Combined IPL and low-level light therapy improves dry eye symptoms more than low-level light therapy alone

Combining intense pulsed light (IPL) with low-level light therapy (LLLT) may provide greater overall benefits for patients with dry eye due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), especially in reducing symptom severity and enhancing cellular activity, according to a study.

The study involved 24 participants, each receiving combined IPL and LLLT in one eye, and LLLT alone in the other over 4 treatment sessions.

Both treatments led to significant improvement in dry eye symptoms, but only the combined therapy reduced symptom severity. Improvements in meibum expressibility were observed after 3 sessions in both groups but persisted only with LLLT alone at the final follow-up. In addition, combined therapy uniquely showed a reduction in tissue flavin fluorescence, suggesting enhanced cellular metabolism.

Reference
Chiang JCB, Dremin V, Semp DA, et al. Low-level light therapy alone versus combination therapy with intense pulsed light in the treatment of dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction: A randomised paired-eye and mechanism of action trial. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2025;102456. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2025.102456. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40494722.