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>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

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.

intense-pulsed-light-for-treatment-dry-eye-owing-to-meibomian-gland

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JoVE Journal

Medicine

14.7K Views.  Carones Ophthalmology Center. 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 appropri...