The aim of the current study is to examine the contribution of intense pulsed light (IPL) for relieving signs and symptoms of dry eye due to meibomian gland dysfunction. The effect of IPL will be examined in a study designed as a randomized controlled trial. In the study arm, subjects will undergo 4 treatment sessions, consisting of IPL pulses immediately followed by expression of the meibomian glands. In the control arm, subjects will undergo the same treatments, except that the IPL pulses will be disabled. For each subject, the duration of the study will be 10 weeks, as explained in the detailed description,
Outcome measures (tear break-up time, tear film osmolarity, meibomian gland assessment, number of meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion in lower eyelid , meibography, self-assessed symptoms and close up photos of the lid margins) will be measured at baseline. All subjects will receive 4 treatments at 2 weeks intervals. In each treatment session, a subject allocated to the study group will be treated with IPL administered in the malar region, from tragus to tragus including the nose, 2-3 mm below the lower eyelids. Immediately following the IPL administration, the meibomian glands will be manually expressed from both eyelids. Subjects in the control arm will receive exactly the same treatment, except that the IPL administration will be sham. A single follow-up will occur at 10 weeks after the baseline (or 4 weeks after the 4th treatment session). At the follow-up, the changes in the outcome measures will be evaluated, and compared between the two arms. For each subject, the duration of the study will be 10 weeks: 1st treatment at baseline; 2nd treatment at 2 weeks after baseline; 3rd treatment at 4 weeks after baseline; 4th treatment at 6 weeks after baseline; and a single follow-up at 10 weeks after baseline). Statistically significant differences between the two arms will support the study hypothesis that IPL treatment itself provides relief to both signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
24
Intense pulsed light therapy is a non-invasive and non-laser light treatment that is FDA-approved for various conditions in dermatology. Subjects will receive a total of 4 treatments over the course of the study, at intervals of 2 weeks. Each treatment will include applications on 10-15 IPL pulses in the malar region and close to the lower eyelids, followed by meibomian gland expression. Meibomian gland expression will be implemented by squeezing the meibomian glands with the aid of two Q-tips positioned on either side of the meibomian glands, or with a meibomian gland expressor forceps.
Subjects will receive a total of 4 treatments over the course of the study, at intervals of 2 weeks. Each treatment will include a sham application of IPL on 10-15 locations in the malar region and close to the lower eyelids, followed by meibomian gland expression. Meibomian gland expression will be implemented by squeezing the meibomian glands with the aid of two Q-tips positioned on either side of the meibomian glands, or with a meibomian gland expressor forceps.
Shaare Zedek
Jerusalem, Israel
Change of baseline TBUT
Change of Tear break up time in the study eye, from baseline to follow-up
Time frame: 10 weeks
Change from baseline MGA
Change of Meibomian gland secretion score, from baseline to follow-up, in both eyes
Time frame: 10 weeks
Change from baseline OSDI
Change of self-assessed symptoms with the OSDI questionnaire, from baseline to follow-up, in both eyes
Time frame: 10 weeks
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