Researchers from Aston Optometry School are assessing how light-based therapies, known to be effective for dry eye disease treatment, work to improve the health of the oil glands in our eyelids. These include intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) and low-level light therapy (LLLT). We are seeking adult volunteer participants aged 18 and over who are suffering from a specific form of dry eye disease where the oil glands in your eyelids are not working properly (called Meibomian Gland Disease).

You will need to attend a total of 6 visits (4 treatment visits provided for free, 2 to 3 weeks apart, and then 2 follow-up visits 2 weeks and 3 months after the final treatment visit). If you are eligible and suitable for treatment, one of your eyes will be randomised to receiving both IPL and LLLT, and the other eye will receive LLLT alone so that we can compare how these treatments work. The blood flow in your eyelids and nerves on the surface of the eyes will also be analysed using sophisticated, non-invasive instruments during the first and follow-up visits. Each visit lasts about 1.5 hours.

You will not be able to participate if you are pregnant, wore contact lenses in the past 2 weeks or will be during the study, have only one functioing eye, have systemic conditions that can cause dry eye disease such as diabetes or Sjögren’s syndrome, contraindicated for IPL treatment (e.g. have photosensitive epilepsy, used photosensitising medication in the past 3 months, have tattoos, implants, electrical or acoustic prosthetics, semi-permanent make-up, pigmented lesions or skin cancers in the treatment area, have pacemakers or have a dark skin tone), had facial or ocular light therapies in the past 6 months, or had a history of ocular surgery or corneal infections.