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IPL Instructions

Your Pre-Treatment and Post-Treatment Instructions for your IPL (Intense Pulse Light) Treatments

Download Pre-Treatment Instructions
Download Post-Treatment Instructions

Patient Instructions

Pre-Treatment

The primary reason for your treatment is the improvement of Dry Eye signs and symptoms. You must know that IPL is also used for and has been shown to reduce the appearance of red and brown spots on the skin from rosacea and unwanted age spots for example. The only intention of your treatment is the improvement of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease, ocular surface disease, and Meibomian gland dysfunction.

Patients should be aware of the following prior to performing the IPL procedure:

  • Results are not guaranteed
  • Not all red and brown areas will disappear
  • Red and brown spots removed by treatment may recur, especially with excessive sun exposure.
  • Deep wrinkle lines will not be removed by the treatment.
  • Adverse effects may include redness, swelling, burning, pain, crust formation, bruising, hyper-and hypo pigmentation, and scar information.
  • Multiple treatment sessions (minimum of 4 consecutive separated by 2 to 3 weeks) are required for optimal results.
  • Maintenance dry eye treatment will be reviewed with each patient individually.

Pretreatment Patient instructions

  • Do not take isotretinoin (Accutane) for 1 month before treatment.
  • If you are tanned or have been tanning, please reschedule your appointment with the advice and direction of your doctor
  • Do not apply makeup or lotions on your face the day of treatment, or be prepared to remove them to completion at our office
  • If you have a history of cold sores, take your prescribed medications (Valtrex, Famvir, Zovirax) on the day before, day of and the day after treatment. Let our doctors know prior to arrival.
  • Inform our staff before each appointment if you (1) are taking new medications or (2) have tattoos or beauty marks you do not want to be altered.
  • Inform the staff immediately if the area being treated feels “too hot”

Post-Treatment

Immediately after treatment patients may notice slight redness on their eyes, eyelids, and face. This may last anywhere from several hours to three days. Patients will be given individualized eye and eyelid regimens to improve outcomes and minimize any unintended discomfort. Dryness and grittiness may be worse with in the first 1-3 treatments and especially within the first couple of days of treatment due to evacuation of diseased oil.

 

Pigmented areas on the skin may also appear darker. Superficial pigment may darken, dry and slough off within seven to ten days. Deeper pigment darkens, and then slowly fades as the body absorbs the remnants of damaged pigment. In addition to discussing expected post treatment sequelae, patients are given the following instructions:

 

  • Apply sunscreen everyday (30 SPF or greater)
  • If the treated area is red and irritated after treatment you may apply an ice pack or cold compresses
  • In caring for the treated area, use only gentle cleansers and lotions until healing is complete. Avoid perfumes and products with alcohol or acid.
  • If a blister develops, notify the office immediately for directions on how to safely manage this. Do not pick the blister or scab because a scar may form.
  • Call our office if any additional problems, questions, or concerns arise.

Downloadable Instructions

Download Pre-Treatment Instructions
Download Post-Treatment Instructions

Patient Testimonials

ecnoco-review-1
If you have a baby with eye problems, this is the place to go and Dr. Patrick Arnold is the man to see. Our nine-month-old son has exotropia and today he had the surgery to help fix it. Everything went as perfectly as any parent sending their baby into surgery could possibly hope for. I’m mostly writing this review as a thank you to the nurses we worked with when we were in there.
Ashlie S.
Pediatrics Eye Care
ecnoco-review-2
I do a lot of outdoor activities in Colorado and with the dry air, my contact lenses were almost unbearable at times. That led me to looking in having LASIK surgery. The process was smooth and convenient. Now I can enjoy my activities with clear vision and pain free.
Dr. David Sehr
LASIK Surgery
ecnoco-review-3
Dr. Arnold has been our saving grace with our son. We were referred to him by our eye doctor in Cheyenne, WY when we could get to the bottom of why my son’s eye wasn’t healing from what we thought were scratches. He has taken such great care of our son. He is so patient and makes the young patients and their parents feel as ease. So thankful for him.
Jason R.
Pediatrics Eye Care
ecnoco-review-6
As a radiologist, my career depends on my vision. I had always wanted to rid myself of my glasses but was hesitant to take the plunge. After several of my partners had the procedure done and reported great results, I had my LASIK done with Dr. Robinson. After wearing glasses for 35 years, it is wonderful to be able to see the world without them.
Bruce Berkowitz, MD
LASIK Surgery

Eye Center of Northern Colorado is a full-service eye care provider with optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians on staff. We are dedicated to supporting your vision goals and increasing access to specialty eye care.

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