Effectiveness of Intense Pulsed Light for Improving Dry Eye Syndrome

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a non-invasive and non-laser light treatment that is FDA-approved for various conditions in dermatology. Subjects will receive a total of 4 IPL treatments over the course of the study, at intervals of 2 weeks. Each treatment will include applications of 10-15 IPL pulses in the malar region and close to the lower eyelids, followed by meibomian gland expression.

Sham intense pulsed light (IPL) will be implemented with an IPL device in which all light is blocked by a filter. Subjects will receive a total of 4 sham treatments over the course of the study, at intervals of 2 weeks. Each treatment will include applications of10-15 sham pulses in the malar region and close to the lower eyelids, followed by meibomian gland expression.

Meibomian gland expression (MGX) will be implemented by squeezing the meibomian glands with the aid of two Q-tips positioned on either side of the meibomian glands, or with a meibomian gland expressor forceps