Name: intense pulsed light for the treatment of dry eye owing to meibomian gland dysfunction
Uploaded: 2019-04-01T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Dry Eye Owing to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction at JoVE.com

The authors have no acknowledgements to declare.

All participants were provided both verbal and written informed consent before any study procedure. The protocol of the study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the local Institutional Review Board.
1. Automated Ocular Surface Workup
<ol>
	<li>Noninvasive break-up time (BUT) and lipid layer thickness (LLT) evaluation
	<ol>
		<li>&#34;Install the &#34;I.C.P.&#34; program by SBM Sistemi on the computer connected to the device.</li>
		<li>Apply the de...

<ol>
	<li>Schaumberg, D. A., Dana, R., Buring, J. E., Sullivan, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prevalence+of+dry+eye+disease+among+US+men:+estimates+from+the+Physicians'+Health+Studies.">Prevalence of dry eye disease among US men: estimates from the Physicians' Health Studies.</a> Arch Ophthalmol. 127 (6), 763-768 (2009).</li><li>Craig, J. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TFOS+DEWS+II+Definition+and+Classification+Report.">TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report.</a> Ocul Surf. 15 (3), 276-283 (2017).</li><li>Buchholz, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Utility+assessment+to+measure+the+impact+of+dry+eye+disease.">Utility assessment to measure the impact of dry eye disease.</a> Ocul Surf. 4 (3), 155-161 (2006).</li><li>Uchino, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dry+eye+disease+and+work+productivity+loss+in+visual+display+users:+the+Osaka+study.">Dry eye disease and work productivity loss in visual display users: the Osaka study.</a> Am J Ophthalmol. 157 (2), 294-300 (2014).</li><li>Schaumberg, D. A., Nichols, J. J., Papas, E. B., Tong, L., Uchino, M., Nichols, K. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+international+workshop+on+meibomian+gland+dysfunction:+report+of+the+subcommittee+on+the+epidemiology+of,+and+associated+risk+factors+for,+MGD.">The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the subcommittee on the epidemiology of, and associated risk factors for, MGD.</a> Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 52 (4), 1994-2005 (1994).</li><li>Baudouin, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Revisiting+the+vicious+circle+of+dry+eye+disease:+a+focus+on+the+pathophysiology+of+meibomian+gland+dysfunction.">Revisiting the vicious circle of dry eye disease: a focus on the pathophysiology of meibomian gland dysfunction.</a> Br J Ophthalmol. 100 (3), 300-306 (2016).</li><li>Knop, E., Knop, N., Millar, T., Obata, H., Sullivan, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+international+workshop+on+meibomian+gland+dysfunction:+report+of+the+subcommittee+on+anatomy,+physiology,+and+pathophysiology+of+the+meibomian+gland.">The international workshop on meibomian gland dysfunction: report of the subcommittee on anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the meibomian gland.</a> Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 52 (4), 1938-1978 (1938).</li><li>Bron, A. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TFOS+DEWS+II+pathophysiology+report.">TFOS DEWS II pathophysiology report.</a> Ocul Surf. 15 (3), 438-510 (2017).</li><li>Qiao, J., Yan, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Emerging+treatment+options+for+meibomian+gland+dysfunction.">Emerging treatment options for meibomian gland dysfunction.</a> Clin Ophthalmol. 7, 1797-1803 (2013).</li><li>Papageorgiou, P., Clayton, W., Norwood, S., Chopra, S., Rustin, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Treatment+of+rosacea+with+intense+pulsed+light:+significant+improvement+and+long-lasting+results.">Treatment of rosacea with intense pulsed light: significant improvement and long-lasting results.</a> Br J Dermatol. 159 (3), 628-632 (2008).</li><li>Toyos, R., McGill, W., Briscoe, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intense+pulsed+light+treatment+for+dry+eye+disease+due+to+meibomian+gland+dysfunction;+a+3-year+retrospective+study.">Intense pulsed light treatment for dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction; a 3-year retrospective study.</a> Photomed Laser Surg. 33 (1), 41-46 (2015).</li><li>Vora, G. K., Gupta, P. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intense+pulsed+light+therapy+for+the+treatment+of+evaporative+dry+eye+disease.">Intense pulsed light therapy for the treatment of evaporative dry eye disease.</a> Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 26 (4), 314-318 (2015).</li><li>Liu, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+Cytokine+Levels+in+Tears+and+Clinical+Correlations+After+Intense+Pulsed+Light+Treating+Meibomian+Gland+Dysfunction.">Analysis of Cytokine Levels in Tears and Clinical Correlations After Intense Pulsed Light Treating Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.</a> Am J Ophthalmol. 183, 81-90 (2017).</li><li>Goldberg, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Current+Trends+in+Intense+Pulsed+Light.">Current Trends in Intense Pulsed Light.</a> J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 5 (6), 45-53 (2012).</li><li>Dell, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intense+pulsed+light+for+evaporative+dry+eye+disease.">Intense pulsed light for evaporative dry eye disease.</a> Clin Ophthalmol. 11, 1167-1173 (2017).</li><li>Pult, H., Riede-Pult, B. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Non-contact+meibography:+keep+it+simple+but+effective.">Non-contact meibography: keep it simple but effective.</a> Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 35 (2), 77-80 (2012).</li><li>Fitzpatrick, T. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+validity+and+practicality+of+sun-reactive+skin+types+I+through+VI.">The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI.</a> Arch Dermatol. 124 (6), 869-871 (1988).</li><li>Raulin, C., Greve, B., Grema, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=IPL+technology:+a+review.">IPL technology: a review.</a> Lasers Surg Med. 32 (2), 78-87 (2003).</li><li>Toyos, R., Buffa, C. M., Youngerman, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Case+report:+Dry-eye+symptoms+improve+with+intense+pulsed+light+treatment.">Case report: Dry-eye symptoms improve with intense pulsed light treatment.</a> Eye World News Magazine. , (2005).</li><li>Jiang, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+the+Safety+and+Effectiveness+of+Intense+Pulsed+Light+in+the+Treatment+of+Meibomian+Gland+Dysfunction.">Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Intense Pulsed Light in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.</a> J Ophthalmol. , (2016).</li><li>Albietz, J. M., Schmid, K. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intense+pulsed+light+treatment+and+meibomian+gland+expression+for+moderate+to+advanced+meibomian+gland+dysfunction.">Intense pulsed light treatment and meibomian gland expression for moderate to advanced meibomian gland dysfunction.</a> Clin Exp Optom. 101 (1), 23-33 (2018).</li><li>Gupta, P. K., Vora, G. K., Matossian, C., Kim, M., Stinnett, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Outcomes+of+intense+pulsed+light+therapy+for+treatment+of+evaporative+dry+eye+disease.">Outcomes of intense pulsed light therapy for treatment of evaporative dry eye disease.</a> Can J Ophthalmol. 51 (4), 249-253 (2016).</li><li>Dell, S. J., Gaster, R. N., Barbarino, S. C., Cunningham, D. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prospective+evaluation+of+intense+pulsed+light+and+meibomian+gland+expression+efficacy+on+relieving+signs+and+symptoms+of+dry+eye+disease+due+to+meibomian+gland+dysfunction.">Prospective evaluation of intense pulsed light and meibomian gland expression efficacy on relieving signs and symptoms of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction.</a> Clin Ophthalmol. 11, 817-827 (2017).</li><li>Vegunta, S., Patel, D., Shen, J. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Combination+Therapy+of+Intense+Pulsed+Light+Therapy+and+Meibomian+Gland+Expression+(IPL/MGX)+Can+Improve+Dry+Eye+Symptoms+and+Meibomian+Gland+Function+in+Patients+With+Refractory+Dry+Eye:+A+Retrospective+Analysis.">Combination Therapy of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Meibomian Gland Expression (IPL/MGX) Can Improve Dry Eye Symptoms and Meibomian Gland Function in Patients With Refractory Dry Eye: A Retrospective Analysis.</a> Cornea. 35 (3), 318-322 (2016).</li><li>Roy, N. S., Wei, Y., Kuklinski, E., Asbell, P. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+Growing+Need+for+Validated+Biomarkers+and+Endpoints+for+Dry+Eye+Clinical+Research.">The Growing Need for Validated Biomarkers and Endpoints for Dry Eye Clinical Research.</a> Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 58 (6), BIO1-BIO19 (2016).</li><li>Giannaccare, G., Vigo, L., Pellegrini, M., Sebastiani, S., Carones, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ocular+Surface+Workup+With+Automated+Noninvasive+Measurements+for+the+Diagnosis+of+Meibomian+Gland+Dysfunction.">Ocular Surface Workup With Automated Noninvasive Measurements for the Diagnosis of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.</a> Cornea. , (2018).</li><li>Craig, J. P., Chen, Y. H., Turnbull, P. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prospective+trial+of+intense+pulsed+light+for+the+treatment+of+meibomian+gland+dysfunction.">Prospective trial of intense pulsed light for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.</a> Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 56 (3), 1965-1970 (1965).</li><li>Meadows, J. F., Ramamoorthy, P., Nichols, J. J., Nichols, K. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+the+4-3-2-1+meibum+expressibility+scale.">Development of the 4-3-2-1 meibum expressibility scale.</a> Eye Contact Lens. 38 (2), 86-92 (2012).</li><li>Finis, D., Hayajneh, J., K&#246;nig, C., Borrelli, M., Schrader, S., Geerling, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+an+automated+thermodynamic+treatment+(LipiFlow&#174;)+system+for+meibomian+gland+dysfunction:+a+prospective,+randomized,+observer-masked+trial.">Evaluation of an automated thermodynamic treatment (LipiFlow&#174;) system for meibomian gland dysfunction: a prospective, randomized, observer-masked trial.</a> Ocul Surf. 12 (2), 146-154 (2014).</li><li>Yin, Y., Liu, N., Gong, L., Song, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Changes+in+the+Meibomian+Gland+After+Exposure+to+Intense+Pulsed+Light+in+Meibomian+Gland+Dysfunction+(MGD)+Patients.">Changes in the Meibomian Gland After Exposure to Intense Pulsed Light in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) Patients.</a> Curr Eye Res. 43 (3), 308-313 (2018).</li><li>Guilloto Caballero, S., Garc&#237;a Madrona, J. L., Colmenero Reina, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+pulsed+laser+light+in+patients+with+dry+eye+syndrome.">Effect of pulsed laser light in patients with dry eye syndrome.</a> Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 92 (11), 509-515 (2017).</li></ol>

Intense pulsed light devices employ xenon gas-filled flash lamps to produce non-laser high intensity pulses of polychromatic non-coherent lights in a broad wavelength spectrum, from visible (515 nm) to infrared (1200 nm)18. The light energy pulse is released by the head of the handpiece by means of a sapphire or quartz block, and so directly applied onto the skin surface.
The mechanism of action of IPL systems is based on the principle of selective thermolisis, accordin...

Dry eye disease (DED) is an increasingly common condition and one of the most common reasons for clinical visits to an eye doctor1. The main symptom complained by patients affected by DED differs from various grades of redness and ocular discomfort to a chronic foreign body sensation, stinging, burning, itching, excessive tearing, pain, recurrent infections and transient visual disturbances2. The impact of DED on patients&#39; quality of life has been compared to that caused by moderate to severe angina or dialysis treatment3, and is associated with a restriction in daily activities and a loss of work productivity4.The recent definition of dry eye disease formulated by the TFOS DEWS II highlights its multifactorial nature, since different complex and heterogeneous alterations play a significant role in the onset and the maintenance of the disease2.
The vast majority of dry eye is caused by the so-called &#34;evaporative&#34; subtype that is mainly caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a condition that affects up to 70% of the population in particular regions of the world5. Meibomian gland dysfunction is caused by a chronic alteration of the meibomian glands that are located inside the upper and lower eyelids. The disease is characterized by hyperkeratinization of the external duct of the glands and the obstruction of the orifices with insufficient, not functional, production of the external lipid layer of the tear film, resulting in tear instability6,7,8.
Currently, several different therapeutic strategies are available aiming at interrupting the vicious spiral of dry eye, and consist mainly of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, eyelid hygiene, warm compresses and tear substitutes9. However, these therapies are chronic and provide often only partial or short-term relief of symptoms, with subsequent compliance issues. Therefore, novel treatments with high efficacy and tolerability are desirable. In recent years, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy has been widely used in dermatology for the treatment of different skin diseases such as acne, rosacea, telangiectasias and vascular and pigmented lesion (e.g., hemangiomas, venous malformations, port-wine stains)10. When the light is applied to the skin, it is absorbed by pigmented structures, such as blood cells and teleangectasias, with subsequent heat production that coagulates and destroys the abnormal blood vessels11. Recently, this technique was applied to the ophthalmic field for the treatment of DED owing to MGD. Several mechanisms have been postulated to explain the therapeutic effect of the procedure. Firstly, IPL treatment acts inducing thermal coagulation and selective ablation of superficial blood vessels and telangiectasias of the eyelids skin. Furthermore, the procedure reduces the release of inflammatory mediators and the levels of tear cytokines, which may promote the keratinization of mebomian glands terminal duct12,13. Secondly, the light energy transformed into heat causes the warming and liquefying of meibomian glands secretions, with subsequent melting and improved outflow11,14. More recently, other mechanisms such as the enhancement in collagen synthesis and connective tissue remodeling, the reduction in skin epithelial cell turnover, and the modulation of cellular inflammatory markers have also been hypothesized15.
In this study, we describe the use and the therapeutic effects of a recently commercialized IPL device, developed specifically for the treatment of MGD, in which IPL emission has been &#34;regulated&#34; in a multiple polychromatic train of calibrated and homogenously sequenced pulses. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the treatment procedure in detail, in order to spread it to the scientific medical community, giving the opportunity to ophthalmologists to expand their current armamentarium for the treatment of MGD.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1004">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:187px;">I.C.P. Tearscope</td>
			<td style="width:240px;">SBM Sistemi, Turin, Italy</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">1340864/R</td>
			<td style="width:475px;">Device for noninvasvive break-up time and lipid layer thickness evaluation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:187px;">I.C.P. MGD</td>
			<td style="width:240px;">SBM Sistemi, Turin, Italy</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">15006</td>
			<td>Device performing infrared meibomography and meibomian gland loss evaluation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:187px;">TearLab Osmolarity System</td>
			<td>TearLab Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">83861QW</td>
			<td>Device for the measurement of tear osmolarity&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:187px;">E&#62;Eye</td>
			<td style="width:240px;">E-Swin, Paris, France</td>
			<td style="width:103px;"></td>
			<td>Intense pulsed regulated light treatment device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:187px;">BM 900 Slit Lamp Biomioscropy</td>
			<td style="width:240px;">Haag-Streit, Koeniz, Switzerland</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">BM 900</td>
			<td>Slit Lamp Biomiscroscopy</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:187px;">Tobradex eye drops</td>
			<td style="width:240px;">Alcon Inc., Fort Worth, TX, USA</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">S01CA01</td>
			<td>Eye drops instilled immediately after the procedure in office</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

intense pulsed light for the treatment of dry eye owing to meibomian gland dysfunction

Dry eye disease (DED) is an increasingly common condition and one of the most common complaints of patients. The vast majority of DED is caused by the so-called &#34;evaporative&#34; subtype, that is mainly caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Intense pulsed light (IPL) devices employ high intensity pulses of polychromatic lights with a broad range of wavelength (515-1200 nm). IPL treatment has been utilized for years in the field of dermatology, and then its use was applied to ophthalmology for the treatment of MGD. Recently, a new device employing IPL was specifically designed for the periocular application. This procedure determines the thermal selective coagulation and ablation of superficial blood vessels and telangiectasias of the eyelids skin, reducing the release of inflammatory mediators and tear cytokines levels, and improving meibomian glands outflow. IPL treatment is noninvasive and easy to perform, lasts for only a few minutes and can be conducted in an office setting. In the present study, 19 patients underwent 3 sessions of IPL treatment. After treatment, both mean noninvasive break-up time and lipid layer thickness grade significantly increased, as a result of an improvement of tear film stability and quality, respectively. Conversely, no statistically significant changes were found for meibomian gland loss and tear osmolarity. Furthermore, the vast majority of the treated patients (17/19; 89.5% of the total) perceived an improvement of their ocular discomfort symptoms after IPL treatment. Although IPL treatment provides an improvement of both ocular surface parameters and ocular discomfort symptoms after one cycle of three sessions, regular repeated treatments are usually required to maintain the persistence over the time of its beneficial effects.

Nineteen patients (7 males and 12 females, mean age 39.3 &#177; 7.0 years) (mean &#177; standard deviation) underwent IPL treatment between September 2016 and June 2017. Fifteen days after the third IPL treatment session, noninvasive BUT significantly increased from 7.6 &#177; 0.6 s to 9.8 &#177; 0.7 s (mean &#177; standard error of the mean) (p = 0.017), and LLT grade significantly improved from 2.3 &#177; 0.1 to 3.4 &#177; 0.3 (p = 0.003). No statistically significant changes w...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Dry Eye Owing to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction at JoVE.com

Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Dry Eye Owing to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Dry eye disease is an increasingly common condition, which strongly impair patients&#39; life quality. Recently, a new device employing intense pulsed light, specifically designed for the periocular area, has been shown to improve tear film stability and ocular discomfort symptoms in dry eye disease owing to meibomian gland dysfunction.

Dry eye disease (DED) is an increasingly common condition and one of the most common complaints of patients. The vast majority of DED is caused by the ...

Meibomian gland dysfunction is typically managed with chronic therapies which often provide only partial or short-term relief from dry eye symptoms. Intense regulated pulsed light device emits multiple polychromatic light pulses that heat the eyelid skin, stimulate the meibomian glands, and reduce the release of anti-inflammatory mediators and tear cytokines. Open the I.C.P.program by SBM Sistemi onto the computer connected to the device.Input the patient's data and select the appropriate exam in the menu. Instruct the patient to put their chin and the forehead in the correct position on the slit lamp with the instrument to perform non-invasive BUT examination. After non-invasive BUT, lipid layer thickness is examined.For meibomian gland loss assessment, select the meibomian gland exam. Use a cotton swab to gently evert the lower eyelid and acquire an infrared image of the inner part of the lower eyelid to obtain a good-quality image of the meibomian glands. Draw the margins of the eyelid area on the touch screen, and click to fill the area.The system will automatically calculate the percentage of meibomian gland area in relation to the total area of the eyelid. For intense pulsed light treatment, seat the patient comfortably and press the start button on the control unit to activate the device. To select the treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction, press the appropriate button the LCD touchscreen and use the up and down arrows to select the desired treatment energy level.Press tick to confirm the choice and press the six icons one by one to validate each of the six safety features. Press tick to confirm that the procedure is performed in total safety, then press tick again to start the device. When the device is ready for the treatment, place the eye protector over the patient's eyes and don safety glasses.Apply an at least one centimeter thick layer of optical gel over the patient's skin under the lower eyelid from the edge of the nose up to the temple. Remove the device handpiece from the central unit, and gently place the handpiece head in direct contact with the skin of the area to be treated. Press the start button on the handpiece to emit a single treating intense pulsed light pulse, followed by four additional intense pulsed light pulses across the gel-treated area as close as possible to the lower eyelid margin.After the last pulse has been applied, gently remove the optical gel from the treated skin area and place a warm compress over the eyelids of both eyes for two to three minutes. In this study, 19 patients underwent intense pulsed light. Fifteen days after the third treatment session, non-invasive breakup times significantly increased, and the lipid layer thickness grade significantly improved.No statistically significant changes were observed for meibomian gland loss, while tear osmolarity showed a trend of decrease after treatment. Seventeen patients demonstrated an improvement in ocular discomfort symptoms after the treatment, in direct correlation with the improved lipid layer thickness results in response to the intense pulsed light treatment. Intense regulated pulsed light treatment appears effective in improving dry eye sign and symptoms in patients affected by meibomian gland dysfunction.Regular repeated treatments every six-eight months may be required after the three starting sessions to maintain the benefits of the procedure over the time.

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Research

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Medicine

The Measurement and Treatment of Suppression in Amblyopia

Amblyopia, a developmental disorder of the visual cortex, is one of the leading causes of visual dysfunction in the working age population. Current estimates put the prevalence of amblyopia at approximately 1-3%1-3, the majority of cases being monocular2. Amblyopia is most frequently caused by ocular misalignment (strabismus), blur induced by unequal refractive error (anisometropia), and in some cases by form deprivation.
Although amblyopia is initially caused by abnormal visual input in infancy, once established, the visual deficit often remains when normal visual input has been restored using surgery and/or refractive correction. This is because amblyopia is the result of abnormal visual cortex development rather than a problem with the amblyopic eye itself4,5 . Amblyopia is characterized by both monocular and binocular deficits6,7 which include impaired visual acuity and poor or absent stereopsis respectively. The visual dysfunction in amblyopia is often associated with a strong suppression of the inputs from the amblyopic eye under binocular viewing conditions8. Recent work has indicated that suppression may play a central role in both the monocular and binocular deficits associated with amblyopia9,10 .
Current clinical tests for suppression tend to verify the presence or absence of suppression rather than giving a quantitative measurement of the degree of suppression. Here we describe a technique for measuring amblyopic suppression with a compact, portable device11,12 . The device consists of a laptop computer connected to a pair of virtual reality goggles. The novelty of the technique lies in the way we present visual stimuli to measure suppression. Stimuli are shown to the amblyopic eye at high contrast while the contrast of the stimuli shown to the non-amblyopic eye are varied. Patients perform a simple signal/noise task that allows for a precise measurement of the strength of excitatory binocular interactions. The contrast offset at which neither eye has a performance advantage is a measure of the "balance point" and is a direct measure of suppression. This technique has been validated psychophysically both in control13,14 and patient6,9,11 populations.
In addition to measuring suppression this technique also forms the basis of a novel form of treatment to decrease suppression over time and improve binocular and often monocular function in adult patients with amblyopia12,15,16 . This new treatment approach can be deployed either on the goggle system described above or on a specially modified iPod touch device15.

Amblyopia is a developmental disorder of the visual cortex that is often accompanied by strong suppression of one eye. We present a new technique for measuring and treating interocular suppression in patients with amblyopia that can be deployed using virtual reality goggles or a portable iPod Touch device.

Amblyopia, a developmental disorder of the visual cortex, is one of the leading causes of visual dysfunction in the working age population. Current ...

Isolation of Adipose Derived Regenerative Cells for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy

Stem cells are used in many research areas within regenerative medicine in part because these treatments can be curative rather than symptomatic. Stem cells can be obtained from different tissues and several methods for isolation have been described. The presented method for the isolation of adipose-derived regenerative cells (ADRCs) can be used within many therapeutic areas because the method is a general procedure and, therefore, not limited to erectile dysfunction (ED) therapy. ED is a common and serious side effect to radical prostatectomy (RP) since ED often is not well treated with conventional therapy. Using ADRC&#8217;s as treatment for ED has attracted great interest due to the initial positive results after a single injection of cells into the corpora cavernosum. The method used for the isolation of ADRC&#8217;s is a simple, automated process, that is reproducible and ensures a uniform product. Furthermore, the sterility of the isolated product is ensured because the entire process takes place in a closed system. It is important to minimize the risk of contamination and infection since the stem cells are used for injection in humans. The whole procedure can be done within 2.5-3.5 hours and does not require a classified laboratory which eliminates the need for shipping tissue to an off-site. However, the procedure has some limitations since the minimum amount of drained lipoaspirate for the isolation device to function is 100 g.

Precise disclosure of methods and protocols is crucial for large scale uptake of stem cell therapies. Here, we present a protocol to isolate adipose-derived regenerative cells, used for a single intracavernous injection as treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) following radical prostatectomy (RP).

Stem cells are used in many research areas within regenerative medicine in part because these treatments can be curative rather than symptomatic. Stem ...

A Rabbit Model of Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye Disease Induced by Concanavalin A Injection into the Lacrimal Glands: Application to Drug Efficacy Studies

Dry eye disease (DED), a multifactorial inflammatory disease of the ocular surface, affects 1 in 6 humans worldwide with staggering implications for quality of life and health care costs. The lack of informative animal models that recapitulate its key features impedes the search for new therapeutic agents for DED. Available DED animal models have limited reproducibility and efficacy. A model is presented here in which DED is induced by injecting the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) into the orbital lacrimal glands of rabbits. Innovative aspects of this model are the use of ultrasound (US) guidance to ensure optimal and reproducible injection of Con A into the inferior lacrimal gland; injection of Con A into all orbital lacrimal glands that limits compensatory production of tears; and use of periodic repeat injections of Con A that prolong the state of DED at will. DED and its response to test agents are monitored with a panel of parameters that assess tear production, the stability of the tear film, and the status of the corneal and conjunctival mucosa. They include tear osmolarity, tear break-up time, Schirmer&#39;s tear test, rose bengal staining, and tear lactoferrin levels. The induction of DED and the monitoring of its parameters are described in detail. This model is simple, robust, reproducible, and informative. This animal model is suitable for the study of tear physiology and of the pathophysiology of DED as well as for the assessment of the efficacy and safety of candidate agents for the treatment of DED.

This article describes the development of a method to induce acute or chronic dry eye disease in rabbits by injecting concanavalin A to all portions of the orbital lacrimal gland system. This method, superior to those already reported, generates a reproducible, stable model of dry eye suitable for the study of pharmacological agents.

Dry eye disease (DED), a multifactorial inflammatory disease of the ocular surface, affects 1 in 6 humans worldwide with staggering implications for ...

Establishment of a Severe Dry Eye Model Using Complete Dacryoadenectomy in Rabbits

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex disease with multiple etiologies and variable symptoms, having ocular surface inflammation as its key pathophysiologic step. Despite advances in our understanding of DED, significant knowledge gaps remain. Advances are limited in part due to the lack of informative animal models. The authors recently reported on a method of DED induced by injecting all orbital lacrimal gland (LG) tissues with the lectin concanavalin A. Here, we report a novel model of aqueous-deficient DED based on the surgical resection of all orbital LG (dacryoadenectomy) tissues. Both methods use rabbits because of their similarity to human eyes in terms of the size and structure of the ocular surface. One week after removal of the nictitating membrane, the orbital superior LG was surgically removed under anesthesia, followed by removal of the palpebral superior LG, and finally removal of the inferior LG. Dacryoadenectomy induced severe DED, evidenced by a marked reduction in the tear break up time test and the Schirmer&#39;s tear test, and significantly increased tear osmolarity and rose bengal staining. Dacryoadenectomy-induced DED lasted at least eight weeks. There were no complications and animals tolerated the procedure well. The technique can be mastered relatively easily by those with adequate surgical experience and appreciation of the relevant rabbit anatomy. Since this model recapitulates the features of human aqueous-deficient DED, it is suitable for studies of ocular surface homeostasis, DED, and candidate therapeutics.

A novel approach is presented to induce chronic dry eye disease in rabbits by surgically removing all orbital lacrimal glands. This method, distinct from those previously reported, produces a stable, reproducible model of aqueous deficient dry eye well suited to study tear physiology and pathophysiology and ocular therapeutics.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex disease with multiple etiologies and variable symptoms, having ocular surface inflammation as its key pathophysiologic ...

Platelet-Rich Plasma Lysate for Treatment of Eye Surface Diseases

Various ocular surface diseases are treated with blood-derived eye drops. Their use has been introduced in clinical practice because of their metabolite and growth factor content, which promotes eye surface regeneration. Blood-based eye drops can be prepared from different sources (i.e., whole blood or platelet apheresis donation), as well as with different protocols (e.g., different dilutions and freeze/thaw cycles). This variability hampers the standardization of clinical protocols and, consequently, the evaluation of their clinical efficacy. Detailing and sharing the methodological procedures may contribute to defining common guidelines. Over the last years, allogenic products have been diffusing as an alternative to the autologous treatments since they guarantee higher efficacy standards; among them, the platelet-rich plasma lysate (PRP-L) eye drops are prepared with simple manufacturing procedures. In the transfusion medicine unit at AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Italy, PRP-L is obtained from platelet-apheresis donation. This product is initially diluted to 0.3 x 109 platelets/mL (starting from an average concentration of 1 x 109 platelets/mL) in 0.9% NaCl. Diluted platelets are frozen/thawed and, subsequently, centrifuged to eliminate debris. The final volume is split into 1.45 mL aliquots and stored at &#8722;80 &#176;C. Before being dispensed to patients, eye drops are tested for sterility. Patients may store platelet lysates at &#8722;15 &#176;C for up to 1 month. The growth factor composition is also assessed from randomly selected aliquots, and the mean values are reported here.

Platelet lysates represent an emerging tool for the treatment of ocular surface diseases. Here, we propose a method for the preparation, dispensation, storage, and characterization of platelet lysate collected from platelet donors.

Various ocular surface diseases are treated with blood-derived eye drops. Their use has been introduced in clinical practice because of their metabolite ...

Comparing Objective Conjunctival Hyperemia Grading and the Ocular Surface Disease Index Score in Dry Eye Syndrome During COVID-19

The incidence of dry eye syndrome (DES) has increased due to wearing masks, utilizing digital devices, and working remotely during the pandemic. A survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the prevalence of dry eye syndrome. A cross-sectional study investigated how prevalent DES is during COVID-19 in healthy patients aged 20-45 in the United States. An Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was given to 40 individuals remotely from October 31, 2021, to December 1, 2021. The AOS and the OSDI survey were used to evaluate DES. The subjects were 29 years old on average (SD 14.14), with 23 males (57.5%) and 17 females (42.5%). According to the OSDI survey, low DES, moderate DES, and severe DES had prevalence rates of 15%, 77.5%, and 7.5%, respectively. White (W) people represent 50% of the population, while African Americans (AA) represent 35%, Asians represent 7.5%, and Hispanics represent 7.5%. Mild DES affected 77.5% of subjects, with 64.50% males and 35.50% females. According to the AOS objective grading system, mild (M) DES, moderate (MO) DES, and severe (S) DES had prevalence rates of 40%, 12.5%, and 15%, respectively. Linear regression was used to compare the two grading systems, and it demonstrated a strong relationship between the two grading systems.

The present protocol describes the cross-sectional research performed on 40 healthy subjects between the ages of 20 and 45 to assess the prevalence of dry eye syndrome (DES) during COVID-19. The OSDI survey evaluated DES, and the advanced ophthalmic systems (AOS) software was used to assess limbal redness.

The incidence of dry eye syndrome (DES) has increased due to wearing masks, utilizing digital devices, and working remotely during the pandemic. A survey ...

Advancing Cryostorage of Human Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Cryopreservation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at the Optimal Stage

Retinal pigment epithelial&#160;(RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are superior cell sources for cell replacement therapy in individuals with retinal degenerative diseases; however, studies on the stable and secure banking of these therapeutic cells are scarce. Highly variable cell viability and functional recovery of&#160;RPE cells after cryopreservation are the most commonly encountered issues. In the present protocol, we aimed to achieve the best cell recovery rate after thawing by selecting the optimal cell phase for freezing based on the original experimental conditions. Cells were frozen in the exponential phase determined by using the 5-ethynyl-2&#8242;-deoxyuridine labeling assay, which improved cell viability and recovery rate after thawing. Stable and functional cells were obtained shortly after thawing, independent of a long differentiation process. The methods described here allow the simple, efficient, and inexpensive preservation and thawing of hESC-derived RPE cells. Although this protocol focuses on RPE cells, this freezing strategy may be applied to many other types of differentiated cells.

Author Spotlight: Development of an Efficient and Feasible Method of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Freezing

This study provides a detailed protocol for the efficient cryopreservation of human stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Retinal pigment epithelial&#160;(RPE) cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are superior cell sources for cell replacement therapy in ...

Enhancing Stroke Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality-Based Occupational Training

Cognitive Function and Upper Limb Rehabilitation Training Post-Stroke Using a Digital Occupational Training System

Stroke rehabilitation often requires frequent and intensive therapy to improve functional recovery. Virtual reality (VR) technology has shown the potential to meet these demands by providing engaging and motivating therapy options. The digital occupational training system is a VR application that utilizes cutting-edge technologies, including multi-touch screens, virtual reality, and human-computer interaction, to offer diverse training techniques for advanced cognitive capacity and hand-eye coordination abilities. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this program in enhancing cognitive function and upper extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients. The training and assessment consist of five cognitive modules covering perception, attention, memory, logical reasoning, and calculation, along with hand-eye coordination training. This research indicates that after eight weeks of training, the digital occupational training system can significantly improve cognitive function, daily living skills, attention, and self-care abilities in stroke patients. This software can be employed as a time-saving and clinically effective rehabilitation aid to complement traditional one-on-one occupational therapy sessions. In summary, the digital occupational training system shows promise and offers potential financial benefits as a tool to support the functional recovery of stroke patients.

Author Spotlight: Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients With a Digital Occupational Training System

The current protocol outlines how the VR-based digital occupational training system enhances the rehabilitation of patients with cognitive impairment and upper limb dysfunction following a stroke.

Stroke rehabilitation often requires frequent and intensive therapy to improve functional recovery. Virtual reality (VR) technology has shown the ...

Scopolamine-Induced Lacrimal Gland Dysfunction in Rats

A Rat Dry Eye Model with Lacrimal Gland Dysfunction Induced by Scopolamine

Aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE) is a type of dry eye disease that can result in the reduction of tear secretion quantity and quality. Prolonged abnormal tear production can lead to a disturbance in the ocular surface environment, including corneal damage and inflammation. In severe cases, ADDE can cause vision loss or even blindness. Currently, dry eye treatment is limited to eye drops or physical therapy, which can only alleviate eye discomfort symptoms and cannot fundamentally cure dry eye syndrome. To restore the function of the lacrimal gland in dry eye, we have created an animal model of lacrimal gland dysfunction in rats induced by scopolamine. Through the comprehensive evaluation of the lacrimal gland, corneas, conjunctivas, and other factors, we aim to provide a full understanding of the pathological changes of ADDE. Compared with the current dry eye mouse model, this ADDE animal model includes a functional evaluation of the lacrimal gland, providing a better platform for studying lacrimal gland dysfunction in ADDE.

Author Spotlight: Challenges in Developing Dry Eye Animal Models and Future Research Directions

Here, we establish a rat model of lacrimal gland dysfunction to provide a basis for the study of aqueous-deficient dry eye.

Aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE) is a type of dry eye disease that can result in the reduction of tear secretion quantity and quality. Prolonged abnormal ...

Standardizing Press Needle Treatment for Myopia with Dry Eye

Press Needle: A Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Myopia Patients with Dry Eye

Most patients with myopia have dry eye, which has been shown to adversely affect ocular symptoms, myopia progression, and quality of life in patients with myopia. Needle prickling has been shown to be effective in providing symptom relief in patients with myopia and dry eye. Press needle is a long-lasting, easy-to-operate, and inexpensive traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The standard practice of needle insertion is very important for the treatment of myopia and dry eye. The specific steps include selecting the appropriate acupoints, piercing them with appropriate needles, and fixing them in the skin or subcutaneously at the acupoints, burying them for 2 days, resting for 1 day; the course of treatment lasts for 2 weeks. Specifically, the following indicators were assessed: uncorrected visual acuity and the ocular surface disease index. This article will explain how to standardize the operation of a press needle in the treatment of myopia and dry eye.

Author Spotlight: Exploring Press Needle Efficacy and Underlying Molecular Pathways

Here, we present a protocol to standardize the operation of acupuncture in the treatment of myopia with dry eye.

Most patients with myopia have dry eye, which has been shown to adversely affect ocular symptoms, myopia progression, and quality of life in patients with ...