Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy combined with meibomian gland expression (MGX) for refractory meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in a prospective study conducted at 3 sites in Japan.
Methods: Patients with refractory obstructive MGD were enrolled and underwent 4 to 8 IPL-MGX treatment sessions at 3-week intervals. Clinical assessment included the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness questionnaire; noninvasive breakup time of the tear film and interferometric fringe pattern as determined by tear interferometry; lid margin abnormalities, fluorescein breakup time of the tear film, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining (CFS), and meibum grade as evaluated with a slit-lamp microscope; meibomian gland morphology (meiboscore); and tear production as measured by the Schirmer test without anesthesia.
Results: Sixty-two eyes of 31 patients (17 women, 14 men; mean age ± SD, 47.6 ± 16.8 years) were enrolled. The Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness score (P < 0.001), noninvasive breakup time (P < 0.001), and interferometric fringe pattern (P < 0.001) were significantly improved after therapy, with 74% of eyes showing a change in the interferometric fringe pattern from 1 characteristic of lipid deficiency to the normal condition. Meibum grade, lid margin abnormality scores, fluorescein breakup time, and CFS were also significantly improved (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002, respectively) after treatment, whereas the meiboscore and Schirmer test value remained unchanged.
Conclusions: IPL-MGX ameliorated symptoms and improved the condition of the tear film in patients with refractory MGD and is therefore a promising treatment option for this disorder.