Intense pulsed light therapy to improve signs and symptoms of contact lens discomfort.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy on signs and symptoms of Contact Lens Discomfort (CLD) in symptomatic contact lens (CL) wearers.

Methods: A prospective, randomised, double masked study was conducted on 36 eyes of 18 CL wearers (IPL: n = 20; sham: n = 16) with a Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire (CLDEQ-8) score ≥ 12. Participants received two IPL/sham treatments at three weeks intervals as per randomization. The sham group underwent simulated light exposure using a torch while the IPL device remained inactive. Meibomian gland expression was performed for both groups after each treatment. Symptom and clinical assessments included CLDEQ-8 questionnaire, non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT), tear film lipid layer thickness (TFLLT), tear meniscus height (TMH), tear volume, meibomian gland secretion score (MGSS), meiboscore (upper/lower eye lids), MG capping, pouting, foam, telangiectasia, hyperaemia (bulbar, limbal, & palpebral), palpebral roughness, corneal staining, and lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF). Assessments were evaluated prior to treatment at baseline (D-0), and then at day 21(D-21), D-42, and D-90.

Results: The IPL group showed a significant reduction in CLDEQ-8 score from 18.1 ± 1.9 at D-0 to 10.7 ± 1.1 at D-42 (p = 0.01), and improved meibomian gland secretion score (MGSS) at D-21 (p = 0.02) and D-42 (p < 0.01), MG capping, and pouting remained improved at D-90 (p < 0.01). MG foam, telangiectasia, bulbar hyperaemia and corneal staining improved significantly at D-42 (p < 0.01), but most changes diminished by D-90. The sham group showed no significant changes. No differences were observed in tear film parameters at any time point.

Conclusion: IPL therapy, effectively reduced symptoms of CLD and improved meibomian gland function, though effect diminished within 69 days after the final treatment, underscoring the need for optimized treatment protocols.