Dry Eye Treatment
Burning eyes, a cause that can be treated.
Burning, grittiness, tearing that comes and goes, screens that grow harder by the hour. Dry eye is not a nuisance to put up with: it is a disease of the ocular surface, and today it is treated at the cause, not just with drops.
The dry eye centre at Palazzo Manzoni in Brescia combines dedicated ocular-surface diagnostics with the three reference technologies for treating meibomian gland dysfunction: photobiomodulation (LLLT), intense pulsed light (IPL) and LipiFlow.
3 technologies
LLLT, IPL and LipiFlow
86%
of cases originate in the meibomian glands
20 minutes
the typical length of an outpatient session
No scalpel
painless treatments: no drugs, no hospital stay
The Symptoms
You know that feeling at the end of the day.
The burning that grows with the hours. The feeling of sand under your eyelids. Eyes that redden in front of a screen, contact lenses that become unbearable, sudden watering in the wind: because a dry eye, paradoxically, can also water too much.
If this sounds familiar, it is not “tiredness” and it is not inevitable: it is a condition with a name, a mechanism and a therapy. And lubricating drops, on their own, often soothe the symptom without touching the cause.
At Palazzo Manzoni the first step is understanding which kind of dry eye yours is: that is where a treatment that actually works begins.
Why Here
First the cause, then the right therapy for your eyes
In most cases dry eye is evaporative: the meibomian glands, which produce the oily layer of the tear film, become blocked and tears evaporate too quickly. Treating it means reactivating those glands, which is exactly what our technologies do.
The department is led by Dr. Andrea Russo, MD, PhD, whose research on the ocular surface and imaging guides the entire diagnostic and therapeutic pathway. In 2025 he co-authored, with Italy’s leading ocular-surface experts, a review on the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease published in Ophthalmology and Therapy.
01
A diagnosis that looks for the cause
Meibography, tear-film and ocular-surface analysis: before treating, we photograph exactly what is not working.
02
Three technologies under one roof
LLLT, IPL and LipiFlow in the same place: the therapy is chosen on your clinical picture, not on the only device available.
03
Personalised protocols
Single sessions or combined cycles, calibrated on the severity of your condition and re-assessed with objective tests, not by feel.
04
Outpatient care in a historic palazzo
Short, painless sessions in surroundings that feel nothing like a hospital: you return to your day immediately.
Your Path
From burning to comfort, step by step.
Step 01
Book your ocular-surface examination
Call, email, WhatsApp, or book online. No referral needed.
Step 02
The diagnosis
Meibography and tear-film analysis: together we establish which type of dry eye you have and how advanced it is.
Step 03
Your treatment cycle
Outpatient sessions of about 20 minutes with LLLT, IPL or LipiFlow, often combined: painless, with no downtime.
Step 04
Comfort that comes back
The benefit builds over the weeks, session after session. Periodic check-ups and maintenance keep the result over time.
Patient Stories
They had had enough, too
The daily burning, the screens, the abandoned lenses: experiences of people who stopped living with it.
Real experiences from patients who treated their dry eye
I used artificial tears eight times a day, for years. After the pulsed-light cycle I use them occasionally, and my eyes at the end of the day are still mine.
I work ten hours a day at a computer and thought ending the day with burning eyes was normal. It wasn’t.
I had given up on contact lenses. After LipiFlow I wear them again, and above all, I finally understood what I had.
Who Leads the Department
Dr. Andrea Russo
Ophthalmologist. Founder of Palazzo Manzoni. Specialist in laser refractive surgery, ICL and cataract surgery.
International surgical training
including Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
International scientific research
collaborates and conducts research with the world’s leading scientists and refractive surgeons, 1,200+ peer-reviewed citations
Professional societies
fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery (FWCRS), member of the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS) and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)
Inventor
creator of D-Eye, a smartphone-based retinal imaging device used in clinical practice worldwide
15,000+
procedures performed
“Every pair of eyes tells a different story. Our role is to understand yours fully, explore every option that could improve your vision, and guide you with confidence toward the one that fits your life best.”
The Technologies
Three technologies, one goal: your tear film
No two dry eyes are the same: there is the evaporative kind from blocked glands, the inflammatory kind, the aqueous-deficient kind. That is why the equipment matters.
The three technologies work on different targets and often perform best combined in sequential protocols, built on your clinical picture.
→ Photobiomodulation (LLLT)
With the LM™ LLLT masks of the eye-light® system, a gentle low-level light warms the eyelids from within, stimulates cellular metabolism and softens the blocked secretions: a relaxing session, indicated also in inflammatory pictures.
→ Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
With the OPE™ IPL module of the same platform, calibrated light pulses close the small inflammatory vessels of the eyelid margin and reactivate the meibomian glands: the treatment with the most solid evidence for evaporative dry eye.
→ LipiFlow
The thermal-pulsation treatment that warms the eyelids from the inside at a controlled temperature while gently massaging them, clearing blocked glands in a single 12-minute session.
Your diagnosis will indicate the right combination for you.
The treatment
The eye-light® protocol: what to expect
For photobiomodulation and pulsed light we use the eye-light® system by Espansione Group with the LM™ LLLT masks.
01
Two masks, two targets
The red mask stimulates the metabolism of the cells and of the meibomian glands; the blue mask rebalances the eyelid-margin microbiome in blepharitis, including Demodex-related forms.
02
The typical cycle
3 to 4 sessions about one week apart, each lasting 12 to 17 minutes depending on the condition of the glands. In chronic conditions, maintenance sessions every 6 to 18 months.
03
No anaesthesia, no downtime
No anaesthesia is needed and nothing touches the eye: you can go straight back to your daily activities, driving included.
04
Useful around surgery too
Before and after cataract or refractive surgery, one or two red-mask sessions prepare the ocular surface and manage postoperative dry eye.
The evidence
What the research says
The combination of intense pulsed light and photobiomodulation is among the most studied treatments for evaporative dry eye. A 2024 meta-analysis of 12 studies reports an average reduction of 22.8 points in the OSDI symptom score and an improvement in tear-film stability maintained beyond 6 months after treatment. A 2025 network meta-analysis of 45 randomised trials ranks pulsed-light treatments among the most effective options for symptom relief, and a 2025 study documents its efficacy in Demodex blepharitis resistant to first-line therapy. The overall picture is described in the 2025 review on the causes, diagnosis and care of dry eye disease authored by Prof. Pasquale Aragona together with Italy’s leading ocular-surface experts, including Dr. Andrea Russo, published in Ophthalmology and Therapy. Results vary from person to person: that is why the pathway always starts with a diagnosis.
Common Questions
Common questions about dry eye
Can dry eye heal on its own?
Rarely. Meibomian gland dysfunction is chronic and progressive: blocked glands tend to atrophy over time. Treating it early means preserving the glands that still work, which is why postponing is not a good strategy.
Aren’t eye drops enough?
Artificial tears bring relief and remain useful, but they replace the symptom: they do not treat the cause. If you have been using them several times a day for months, that is the signal that an ocular-surface diagnosis is needed.
How do you establish which type of dry eye I have?
With dedicated, painless tests: meibography (which photographs the meibomian glands), tear-film stability analysis, and an assessment of the eyelid margin and inflammation. One visit is enough for a clear picture.
Are the sessions painful?
No. LLLT is a gentle, relaxing light; IPL feels like mild warm pulses on the skin; LipiFlow like delicate warmth with an eyelid massage. No anaesthesia, no recovery time.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your picture: IPL protocols typically involve 3-4 sessions two to four weeks apart; LipiFlow is often a single session with maintenance over time; LLLT integrates into cycles. The exact plan comes from the diagnosis.
How soon will I feel the results?
Many patients notice the first benefit after one or two sessions; the full result matures over 4-8 weeks, as the glands resume working. The benefit is maintained with check-ups and periodic top-up sessions.
I wear contact lenses: can I be treated?
Yes: and lens intolerance is often the first signal. Treating the cause also improves lens tolerance; at the visit we will assess timing and approach.
Is dry eye related to refractive or cataract surgery?
Yes, in two ways: a healthy ocular surface makes surgical measurements and results more precise, and treating dry eye before surgery is often part of the pathway. If you are considering surgery, this is the right door.
How much does treatment cost?
It depends on the protocol. After the visit and diagnosis you receive a clear, transparent estimate for the whole cycle, with no hidden fees. All cards and major insurance plans are accepted.
Do I need a referral? Where are you?
No referral is needed: you can book directly by phone, email, WhatsApp or online. We are at Via dei Mille 14, in central Brescia, five minutes from the railway station.
How many sessions will I need, and how often?
A typical eye-light® cycle consists of 3 to 4 sessions about one week apart, each lasting 12 to 17 minutes. In chronic conditions, maintenance sessions are scheduled every 6 to 18 months. The exact number depends on the degree of gland obstruction, which we measure during the diagnostic work-up.
Are the sessions painful? Is anaesthesia needed?
No. Photobiomodulation is a relaxing session spent with your eyes closed under a light mask, and pulsed light causes only a sensation of warmth. No anaesthesia is needed, nothing touches the eye, and you can go straight back to your daily activities, driving included.
Is it also useful before cataract or laser surgery?
Yes. A healthy ocular surface improves the accuracy of preoperative measurements and comfort after surgery. Candidates for cataract or refractive surgery typically have one session before the operation and one or two afterwards.
Take the Next Step
Your next step starts
with a conversation
At Palazzo Manzoni in Brescia, every consultation is personal, unhurried, and designed to give you clarity about your next step.
Address
Via dei Mille 14, 25122 Brescia, Italia
Phone
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30-18:30 · Sat 9:00-13:00
01
Get in touch
Call, email, WhatsApp, or book online.
02
Meet your specialist
A personal consultation to understand your situation.
03
Your plan, your pace
Together you decide the best path forward.
Content reviewed by Dr. Alessandro Boldini and Dr. Daniele Marchina, ophthalmologists at the Institute.