Effectiveness of eye-light therapy in improving dry eye symptoms

Abstract

: We aimed to examine the effectiveness of eye-light therapy in improving the dry eye symptoms.: The retrospective case series where patients who underwent eye-light therapy between March 2019 to May 2020 were analyzed. Twenty patients aged ≥18 years with dry eyes were included. Patients with ocular infections, complications, contact lens users and missing data were excluded. OSDI scores and tear parameters such as  noninvasive break up time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), tear meniscus height, meibography of upper and lower lid were evaluated pre and post one month Eye-Light therapy.: Twenty patients with mean±SD age of 43.55±20.53 years and mean spherical equivalent refractive error of 0.69±1.79 diopters were analyzed. OSDI was significantly associated with NBUT (r=-0.50, P = 0.02), lipid layer thickness (r=-0.45, P=0.047) and tear height (r =-0.45, P=0.046).  OSDI was positively associated with upper lid meibography (r=0.74, P=<0.001) and lower lid meibography (r=0.45, P=0.045). Post-therapy, reduction in OSDI score post-therapy was present, NBUT was similar, lipid layer thickness and tear height were increased, meibography of upper lid was reduced, and meibography of lower lid did not alter much. Eye-light therapy is effective in reducing dry eye related symptoms with minimal immediate effect on tear film parameters post therapy. Eye-light therapy acts as an adjunct to ameliorate MGD. MGD being a chronic disease requires sustained therapy with environmental changes. Long term evaluation is required to assess the tear film changes and the pattern of efficacy of light therapy.