Augmented Intense Pulse Light therapy may improve Meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye disease

Sandy Zhang-Nunes and colleagues discovered that intense pulsed light (IPL) has shown great potential in the treatment of refractory Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) dry eye disease in a new research. This innovative IPL/ BroadBand Light (BBL™)/ strategy appears to be both safe and effective in the treatment of dry eye and blepharitis. The findings of this study were published in the journal of Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery.

DED, which is frequently coupled with MGD, can cause severe morbidity and accounts for $3.54 billion in health-care costs in the United States each year. With some effectiveness, IPL has been used to treat MGD DED. BBL therapy, which uses high-quality IPL equipment, has a lot of promise for reducing inflammation and redness in rosacea, as well as hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure.

The purpose of this research was to determine the safety and efficacy of an enhanced BroadBand Light (BBLTM) treatment on the upper and lower eyelids in treating Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and/or dry eye illness (DED). A retrospective medical chart analysis was conducted for MGD DED and/or hyperpigmentation patients who had BBL treatment between January 1, 2015, and February 28, 2020, for this research. Patients who had at least one BBL therapy were eligible for inclusion. The upper and lower eyelids, as well as the cheekbones, nose, and face, were all treated. Each MGD DED patient completed the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and performed normal clinical tests before and after therapy.

The results were as follow:

1. Treatment was administered to 47 individuals with no noticeable side effects; all patients with MGD DED reported improvement in their dry eye or blepharitis.

2. BBL has been proven to be a safe and effective therapy. Visual acuity remained same, while OSDI ratings improved.

3. There was one case of minor corneal/conjunctival abrasion, one case of transitory hyperpigmentation, and two cases of temporary eyelash thinning.

4. After BBL therapy, patients with MGD saw considerable improvement in blepharitis and decreased hordeolum frequency.

5. BBL therapy, as shown here, showed considerable improvement for patients who remained symptomatic despite treatment with numerous different modalities for a lengthy period of time, demonstrating the enormous potential for this technique to treat even the most resistant MGD DED.

In conclusion, According to research, treating both the upper and lower eyelids can be not only safer but also more successful if meticulous procedures for eye and eyelash protection and adaptors for the eyelids are developed. This study looked at the safety and efficacy of a high-grade IPL system, BBL, on the upper and lower eyelids as well as the face, and they came up with a unique protocol for dry eye and blepharitis therapy that is both safe and enhances the quality of life for many patients.

Reference:

Zhang-Nunes, S., Guo, S., Lee, D., Chang, J., & Nguyen, A. (2021). Safety and Efficacy of an Augmented Intense Pulse Light Protocol for Dry Eye Syndrome and Blepharitis. In Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery (Vol. 39, Issue 3, pp. 178–184). Mary Ann Liebert Inc. https://doi.org/10.1089/photob.2020.4913