A New Option? Intense Pulsed Light as a Treatment for Dry-eye Disease Due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

摘要

Purpose: To determine the clinical benefits of intense-pulsed-light therapy for the treatment of dry-eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction. Methods: A retrospective non-comparative interventional case series was conducted of 91 patients presenting with severe dry eye syndrome (eligibility tear breakup time less than 10 seconds or patient referral). Treatment included intense-pulsed-light therapy and gland expression at a single outpatient clinic over a 30-month study period beginning May 2009. Pre/post tear breakup time data were available for a subset of 78 patients. For all patients, a specially-developed technique for the treatment of dry eye syndrome was applied as a series of monthly treatments until adequate improvement in dry eye syndrome symptoms by physician-judgment or patient-discontinuation.