title: Prospective trial of intense pulsed light for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of intense pulsed light (IPL) applied to the periocular area for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in a prospective, double-masked, placebo-controlled, paired-eye study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight participants underwent IPL treatment, with homogeneously sequenced light pulses delivered to one eye and placebo treatment to the partner control eye at 1, 15, and 45 days following baseline (BL) evaluation. Lipid layer grade (LLG), noninvasive tear break-up time (NIBUT), tear evaporation rate (TER), tear meniscus height (TMH), and subjective symptom score using visual analogue scales (VAS) were compared with BL and control values at each visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lipid layer grade improved significantly from BL to Day (D) 45 in the treated eye (P < 0.001), but not the control eye (P = 0.714), with 82% of treated eyes improving by at least one LLG. Noninvasive tear break-up time also improved significantly from BL to D45 in the treated (P < 0.001) but not in the control eye (P = 0.056) and was significantly longer than in the treated eye at D45 (14.1 ± 9.8 seconds versus 8.6 ± 8.2 seconds, P < 0.001). The tear evaporation rate was not different in the treated eye compared with the control eye at any visit. Tear meniscus height did not change from BL in either eye (P > 0.05). Visual analog scale symptom scores improved from BL in the treated (P = 0.015), but not the control eye (P = 0.245), with 86% of participants noting reduced symptoms in the treated eye by D45.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intense pulsed light with multiple sculpted pulses shows therapeutic potential for MGD, improving tear film quality and reducing symptoms of dry eye. ( https://www.anzctr.org.au number, ACTRN12614000162617.).
authors: Ocular Surface Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Jennifer P
authors: JP
authors: Craig
authors: Ocular Surface Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Yen-Heng
authors: YH
authors: Chen
authors: Ocular Surface Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Philip R K
authors: PR
authors: Turnbull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dry eyes; intense pulsed light; meibomian gland dysfunction