It's an annoying eye condition that impacts more than a quarter of the population. Dry eye forces nearly 23 million people to use drops several times a day, but could light therapy typically used to smooth the skin also stop the burning eye condition? Some patients are going off-label to find relief.

Nancie March hopes a five-minute procedure fixes her 10-year problem: dry eye.

"It's painful. It really gets painful," March said.

"We're seeing more of dry eye for several reasons," said Dr. Joseph Eviatar, medical director of Chelsea Eye and Cosmetic Surgery Associates in New York. "Everything from environmental pollutants to ocular surgeries such as LASIK."

Eviatar is using intense pulsed light therapy, or IPL, to treat dry eye.

"The applicator is just put in along the lid margin," Eviatar explained. "We generally do two passes."

The light acts as a warm compress that unplugs glands, allowing tears to flow. It also reduces the inflammation.

"So unlike just using supplemental drops -- which really doesn't treat the condition, it just helps with the symptoms -- the light therapy actually helps the cause of dry eye," Eviatar said.

In one study of 100 patients who didn't respond to drops or other treatments, all reported some relief from light therapy, and it lasted for four to six months. Doctors say patients typically need four treatments over the course of a year. Each one costs about $250. Susan Tompkin says that's less than she was paying for the drops she used six times a day, which still didn't relieve the problem.

"Like you've just come off the beach and someone kicked sand in your face," Tompkin explained. "That was really the feeling I had. It's scratchy. They burn. They're red."

She's had two light treatments so far.

"I began to certainly feel a difference within a few weeks, and I didn't need to get up every hour to put drops in," Tompkin recalled. She can now sit still and focus.

"I'm making a tunic sweater," Tompkin said.

And finish her cross-stitch without the constant interruption.

"It's nice to do and not have to think about my eyes," Tompkin said.

Doctors say the new therapy works best on people with light skin. After the first four treatments, patients typically need to come in for one session a year for maintenance.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye is a condition in which there are insufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision, according to the American Optometric Association. Dry eye impacts nearly one-quarter of the U.S. population, primarily older adults.

Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of infection, wash away foreign objects in the eye and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear. The most common form of dry eye is due to an inadequate amount of the water layer of tears. This condition is called dry eye syndrome. People may experience irritated, gritty, scratchy or burning eyes, a feeling of something in their eyes, excess watering and blurred vision.

CAUSES: Dry eye is part of the natural aging process. Women are more likely to develop dry eyes due to hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives and menopause. Certain medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications and antidepressants can also reduce the amount of tears produced in the eyes. Exposure to smoke, wind and dry climates can increase tear evaporation resulting in dry eye symptoms. Finally, long term use of contact lenses can be a factor, as well as refractive eye surgeries such as LASIK.

TREATMENT: Traditionally, prescription eye drops or ointments help decrease inflammation around the surface of the eyes. However, for those who don't find relief with drops or who tire of putting drops in their eyes several times a day, there's a new light therapy being used by some doctors. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) can improve symptoms and the meibomian gland's function in the eye. The applicator is applied below the eyelash margin. Bright light acts as a powerful warm compress to liquefy the secretions plugging up the oil-secreting meibomian glands. Additionally, the IPL reduces inflammation. "So unlike just using supplemental drops which really doesn't treat the condition -- it just helps with the symptoms -- the light therapy actually helps the cause of the dry eye," said Eviatar.

IPL is not FDA approved to treat dry eye. It is FDA approved to treat skin problems like rosacea and acne. It is typically reserved for patients with light-colored skin since the intense light can damage darker skin tones.