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Intense Pulsed Light for Meibomian Gland Disease: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology 2020 Sep;127(9):1227-1233

Date

04/25/2020

Pubmed ID

32327256

DOI

10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.03.009

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85083433266 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   40 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To review the literature on the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) on the eyelids in the management of meibomian gland disease (MGD) and meibomian gland-related ocular surface disease.

METHODS: A literature search was last conducted on May 15, 2019, in the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases for English-language original research that assessed the effect of IPL on MGD in adult patients. Thirty-three articles were identified, and 12 studies were determined to be relevant to the criteria outlined for assessment. The panel methodologist (V.K.A.) assigned a level of evidence rating to each study; 4 studies were rated level II, and 8 studies were rated level III. Five studies had potential conflicts of interest and design limitations that affected interpretation of results.

RESULTS: All studies documented improvement in clinically meaningful metrics, including tear breakup time (TBUT), corneal staining and eyelid margin measurements, meibum quality, meibomian gland expressability, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and standard patient evaluation of eye dryness (SPEED) questionnaire scores. Side effects were relatively uncommon but included discomfort, cutaneous erythema, blistering, eyelash loss, and floaters; these were uniformly self-limited.

CONCLUSIONS: Although methodological limitations and potential conflicts of interest in some studies raised concern, the existing body of literature demonstrates improvements in the signs and symptoms of MGD after IPL therapy.

Author List

Wladis EJ, Aakalu VK, Foster JA, Freitag SK, Sobel RK, Tao JP, Yen MT

Author

Vinay Kumar Aakalu MPH, MD Chair, Professor in the Ophthalmology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Academies and Institutes
Dry Eye Syndromes
Female
Humans
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy
Male
Ophthalmology
Tears
Technology Assessment, Biomedical
Treatment Outcome
United States