University of Houston College of Optometry, Houston, Texas, USA.
Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2024 Nov;44(7):1464-1471. doi: 10.1111/opo.13371. Epub 2024 Aug 2.
Low-level light therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, the application of red light to the eye, is used for the treatment of dry eye. Limited studies have investigated the efficacy of LLLT as a stand-alone treatment. The investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of LLLT on signs and symptoms of dry eye.
Participants with mild to moderate dry eye were recruited for this three-visit study. Visits were 7 (±3) days apart and all participants received 633 nm LLLT (eye-light®) for 15 min at each visit. Clinical measures including first and average non-invasive keratograph tear break-up time (NIKBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), meibomian gland (MG) loss for upper and lower eyelids, ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score, tear film lipid layer thickness, meibum quality score, Schirmer's test, corneal fluorescein staining and eyelid temperature for external upper (EUL) and external lower (ELL) eyelids were measured from the right eye of participants before and after treatment.
Thirty participants (mean [SD] age: 31.1 [9.5] years) completed the study. Treatment with LLLT resulted in significant differences in first and average NIKBUT, TMH, tear film lipid layer thickness, OSDI score, Schirmer's test, meibum quality score and eyelid temperature over time (all p < 0.05). Compared to baseline, TMH, tear film lipid layer thickness and eyelid temperature significantly increased by 0.06 mm (95% CI: 0.01-0.11), 12.9 nm (95% CI: 1.18-24.55), and 7.0°C, respectively, for both EUL (95% CI: 6.17-7.84) and ELL (95% CI: 6.17-7.73). The respective decrease in the OSDI score and Schirmer's test was 10.2 (95% CI: -15.15 to -5.26) and 4.4 mm (95% CI: -7.31 to -1.42; all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in corneal fluorescein staining and MG loss after LLLT.
Low-level light therapy treatment significantly improved signs and symptoms of dry eye in the early phases of treatment, suggesting its efficacy for dry eye management.
低水平光疗法（LLLT）或光生物调节，即红光应用于眼睛，用于治疗干眼症。有限的研究调查了 LLLT 作为单一疗法的疗效。本研究旨在评估 LLLT 对干眼症的症状和体征的影响。
本三项访视研究招募了轻度至中度干眼症患者。访视间隔为 7（±3）天，所有参与者在每次访视时均接受 633nm LLLT（eye-light®）治疗 15 分钟。临床测量包括首次和平均非侵入性泪膜破裂时间（NIKBUT）、泪膜高度（TMH）、上下眼睑的睑板腺（MG）损失、眼表疾病指数（OSDI）评分、泪膜脂质层厚度、睑脂质量评分、Schirmer 测试、角膜荧光素染色和右眼外部上眼睑（EUL）和外部下眼睑（ELL）的眼睑温度。在治疗前后测量参与者右眼的这些参数。
30 名参与者（平均[标准差]年龄：31.1[9.5]岁）完成了这项研究。LLLT 治疗导致首次和平均 NIKBUT、TMH、泪膜脂质层厚度、OSDI 评分、Schirmer 测试、睑脂质量评分和眼睑温度随时间显著变化（均 p<0.05）。与基线相比，TMH、泪膜脂质层厚度和眼睑温度分别显著增加了 0.06mm（95%CI：0.01-0.11）、12.9nm（95%CI：1.18-24.55）和 7.0°C，分别为 EUL（95%CI：6.17-7.84）和 ELL（95%CI：6.17-7.73）。OSDI 评分和 Schirmer 测试的相应下降分别为 10.2（95%CI：-15.15 至-5.26）和 4.4mm（95%CI：-7.31 至-1.42；均 p<0.05）。LLLT 后角膜荧光素染色和 MG 损失无显著差异。
低水平光疗法治疗在治疗早期显著改善了干眼症的症状和体征，表明其对干眼症管理的疗效。
