Comparison of Efficacy of Low-Level Light Therapy and Intense Pulsed Light Therapy in Patients with Dry Eyes.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of low-level light therapy (LLLT) and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy in the treatment of patients with dry eyes.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Ophthalmology, The Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from July to December 2022.

Methodology: There were 36 patients with dry eyes assigned to two groups receiving either the LLLT (Equinox >Eye machine) or IPL (E-Eye machine) therapy. They were given three sessions at 0th, 4th, and 6th weeks over a period of 6 weeks and the effects were noted. The parameters evaluated before the first session and two weeks after the last session included the OSDI questionnaire, non-invasive tear film break-up time, and the Meiboscore. Chi-square test (for qualitative variables) and paired sample t-test (for quantitative data variables) were applied, and a p-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. An independent sample t-test was conducted to evaluate the difference in the mean age of patients between the IPL and LLLT groups.

Results: Thirty-five eyes from each group that were treated with IPL or LLLT were included in the analysis. OSDI and Meibomian gland disease (MGD) degree significantly decreased in both groups after treatment (p <0.001). Tear film break-up time increased in both groups after treatment (p <0.001).

Conclusion: IPL and LLLT can be the latest treatment modality in treating Meibomian gland-related dry eye. IPL proved to have a significantly better efficacy compared to LLLT considering the improvement in OSDI, NIBUT, and Meiboscore.

Key Words: Dry eyes, Intense pulse light therapy, Low-level light therapy, Meibomian gland disease, Ocular surface disease, Tear film break-up time.