Specsavers has launched low-level light therapy (LLLT) alongside intense pulsed light (IPL) as part of a major rollout of advanced dry eye treatments that it hopes to have in 100 stores across Australia and New Zealand soon.
Following a successful IPL pilot in a small number of stores, decision-makers within the network are convinced of the impact it can make on patients with dry eye and have given the greenlight to expand the service with a combined IPL and LLLT offering.
The rollout is progressing swiftly, with Specsavers on track to reach 100 stores in 100 days – 80 stores by the time this article is published in early October.
The rollout marks a significant evolution in Specsavers’ clinical model, which aims to improve access to advanced dry eye care for patients experiencing meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and other forms of dry eye disease.
“Dry eye disease is underdiagnosed and undertreated, yet it has a profound impact on people’s lives,” said Dr Ben Ashby, clinical services director ANZ.
“Our goal is to ensure patients don’t just manage symptoms; they get real, lasting relief. In the pilot phase of our rollout, we recognised early that offering two treatment options would allow us to care for a broader range of patients more effectively, so we committed to rolling out both IPL and LLLT together.”
IPL has long been recognised for its ability to treat MGD by delivering controlled pulses of light that alter meibum consistency, assist with clearing gland blockages and reduce inflammation.
However, LLLT offers a distinct therapeutic mechanism. Using low-energy LED light, it stimulates cellular activity and promotes tissue repair independently of heat.
“LLLT gives us a way to treat patients who aren’t suitable for IPL, such as those with darker skin tones or aqueous-deficient dry eye,” Dr Ashby said. “It’s a gentle, regenerative therapy that works at the cellular level, and it’s proving to be a powerful complement to IPL.”
Specsavers has adopted the Eye-light device by Espansione, which delivers both IPL and LLLT treatments in a single machine. This enables clinicians to tailor therapy to individual patient needs.
Dr Ashby said that by having both IPL and LLLT available, optometrists were able to develop dry eye management plans using both therapies to maximise their impact.
“Treatment plans are very much personalised to the patient and their clinical requirements, but in many cases, we’ve noticed that optometrists have been recommending a combination of both IPL and LLLT to address a patient’s dry eye.”
Each treatment course involves four applications and is designed to be safe, effective, and accessible. In Australia, already more than 4,200 IPL and LLLT treatments have been delivered to nearly 1,400 Specsavers patients.
Specsavers uses a Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaire to assess dry eye severity and treatment outcomes and has found that after four advanced dry eye treatments, 90% of patients are noticing symptom improvement.
“The SANDE questionnaire captures two key dimensions of patient experience – how often symptoms occur and how intense they feel. It uses a simple visual analogue scale and patients mark their responses along two lines, one for frequency and one for severity, allowing clinicians to quantify subjective discomfort in a way that’s both efficient, meaningful and measurable.
“Dry eye is a deeply personal condition and when a patient’s score drops significantly after treatment, it’s not just a number, it’s someone who can now read a book or drive without discomfort.”
It appears this patient impact is the driving force behind the fast-moving rollout across Specsavers practices.
“We have wanted to improve access to dry eye therapies for many years and have been working on a solution that would work for our patients in our store environment,” said Dr Ashby.
“We are very happy with where we’ve landed and it’s incredibly encouraging to see the impact it’s had both on our patients and on the teams that are looking after them. So much so that our store partners have been doing all they can to be next in the rollout line to have the service made available to their patients.
“We’ve seen patients regain comfort, clarity, and confidence. We are constantly hearing stories of people who can now read, work, or simply enjoy their day without the constant irritation of dry eyes or the constant use of drops.
“On top of that, our optometrists have said the impact that they can have on patients by offering advanced dry eye therapies is incredibly rewarding. The other team members in our stores have also enjoyed learning more about the service and the impact it can have on patients. This kind of all-round impact reinforces why we’re scaling this service so quickly.”
The company said the pace of deployment reflected “both clinical demand and operational readiness” and was being supported by training involving both practical and theoretical aspects for optometrists and other team members.
The service is embedded into Specsavers’ broader clinical model, with treatment pathways clearly defined, and pricing designed to be transparent and affordable.
“This is just the beginning,” said Dr Ashby. “By integrating advanced dry eye treatment therapies into our practice network, Specsavers is setting a new benchmark for patients and optometrists. We’re committed to making advanced dry eye treatments available across ANZ and changing thousands of lives through better sight.”
