<p>Combined low level light therapy and intense pulsed light therapy for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction</p>

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the effects of combined intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) and low-level light therapy (LLLT) on clinical measures of dry eye related to severe meibomian gland disease (MGD) in subjects unresponsive to previous medical management. Patients and Methods This was a retrospective chart review of patients treated by 4 physicians at 3 centers. All patients were documented treatment failures with traditional pharmaceutical therapy. They all had their MGD evaluated before treatment using a grading scale (0–4), tear breakup time in seconds and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. To be included, all patients had to have had a short course of adjunct pharmaceutical or device-related therapy, along with a combined IPL/LLLT treatment. As well, a second MGD evaluation with the same three measures had to have been conducted 1–3 months post treatment. Results A total of 460 eyes of 230 patients were identified for inclusion in the data set. Mean OSDI scores were significantly lower after treatment; 70.4% of patients had pretreatment OSDI scores indicative of dry eye; this dropped to 29.1% of patients after treatment. A 1-step or greater reduction in MGD grading was observed in 70% of eyes, with 28% of eyes having a 2-step or greater reduction. Tear breakup time was ≤6 seconds in 86.7% of eyes pretreatment, dropping to 33.9% of eyes after treatment. There were no ocular or facial adverse events or side effects related to the combined light treatment. Conclusion The use of combined IPL/LLLT for the treatment of severe MGD appears to be beneficial in patients who have failed topical and/or systemic therapy.

Effects of Low-level Light Therapy at 740 nm on Dry Eye Disease In Vivo

“…LLLT is one of the known methods to treat DED with no side effects reported so far, and so this study aimed to confirm the effects of LLLT in vivo on DED mouse model. 24 Most commonly used criteria in diagnosing DED are the measurements of tear volume, corneal surface irregularities, and corneal fluorescein scores. These can be used not only in diagnosing DED, but also in assessing the condition of patients.…”

Low Level Light Therapy as an Adjunct Treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

“…LLLT has been studied in the past by the authors in a previous large case series, but it was administered in combination with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy, and a single treatment was provided to the majority of patients. The IPL used in that study did not require use of a gel, as most IPL systems do, due to the energies involved [18].…”

“…Patient scores from the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire were used to assess subjective symptoms related to dry eye [17]. In addition, an MGD grading scale was used to indicate the quality and quantity of meibum that could be expressed; this scale has been described in a previous publication [18]. The TBUT (in seconds) was also recorded, LG -central Pre 34 10 3 1 2 Post 40 4 2 4 LG -temporal LG grading was evaluated by location.…”

Entzündung beim Trockenen Auge – Informationen zu Diagnostik und Therapie durch Nutzung der wissenschaftlichen Online-Informationsplattform OSCB-Berlin.org

“…Sinnvoll in diesem Stadium kann auch eine apparative automatisierte physikalische Lidtherapie (LipiFlow, Fa. TearScience Inc., Morrisville, NC, USA, Johnson&Johnson Vision, Neuss) sein oder eine Lichttherapie mit Starklicht (Intense Pulsed Light, IPL) [40] oder eine Low-Level-Light-Therapie (LLLT) [41].…”