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Blackie CA, Murakami D, Donnenfeld E, Oliff HS. Vectored Thermal Pulsation as a Treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Review Spanning 15 Years. Ophthalmol Ther 2024; 13:2083-2123. [PMID: 38879718 PMCID: PMC11246355 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-024-00976-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System received its first marketing clearance for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) 13 years ago. Since then, the evidence evaluating the effectiveness and safety of LipiFlow as a treatment for MGD has grown significantly. The objective of this comprehensive review was to summarize all clinical reports evaluating the effectiveness and safety of LipiFlow over the past 15 years. The literature was systematically reviewed, and 55 unique articles had subjective (patient-reported outcomes) and objective (meibomian gland function, tear production, and ocular staining) outcomes for extraction. Data were collected from 2101 patients and 3521 eyes treated with LipiFlow. Of these, effectiveness was evaluated in 2041 patients and 3401 eyes, and safety was evaluated in 1448 patients and 2443 eyes. Taken together, the studies demonstrate that a single 12-min treatment with LipiFlow safely improves signs and symptoms of MGD and associated evaporative dry eye disease (DED), and the benefits persist up to 3 years in some cases. The findings are corroborated by multiple meta-analyses and consensus guidelines. While some studies showed that daily eyelid hygiene, warm compress, and/or massage had a similar benefit to a single LipiFlow, these treatments were limited by inconvenience, discomfort, and non-compliance. The majority of studies evaluating safety reported no discomfort or pain associated with LipiFlow treatment, which supports the patient acceptability of LipiFlow therapy. All adverse events (AEs) related to LipiFlow were transient, non-vision-threatening, and did not require treatment. No studies reported serious AEs. The data obtained from 55 studies conducted globally overwhelmingly show that LipiFlow is effective and safe for the treatment of MGD and associated evaporative DED. The conclusions are supported by the diversity of the patient populations (geography, race, disease severity, and diagnosis), the large population treated with LipiFlow, the meta-analyses, and that this review analyzed all published clinical studies to date.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Murakami
- Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., Irvine, CA, 92618, USA
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Gupta AS, Massaro M, Bunya VY. Intense pulsed light treatment for the management of meibomian gland dysfunction. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2024; 35:322-328. [PMID: 38813738 DOI: 10.1097/icu.0000000000001055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is one of the most common disorders encountered by ophthalmologists, and its management can prove challenging for both clinicians and patients. Intense pulsed light (IPL), which has been historically used in the field of dermatology, has emerged as a tool to help improve meibomian gland function. The goal of this review is to assess the clinical efficacy, utility, and safety of IPL for the treatment of MGD. RECENT FINDINGS In recent randomized controlled trials, IPL has been shown to improve meibomian gland function, and subsequently tear film quality and dry eye symptoms. The mechanism of action still remains unclear. Recent literature suggests that IPL may also be used in conjunction with other therapies, such as meibomian gland expression, low-level light therapy, and thermal pulsation. Careful attention should be placed on each patient's Fitzpatrick skin type, as well as protecting the ocular structures to reduce the risk of adverse effects. Cost, accessibility, as well as a limited duration of efficacy may be drawbacks. SUMMARY There is significant evidence supporting that IPL may be used as a potential well tolerated and effective treatment for MGD, though there are certain caveats regarding its long-term efficacy, accessibility, and cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Satya Gupta
- Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Lu Y, Gong L, Yin Y. Need to Increase the Number of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment Sessions for Patients with Moderate to Severe Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) Patients. Curr Eye Res 2024; 49:362-367. [PMID: 38174380 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2023.2297344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate whether patients with moderate-to-severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) will benefit from increasing the number of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment sessions. METHODS Ninety Asian adult with MGD (stages 3-4) were enrolled in this retrospective study. In Group1, 30 patients completed the five-session IPL treatment, 63.33% of which also received meibomian gland expression (MGX). In Group 2, 60 patients received three-session IPL treatment, 60.0% of which also accepted MGX. Both intragroup and intergroup analyses were conducted. RESULTS The population characteristics, clinical baseline characteristics and therapeutic regimen were comparable between Group1 and Group2. The symptoms and most clinical indices improved after IPL treatment finished in both two groups. No statistical difference was found in any improvement level of all symptomatic and physical indices, including the Ocular surface disease index, tear break-up time, Demodex, corneal staining, meibum quality, meibomian gland expressibility, and MGD stage (all p ≥ 0.05) between the two groups at any time, not only month by month, but also at the terminal visit. However, the response rate of Group1 after the five-session treatment (70.00%) was increased compared to that of Group2 after the three-session treatment (63.33%). CONCLUSIONS Increasing the number of IPL sessions is beneficial for patients with moderate to severe MGD to increase the response rate of treatment, rather than the improvement level. However, there is no need for patients who respond well to a routine number of IPL treatments to undergo additional IPL sessions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Gong
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Yin
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Whang WJ, Yun J, Koh K. Intense pulsed-light treatment improves objective optical quality in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction. BMC Ophthalmol 2023; 23:191. [PMID: 37118666 PMCID: PMC10148435 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-023-02939-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate changes in objective optical quality following intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment combined with meibomian gland (MG) expression (MGX) in patients with MG dysfunction (MGD). METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study included MGD-related dry eye disease (DED) patients who received IPL treatment between March and December 2021 at Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Each patient underwent four sessions of IPL treatment using Lumenis M22 (Lumenis Ltd., Yokneam, Israel) and MGX at three-week intervals. RESULTS This study included 90 eyes from 45 patients with MGD. The mean age was 52.3 ± 16.1 years (range, 20-75 years), and 53.3% (24/45) of patients were female. Compared with the baseline, all clinical symptoms and signs significantly improved after IPL treatment combined with MGX. All optical quality parameters obtained with an optical quality analysis system (OQAS: Visiometrics, Castelldefels, Spain) have improved significantly over the baseline (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In patients with MGD, IPL treatment combined with MGX improved the objective optical quality and clinical signs and symptoms of DED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong-Joo Whang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongseop Yun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmin Koh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Demolin L, Es-Safi M, Soyfoo MS, Motulsky E. Intense Pulsed Light Therapy in the Treatment of Dry Eye Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12083039. [PMID: 37109374 PMCID: PMC10145895 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12083039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) is a recently developed way of treating dry eye disease (DED). During the last decade, there was a multiplication of trials studying IPL efficacy. The goal of this review is to summarize the most important and significant results of these trials estimating effect sizes. METHODS The PubMed and sciencedirect databases were searched using a PICO model-based approach. Randomized controlled trials including at least 20 patients with DED and no other eye condition, with a control group and break-up time or symptom scores data available for extraction were included in this review. Statistical analysis evaluated the tear break-up time (TBUT), non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and standard patient evaluation of eye dryness (SPEED). Three comparisons were carried on for each outcome: longest follow-up values vs. baseline in the treatment group, longest follow-up values in the treatment group vs. control group, and changes from baseline in the treatment group vs. control group. A subgroup analysis was carried on. RESULTS Eleven randomized controlled trials, published between 2015 and 2021 were included in this systematic review with 759 patients in total. The longest follow-up values vs. baseline in the treatment group analyses were significantly in favor of IPL for all the parameters studied for instance: NIBUT (effect size (ES), 2.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), (1.43; 2.62)), TBUT (ES, 1.83; 95% CI, (0.96; 2.69)), OSDI (ES, -1.38; 95% CI, (-2.12; -0.64)) and SPEED (ES, -1.15; 95% CI, (-1.72; -0.57)). The longest follow-up values in the treatment group vs. control group analyses, and, the change from baseline in the treatment group vs. control group analyses, were both significantly in favor of IPL for NIBUT, TBUT, and SPEED but not for OSDI. CONCLUSIONS IPL seems to have a positive effect on tear stability evaluated by the break-up times. However, the effect on DED symptoms is less clear. Some confounding factors such as the age and the IPL device used influence the results indicating that the ideal settings still need to be found and personalized for the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Demolin
- Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Majda Es-Safi
- Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Ophthalmology Department, Erasme Hospital, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Muhammad Shahnawaz Soyfoo
- Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Rheumatology Department, Erasme Hospital, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elie Motulsky
- Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Ophthalmology Department, Erasme Hospital, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Faculty of Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
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Lee SH, Kim M, Lee WJ, Chun YS, Kim KW. Different Number of Sessions of Intense Pulsed Light and Meibomian Gland Expression Combination Therapy for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. KOREAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2022; 36:527-542. [PMID: 36281571 DOI: 10.3341/kjo.2022.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of the intense pulsed light (IPL) and meibomian gland (MG) expression (MGX) combination therapy according to the total numbers of sessions in the meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS Ninety patients with MGD were included. Patients had maximal five sessions of IPL (Aqua Cel, Jeisys Medical) and MGX combination therapy at 2-week intervals. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire score, MG profile grades, tear matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tear break-up time (BUT), tear osmolarity, tear secretion, and corneal erosions were evaluated. RESULTS The number of patients who had a total of one to five sessions (1S to 5S) was 10, 25, 17, 20, and 18, respectively. The time-serial decrease of OSDI scores was significant in patients who had three or more sessions (3S, p = 0.002; 4S, p < 0.001; 5S, p < 0.001). The MG expressibility grade decreased with two or more sessions (2S-5S, p < 0.001), but the meibum quality significantly improved with all sessions (1S, p = 0.012; 2S, p = 0.024; 3S, p = 0.015; 4S, p < 0.001; 5S, p < 0.001). Although tear BUT increased even in patients with one session (1S, p = 0.040; 3S, p = 0.005; 4S, p = 0.006; 5S, p = 0.021), tear MMP-9, osmolarity, Schirmer I, and corneal erosions were not improved in every number of sessions. The female sex was the sole contributor to the final symptomatic improvement (p = 0.042), and the MGD stages were not related to the final OSDI decrease. CONCLUSIONS The OSDI score, MGD grades, and BUT were improved after the IPL and MGX combination therapy in MGD patients. Unlike MGD grades and tear film instability might be improved just after a few sessions, the overall subjective relief was accomplished in three or more sessions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Hyeun Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minjeong Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won Jun Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yeoun Sook Chun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyoung Woo Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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