGEI offers a new treatment for dry eyes that has had great success in improving the quality of life of our patients. DELIT Dry Eye Light Impulse Therapy was developed by a former colleague of AGEI, Dr. Roland Toyos, adapting technology originally developed to treat rosacea and acne. Dr. Toyos found that 93% of dry eye patients treated with the DELIT protocol reported being satisfied with the improvement of their symptoms.

Assil Gaur Eye Institute was the first eye care practice west of the Mississippi to offer DELIT for the treatment of dry eye.

Sources:
Intense Pulsed Light Treatment for Dry Eye Disease Due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction; A 3-Year Retrospective Study. Rolando Toyos, MD, William McGill, Ph.D., and Dustin Briscoe, OD. Photomed Laser Surg. 2015 Jan1; 33(1): 41-46.