Homeostasis is that perfect balance your body is always trying to reach and maintain to keep the body functioning at its optimal level. Unfortunately, for most people we are not at our optimal homeostatic state. One of the main reasons for this is chronic, uncontrolled inflammation. This affects our joints, back, and is the underlying cause for systemic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Inflammation is the enemy
Your eyes are no exception to being affected by inflammation. The inflammation can reduce tear production, cause your oil glands to become plugged and not secrete the oil film of the tear layer, and even cause your cornea (the clear window of the eye) to degrade an even scar. This will obviously affect vision and increase the discomfort of your eyes.
Abnormal Blood Vessel Growth
In addition, to the symptoms above, chronic low grade inflammation can cause growth of unwanted, abnormal blood vessels or telangiectasias on your cheeks and this can migrate to your eyelids. Patients who experience this will have red cheeks or be prone to a flushed skin appearance. This is exacerbated on rosacea patients who are likely to also have ocular rosacea as well.
Natural light based therapy can help
There are a variety of things we can do to reduce this inflammation, but one of the most effective procedures is intense pulse light therapy or IPL. IPL is a natural, light based therapy that targets these abnormal blood vessels and eliminates them. This has a two-fold benefit in that it 1. Improves one’s cosmetic appearance by reducing the flushed looking skin and 2. Reduces the inflammatory nature of the blood vessels and helps restore the ideal homeostatic state of the eyes. A third benefit of IPL is that it kills unwanted bacteria that may also be an underlying cause of the inflammation of your skin and eyelids.
Customized treatment Options
Now there are a variety of other ways to reduce this inflammation. IPL is just the best and most effective method in my clinical experience. If you are interested in IPL therapy to help maintain and restore the natural homeostasis of your eyes call the office or click here to schedule a dry eye evaluation. We love what we do and enjoy helping our patients find customized solutions for their eye care needs.