AIM: To investigate the effect of intense pulsed light(IPL)combined with meibomian gland massage in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD)related dry eye.

METHODS: Retrospectively selected 300 cases(300 right eyes)that diagnosed as MGD-related dry eye and treated in our hospital from October 2021 to October 2023, and they were divided into two groups according to the treatment modalities: 150 cases(150 eyes)in the control group were treated with meibomian gland massage, and 150 cases(150 eyes)in the observation group were treated with combined IPL. The efficacy of the two groups was compared, as well as the changes in tear film stability indexes \〖tear film break-up time(BUT), Schirmer I test(SIT)\〗, ocular surface disease index(OSDI)scores, tear film lipid layer thickness(LLT), mean objective scattering index(OSI), and the levels of inflammatory factors in the tear fluid \〖interleukin-10(IL-10)and IL-6\〗.

RESULTS: There was a difference in efficacy between the two groups of patients after treatment(88% vs 74%, P=0.002). At 8 wk after treatment, OSDI score, OSI, and tear IL-6 levels decreased, while BUT, SIt, LLT, and tear IL-10 levels increased in the two groups, and the observation group was better than the control group(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: IPL combined with meibomian gland massage for the treatment of dry eye patients with MGD is therapeutically effective, improving corneal stability and LLT, and reducing levels of OSI and inflammatory factors.