Purpose : Low-level light therapy (photobiomodulation), the application of red light to the eye is currently used for the treatment of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction. This study investigated the effect of low-level light therapy on the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
Methods : Participants with dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction were recruited for this three-visit study. Study visits were 7 ± 3 days apart and all participants received low-level light therapy from the Eyelight mask (633nm) for 15 minutes at each visit. Clinical measures of dry eye disease including first and average non-invasive keratograph tear break-up time (NIKBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), tear film lipid layer thickness (TFLLT), Schirmer’s test, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, and eyelid temperature for external upper eyelid (EUL) and external lower eyelid (ELL) were measured from the right eye of participants before and after treatment. Clinical measures were evaluated using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) with adjusted post-hoc t-test and paired samples t-test.
Results : Thirty participants (mean ±SD age: 31.1 ±9.5 years, range 24-58 years, male = 14, female = 16) completed the study. Treatment with low-level light therapy resulted in a statistically significant increase in first and average NIKBUT, TMH, and TFLLT, over time (all p < 0.05). Compared to baseline, TMH significantly increased by 0.06mm (95% CI: 0.008 to 0.111, p < 0.05) and TFLLT increased by 12.9nm (95% CI: 0.721 to 25.012, p < 0.05) after treatment. Additionally, eyelid temperature increased by 7.0oC immediately after treatment for both EUL (95% CI: 6.2 to 7.8, p < 0.05) and ELL (95% CI: 6.2 to 7.7, p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant decrease in OSDI score and Schirmer’s test after treatment (all p < 0.05). Compared to baseline, OSDI score significantly decreased by 10.2 (95% CI: -15.3 to -5.1, p < 0.05), and Schirmer’s test decreased by 4.4mm (95% CI: -7.3 to -1.4, p < 0.05).
Conclusions : Low-level light therapy significantly improved signs and symptoms of dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction, suggesting the efficacy of low-level light therapy for dry eye disease management.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.
