Preliminary results of serial sessions of a newly developed at home device using low‐level light therapy for the treatment of dry eye disease

Abstract

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate objective parameters of ocular surface and ocular discomfort symptoms after the use of a new at‐home device in patients with dry eye disease (DED) owing to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).Methods: In this prospective study patients with mild to moderate DED owing to MGD not successfully responding to first‐line therapy (tear substitutes and eye lid hygiene) were recruited. Non‐invasive ocular surface examination was carried out by means of Keratograph 5 M (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) for the evaluation of: (i) tear meniscus height (TMH); (ii) non‐invasive break‐up time (NIBUT); (iii) ocular redness; (iv) meibomian gland loss (MGL). Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire was used to assess ocular discomfort symptoms. Patients were evaluated before (T0) and after 1 week of treatment consisting of 4 serial sessions (every other day) of low‐level light therapy (LLLT) with a newly‐developed at home device.Results: Seven patients (6 females and 1 male, mean age 56.86 ± 7.29 years) were enrolled and completed regularly the entire cycle of 4 home sessions without any adverse event. Mean value of NIBUT increased significantly at T1 compared to T0 (respectively 5.81 ± 2 0.85 vs. 7.64 ± 3.93 s; p = 0.035); conversely, there were not statistically significant differences for TMH, redness score and MGL. In addition, OSDI score improved at T1 compared to T0 (respectively, 20.17 ± 9.5 vs. 31.14 ± 9.83; p < 0.001).Conclusions: One week of serial sessions of a newly‐developed at home device using LLLT improved significantly tear stability and subjective discomfort symptoms in patients with DED owing to MGD. This strategy could represent a new therapeutic option in the armamentarium of MGD treatments.