Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Radiofrequency, Intense Pulsed Light, and Combined Therapy for Meibomian Gland...

To evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF), intense pulsed light (IPL), and combined RF+IPL therapy in patients with dry eye disease (DED) associated with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), using real-world data from a high-volume ophthalmic clinic.

This retrospective cohort study included 286 adult patients diagnosed with MGD-related DED who received treatment between August 2022 and August 2024. Patients were divided into three groups based on the treatment modality administered: RF alone, IPL alone, or combined RF+IPL. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire, tear break-up time (TBUT), and Meibomian gland score (MGS), measured before intervention (baseline), 1 month and 3 months post-treatment. Statistical comparisons were performed within and between groups to assess treatment efficacy.

All treatment groups showed statistically significant improvements from baseline to 4 weeks in OSDI, SPEED, TBUT, and MGS scores (p < 0.001). MGS improved within all groups, although the group-by-time interaction did not reach statistical significance. In the combined RF+IPL group, OSDI decreased from 22.70 to 3.61, SPEED from 18.17 to 5.25, TBUT increased from 7.29 to 11.54 seconds, and MGS from 25.00 to 29.63. Improvements were greatest in the combined group across most outcome domains. No serious adverse events occurred.

Energy-based therapies represent an effective, non-invasive approach for managing MGD-related DED. The combined RF+IPL treatment demonstrated superior outcomes across most clinical domains compared to monotherapies, including the greatest improvement in gland function. These findings support its integration into routine clinical dry eye care and underscore the value of personalized, technology‑driven treatment approaches in modern ophthalmology.