Intense pulsed light treatments may damage ocular structures

Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011;27(4):263-265.

Intense pulsed light treatments may be harmful to pigmented intraocular structures, a hazard that physicians should combat with appropriate eye protection, a study suggested.

"As IPL is gaining popularity among physicians who use this treatment to address a multitude of problems, it is of utmost importance that the potential risk for permanent ocular damage be known and avoided. ... The fact that IPL is a light device and not a laser may give people a false sense of security regarding damage to the eye," the study authors wrote.

The retrospective chart review evaluated two cases of ocular damage. The first involved a 36-year-old woman who presented with eye pain, pupillary constriction and anterior uveitis 1 hour after intense pulsed light (IPL) to the face. The second dealt with a 27-year-old woman who, 3 days after IPL of an eyelid freckle, had severe eye pain, vision disturbances, pupillary defects and anterior uveitis.

The short time frame between exposure and ocular complications for these two patients suggested a direct causal effect, the study authors said.

For the first patient, damage progressed to posterior synechiae and iris transillumination defects at month 1, and continued pain and severe photophobia have persisted for years. For the second patient, at month 2, iris and pupillary defects remain permanent, in addition to photophobia and pain.