Long-Term Effect of Intense Pulsed Light Combined with Low-Level Light Therapy in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Authors

  • João Leite Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7071-2228
  • Bruno Barbosa Ribeiro Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8079-9101
  • João Heitor Marques Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal; ICBAS – Instituto de Ciência Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6487-7950
  • Paulo Sousa Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8079-9101
  • Saúl Pires Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal
  • Pedro Menéres Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal; ICBAS – Instituto de Ciência Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1989-3465
  • Irene Barbosa Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Porto, Portugal; ICBAS – Instituto de Ciência Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6053-5339

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48560/rspo.33226

Keywords:

Dry Eye Syndromes, Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, Low-Level Light Therapy, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Meibomian Glands

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: We aim to evaluate the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with low-level light therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
METHODS: A prospective, double-arm and non-randomized study; adult patients with MGD were consecutively assigned to either IPL combined with LLLT (group 1, Eye-Light® + My-Mask® by Expansione Group, Italy) or IPL therapy alone (group 2, E>Eye® by ESW vision, France), with evaluation at baseline and at 1st, 6th, 12th and 18th month after treatment. Outcomes were the variation of the validated Dry Eye Related Questionnaire (OSDI-12) and automated analysis of the ocular surface (IDRA® Ocular Surface Analyzer SBM Sistemi, Italy) such: non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), blink rate (BR), tear meniscus height (TMH), lipid layer thickness (LLT) and loss area of meibomian glands (LAMG); tear osmolarity (Osm) by TearLab® Osmolarity System (Tearlab, San Diego, CA, USA), Schirmer’s test (ST) and slit lamp examination (Oxford score) were also evaluated.
RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (124 eyes) were included: 31 in group 1 and 31 in group 2. Comparing baseline with the 18th month of follow-up, both groups showed a significant improvement in the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI-12) (p<0.001), in LLT (p<0.001) and ST (group 1, p<0.001; group 2, p=0.029). There was a significant improvement in group 1 without improvement in group 2 in BR (p<0.001 vs p=0.618) and in TMH (p=0.040 vs p= 0.701). An increase in group 1 (p<0.001) with a decrease in group 2 (p=0.005) occurred in Osm; a decrease in both groups (group 1, p=0.789; group 2, p=0.133) was observed in NIBUT; no differences in both groups (group 1, p=0.659; group 2, p=0.158) were verified in Oxford score. During the follow-up, 6 eyes (group 1) and 16 eyes (group 2) were referred for retreatment.
CONCLUSION: IPL treatment is an effective and safe therapeutic choice for MGD. Both groups showed benefits in symptoms and automatic measurements even after 18 months. There was a need for earlier re-treatment in group 2, demonstrating the superiority of combined treatment in group 1, with maintenance of therapeutic benefit for a longer period.

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Published

2025-02-11

How to Cite

Leite, J., Barbosa Ribeiro, B., Marques, J. H., Sousa, P., Pires, S., Menéres, P., & Barbosa, I. (2025). Long-Term Effect of Intense Pulsed Light Combined with Low-Level Light Therapy in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Revista Sociedade Portuguesa De Oftalmologia. https://doi.org/10.48560/rspo.33226

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