Research Article - Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology (2025) Volume 9, Issue 1

Advances in intense pulsed light therapy for ocular surface disorders.

Since its initial use in 2002 to treat Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and Dry Eye Disease (DED), Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy has evolved into a widely adopted treatment for various ocular surface diseases. This review examines the latest advancements in IPL therapy, with a focus on its emerging applications in conditions such as blepharitis, refractory dry eye, blepharitis-associated keratoconjunctivitis, glaucoma-related DED, chalazion and more. Key mechanisms underlying IPL's effectiveness, including microbial modulation, anti-inflammatory effects and photobiomodulation, are discussed. Furthermore, this review highlights innovations in IPL systems, such as the M22, E-Eye and EOS devices, which improve treatment precision and patient comfort. Clinical studies have demonstrated the significant efficacy of IPL in managing MGD, enhancing tear film stability, reducing symptoms of dry eye and even addressing complex cases like recurrent chalazion and chronic hordeolum. Notably, IPL has shown promising results when combined with other therapies, including diquafosol, cyclosporine and Meibomian Gland Expression (MGX), indicating its potential as a multimodal treatment approach. The review also explores IPL’s role in perioperative care for refractive surgery patients and as a therapeutic option for glaucoma-related dry eye. Despite the growing body of evidence supporting IPL's clinical utility, further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to better define its role in treating ocular surface diseases and to explore its full therapeutic potential.

Author(s):

Ruida Chen, Jie Zhou, Haohan Zheng, Yirui Zhu*

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