Current practices and considerations in intense pulsed light therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction

Abstract

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy has emerged as a promising modality for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), a leading cause of evaporative dry eye disease. However, its clinical application varies significantly across studies, with notable procedural heterogeneity in device selection, treatment intervals, anatomical coverage, and adjunctive strategies. This comprehensive review synthesizes 110 clinical studies to delineate prevailing procedural trends and identify evidence-based components of IPL protocols for MGD. Using structured data extraction, we examined key treatment variables including IPL device type, pulse energy, number and frequency of sessions, anatomical treatment regions, filter types, light guide configurations, and adjunctive interventions such as meibomian gland expression, low-level light therapy, and pharmacologic agents. While substantial variability exists, several consistent procedural patterns were identified that may inform clinical standardization. This review provides a practical framework for optimizing IPL therapy in MGD and underscores the need for further comparative investigations to refine protocol design.