IPL - eye damage

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hi, I have a question regarding IPL hair removal. My apologies if I’m using the wrong board. I couldn’t see one just for IPL.

I had my first IPL hair removal session today (upper lip and chin). It was done at a clinic by a clinician. She used a Lumenis instrument and 20 Joules.

I’ve got no complaints with the treatment as yet in terms of hair removal efficiency or skin injury but I’m a bit worried about my eyes. I wore protective goggles and kept my eyes closed. I could however still see bright flashes of light, either red or white coloured. I told the clinician this but she said it’s fine. Is this normal? Am I still supposed to see light flashes even when wearing goggles? It wasn’t painful to my eyes and they seem fine now. Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks.

#2

As long as you wore the goggles, you’re fine.

What I would be more concerned about if I were you is whether your hair is coarse and dense enough for these treatments because if it’s not, they can actually make the hair worse instead of eliminate it.

#3

THanks so much LAGirl for your reply. My eyes felt a bit funny yesterday but maybe I was imagining that. Today they are perfectly fine.

My hair is black, extremely course and very dense. It’s like a man’s stubble. A hairy man’s stubble. :frowning:

#4

You should only be using a Yag laser given your skin type. And you should only be treating patches with that coarse dense growth and at good settings.

Read our FAQs at the link below.

#5

I sort of had the same experience with laser done to the lower neck area. And I thought my eyes felt weird later in the day, although they are back to normal.

The fact is that the goggles don’t fit against your face perfectly so I’m sure there is a lot of light that gets through. And of course your retinas are dark so they would absorb the power?

Scary but I guess it’s fine. Should I wear ski goggles to my next appointment? That would be funny. But better safe than sorry?

#6

Maybe it would help to close your eyes during the treatment?

#7

Put some thick cotton over your eyes, under the goggles.

#8

You are fine. It really has to touch your eye to do any damage.