Specsavers Lower Hutt optometrists Elliott Lee and Georgia Cheng seated demonstrating IPL treatment

Reaching a major rollout milestone, Specsavers is now offering low-level light therapy (LLLT) and intense pulsed light (IPL) in 100 stores across Australia and New Zealand, just 100 days after launching the initiative.

This rapid expansion marks a significant step forward in addressing one of the most common and debilitating eye conditions affecting patients in Australia and New Zealand, said the company.

Jacob Hong, optometrist director at Specsavers Lower Hutt, was one of the first in the franchise to offer advanced dry eye treatment to his patients. The impact has been immediate and meaningful, he said. “It's been so great having advanced dry eye treatment available for our patients. Lots of the people we care for have severe dry eye and the symptoms are uncomfortable – it isn't a good way of living and the treatment makes a real difference.

“Interestingly, we've found that before the first appointment people can be a little sceptical, but after that they love it and they are very happy to come back because of the great difference it has made in their lives. Our optometrists have been really excited to offer patients something extra and to see such great results in patients too,” he said.

With Specsavers Northam in Western Australia being the 100th store to launch the service, Specsavers said it is working through a long list of stores to make advanced dry eye treatment available to even more communities.