Table 5.
Summary of Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of MGD
| Device | Paper | N | Clinical Outcomes That Were Improveda | Adverse Events Related to Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E>Eye | Craig et al 2015. Prospective trial of intense pulsed light for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.62 | 28 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability |
Not reported |
| E>Eye | Piyacomn et al 2020. Efficacy and Safety of Intense Pulsed Light in Patients With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction-A Randomized, Double-Masked, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial.68 | 114 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Quadra4 + loteprednol | Gupta et al 2016. Outcomes of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Treatment of Evaporative Dry Eye Disease.64 | 100 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| IPL Diamond Series Q4 + expression + 1 drop of steroid/NSAID | Toyos et al 2015. Intense pulsed light treatment for dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction; a 3-year Retrospective Study.72 | 91 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability |
Blistering, cheek swelling, conjunctival cyst, floaters, hair loss (brow and forehead), light sensitivity, redness |
| Quadra Q4 + expression + NSAID for 2 days | Vegunta et al 2016. Combination Therapy of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Meibomian Gland Expression (IPL/MGX) Can Improve Dry Eye Symptoms and Meibomian Gland Function in Patients With Refractory Dry Eye.73 | 35 | Improved symptoms Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| E>Eye + expression | Albietz et al 2018. Intense pulsed light treatment and meibomian gland expression for moderate to advanced meibomian gland dysfunction.58 | 26 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Lumenis M22 + expression | Arita et al 2018. Multicenter study of intense pulsed light therapy for patients with refractory meibomian gland dysfunction.60 | 31 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
Not reported |
| Lumenis M22 + expression | Arita et al 2019. Therapeutic efficacy of intense pulsed light in patients with refractory meibomian gland dysfunction.59 | 45 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Lumenis M22 + expression | Choi et al 2019. Meibum Expressibility improvement as a therapeutic target of intense pulsed light treatment in meibomian gland dysfunction and its association with tear inflammatory cytokines.61 | 30 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Lumenis M22 + expression | Dell et al 2017. Prospective evaluation of intense pulsed light and meibomian gland expression efficacy on relieving signs and symptoms of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction.63 | 40 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
Not reported |
| E>Eye | Guilloto et al 2017. Effect of pulsed laser light in patients with dry eye syndrome.80 | 36 | No statistical testing | Redness and light sensitivity |
| E>Eye | Jiang et al 2016. Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of intense pulsed light in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.65 | 40 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| E>Eye | Karaca et al 2018. Intense regulated pulse light for the meibomian gland dysfunction.66 | 26 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Lumenis M22 Optima + expression | Seo et al 2018. Long-term effects of intense pulsed light treatment on the ocular surface in patients with rosacea-associated meibomian gland dysfunction.69 | 17 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Lumenis M22 + ATs | Yin et al 2017. Changes in the meibomian gland after exposure to intense pulsed light in meibomian gland dysfunction.74 | 35 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
Not reported |
| Eye-light (IPL+LLLT) | Solomos et al 2021. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Intense Pulsed Light Therapy in Combination with Low-Level Light Therapy as Rescue Treatment.70 | 11 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Epi-C Plus (IPL+LLLT) | Stonecipher et al 2019. Combined low level light therapy and intense pulsed light therapy for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.71 | 230 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Eye-light + MY MASK-E | Marta et al Intense Pulsed Plus Low-Level Light Therapy in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.67 | 31 | Improved symptoms Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Icon Aesthetic System | Cheng et al Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Ocular Demodex Infestation.75 | 25 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
Not reported |
| Thermaeye Plus | Verges et al Prospective evaluation of a new intense pulsed light, thermaeye plus, in the treatment of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction.78 | 44 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Lumenis M22 alone Lumenis M22 + expression |
Shin et al Intense pulsed light plus meibomian gland expression versus intense pulsed light alone for meibomian gland dysfunction: A randomized crossover study.76 | 72 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
| Lumenis M22 | Tang et al A Retrospective Study of Treatment Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy Combined With Meibomian Gland Expression in Patients With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.77 | 44 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
Not reported |
| Lumenis M22 | Yan et al The Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light Combined With Meibomian Gland Expression for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease Due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.79 | 120 | Improved symptoms Improved tear stability Improved meibomian gland function |
No adverse events |
Notes: aMeibomian gland function = meibum quality, expressibility, lid margins, or meibography, tear stability = invasive or non-invasive tear breakup time, symptoms = as assessed with symptom questionnaires or visual analogue scale.