Shedding light on dry eye: new study tests IPL and LED mask therapies

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals with dry eye disease symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI) score ≥ 13 or Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ5) score \> 6) and signs (tear film instability measured with non-invasive tear break-up time \< 10 s or ocular surface damage measured using special dyes placed on the front surface of the eyes that temporarily stains any aggravated or damaged cells: \> 5 corneal spots, \> 9 conjunctival spots or lid margin staining ≥ 2mm in length and ≥ 25% in width) (Wolffsohn et al., 2017) * Individuals need to also have Meibomian gland dysfunction. The diagnosis of Meibomian gland dysfunction depends on how many of 5 glands in the central lower eyelid can express oil, and the quality of the oil. A diagnosis is made if there is decreased expressibility (grade 1-3 on the Pflugfelder scale) and reduced quality of oil (grade 1-3 on Bron scale). Any presence of gland blockage and/or loss of oil glands grade 2 to grade 4 of either eyelid \[Pult and Reide-Pult, 2013\]) will also justify a diagnosis of Meibomian gland dysfunction * Age ≥ 18 years, male or female * Able to provide written consent in English * Able to attend multiple visits (4 treatment visits) and followed up for 2 weeks and 3 months after final treatment Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * Contraindications to IPL treatment (Individuals with darker skin types - Fitzpatrick skin type V or VI, photosensitive epilepsy, tattoos, implants, electrical or acoustic prosthetics, semi-permanent make-up, pigmented lesions or skin cancer in the treatment area, pacemakers, use of photosensitising medication the past 3 months or during treatment period) * Facial or ocular IPL or LLLT treatment within the past 6 months or during study period in addition to those provided in the study * Use of topical medical eyedrops in the past 3 months or during study period * Contact lens wear in the past 2 weeks or during study period * Systemic conditions that can cause dry eye disease or corneal nerve loss including diabetes and Sjögren's syndrome * Other active ocular surface diseases or history of ocular surgery or corneal infections * Individuals with 1 eye