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Low-Level Light Therapy Before and After Cataract Surgery for the Prophylaxis of Postoperative Dry Eye Disease
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract nowBACKGROUND
Despite increasing evidence shows that optimising ocular surface before cataract surgery is fundamental in patients with pre-existing dry eye disease (DED) to achieve the desired postoperative outcomes, the prophylactic treatment of healthy patients undergoing surgery aiming at preventing iatrogenic DED is worth investigating.
METHODS
This was a prospective, interventional, randomised, controlled, double-masked clinical trial. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either low-level light therapy (LLLT) or sham treatment (LLLT with a power output <30%). Patients underwent two treatment sessions: 7±2 days before cataract surgery (T0) and 7±2 days after (T1). Outcome measures evaluated 30±4 days after surgery (T2) included Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), tear meniscus height, meibomian gland loss (MGL) and redness score.
RESULTS
Out of 153 patients randomised to receive LLLT (n=73) or sham treatment (n=80), 131 (70 men, 61 women, mean age 73.53±7.29 years) completed regularly the study. Patients treated with LLLT had significantly lower OSDI scores compared with controls at T1 and T2 (respectively, 7.2±8.8 vs 14.8±13.0 and 9.0±9.0 vs 18.2±17.9; both p<0.001), higher NIBUT values at T2 (12.5±6.6 vs 9.0±7.8; p=0.007) and lower MGL Meiboscore values at T1 (1.59±0.70 vs 1.26±0.69; p=0.008). Unlike controls, patients treated with LLLT had significantly lower OSDI scores and higher NIBUT values at T2 compared with T0 (respectively, 9.0±9.0 vs 21.2±16.1; p<0.001 and 12.5±6.6 vs 9.7±7.2; p=0.007).
CONCLUSION
Two sessions of LLLT performed before and after cataract surgery were effective in ameliorating tear film stability and ocular discomfort symptoms.
Additional Info
Outcomes of low-level light therapy before and after cataract surgery for the prophylaxis of postoperative dry eye: a prospective randomised double-masked controlled clinical trial
Br J Ophthalmol 2024 Jul 23;108(8)1172-1176, G Giannaccare, C Rossi, M Borselli, G Carnovale Scalzo, G Scalia, R Pietropaolo, B Fratto, M Pellegrini, AC Yu, V ScorciaFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.