Light relief: Does LLLT help dry eye disease?
2 August 2023
Summer 2023
Interest is growing in the use of low-level light therapy to remedy dry eye disease. Adrian O’Dowd investigates the evidence behind the treatment.
Dry eye disease can cause symptoms of discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film instability, with potential damage to the ocular surface (Vehof et al, 2014). One treatment is intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, which has been shown to be effective in treating patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) – the most common cause of dry eye (Thomas, 2021). An emerging treatment is low-level light therapy (LLLT), and alongside IPL is classed as a form of photobiomodulation.
Not already a member of The College?
Start enjoying the benefits of College membership today. Take a look at what the College can offer you and view our membership categories and rates.
Related further reading
This year's National Eye Health Week will take place from 18 to 24 September 2023, promoting the importance of good eye health and the need for regular sight tests for all.
The Cochrane systematic review consisted of 17 randomised controlled trials that recruited 619 people.
This article describes sleep and its regulation, and the specific contribution of the eye.