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Updated: Aug 19, 2025
Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Dry Eye Owing to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Published on: April 1, 2019
Intense Pulse Light Combined With Low-Level Light Therapy in Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review
Antonio Ballesteros-Sánchez1, Beatriz Gargallo-Martínez, María Carmen Sánchez-González
1Department of Ophthalmology (A.B.S., B.G.M), Clínica Novovisión, Murcia, Spain; Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry (B.G.M.), University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain; and Department of Physics of Condensed Matter (J.M.S.G., M.C.S.G.), Optics Area, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
Objectives:
To evaluate the improvement in symptoms and signs associated with intense pulse light (IPL) combined with low-level light therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of dry eye disease (DED).
Methods:
A systematic review of full-length original studies reporting the effects of IPL combined with LLLT for DED in two databases, PubMed and Scopus, was performed according to the PRISMA statement. The quality assessment tool for case series studies from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute was used to analyze the quality of the studies selected.
Results:
The search provided a total of 393 articles, of which six were included. Significant decreases in the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) score, MGD grade, and meiboscore and increases in tear film stability, lipid layer thickness, and loss area of the meibomian gland have been reported. Concerning tear volume, tear meniscus height, and Schirmer test remained unchanged. In relation to tear osmolarity and corneal fluorescein staining, contradictory outcomes were found.
Conclusions:
Intense pulse light combined with LLLT for the treatment of dry eye improves OSDI, tear film stability, and meibomian gland function; thus, this treatment may be recommended for DED patients due to MGD.
