Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy in improving dry eye disease (DED) symptoms and tear film dynamics, particularly in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Key Findings:

• Both groups showed improvements in NITBUT, meibomian gland expressibility, corneoconjunctival staining, and OSDI scores by week 6.
• At week 12, Group A demonstrated superior outcomes in NITBUT, tear meniscus height, and tear-film lipid layer quality compared to Group B.
• Only the three-session regimen resulted in a significant increase in lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-α) levels, indicating a potential restoration of immune homeostasis.

Interpretation:

IPL therapy not only alleviates symptoms of DED but also enhances tear film stability and reduces ocular surface inflammation, suggesting a biologically active role in treatment.

Limitations:

• The study involved a small sample size of 30 patients.
• Subjective symptom scores did not show significant differences at 12 weeks, indicating a potential plateau in perceived benefits.

Conclusion:

IPL should be considered a core strategy in managing evaporative DED rather than a supplementary option, due to its ability to improve both symptoms and objective measures of ocular health.