Pulsed light therapy in refractory dry eye disease associated with Meibomian gland dysfunction: Effectiveness in symptomatic response

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the effectiveness of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy in improving symptoms in patients with a diagnosis of evaporative dry eye disease secondary to Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) refractory to conventional treatment.

Methods

Pseudo-experimental, analytical, prospective, longitudinal, interventional study. Patients aged 18-74 years with a diagnosis of dry eye disease refractory to conventional dry eye treatment with the presence of DGM were included. A total of 4 IPL sessions were performed at days 0, 15, 45 and 75. At each visit, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) data and 1-10 analog scale were taken as objective evidence of symptomatic status.

Results

Sixty three patients were included, median age was 43 years, 61.5% were female, 42.9% of patients used one conventional treatment for dry eye prior to IPL therapy and 57.1% of patients used two or more treatments. Sixty three patients completed at least one IPL session, 45 had two sessions, 32 had three sessions and 18 had four sessions. After the fourth session symptomatic improvement was 50.8% based on the OSDI scale, and 71.4% based on the analogous symptom scale.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that IPL therapy is effective in symptomatic improvement in patients with MGD diagnosis refractory to conventional treatment, showing that after four sessions in at least 50% of patients both with the OSDI measurement and with the ocular surface symptomatology analog scale.