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Objective: To investigate the safety of and change from baseline of tear breakup time and visual analog pain scales in dry eye disease subjects with upper lid Meibomian gland dysfunction after intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment assessing global ocular pain severity, ocular pain frequency, and ocular pain in the previous 24 h. This is a prospective single-site study. Methods: All patients received active treatment consisting of four treatments spaced no fewer than 2 weeks apart and no longer than 4 weeks apart. The IPL therapy was performed with a Lumenis M22 (Lumenis Ltd., Yokneam, Israel) xenon-based micropulsed IPL utilizing a 590 nm filter with a 6 mm clear SapphireCool cylindrical lightguide for the upper lids with a fluence of 10 J/cm 2 across the upper eyelids, including the tragus for two passes. Patients then received expression of their meibomian glands using two cotton-tipped applicators. Tear breakup data were collected as well as global ocular pain, ocular pain episodes in the past 24 h and frequency of ocular pain episodes. Results: All of the assessments for the treated eyes improved over the course of treatment. Statistically significant physician increases in measured tear breakup times were measured for each eye independently. Statistically significant decreases in global eye dryness scale, eye dryness in the preceding 24 h, and frequency of ocular pain episodes between treatments were observed. There were no serious or nonserious adverse events in the trial. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that a new specialized 6 mm cylindrical handpiece for the M22 Lumenis IPL machine is safe and effective in increasing physician-measured tear breakup time as well as several scales of the symptoms of ocular dryness, including global symptoms, frequency of symptoms, and ocular dryness occurring within the previous 24 h before the study visit.

Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a medical treatment for cancers is an increasing practice in clinical settings, as new photosensitizing chemicals and light source technologies are developed and applied. PDT involves dosing patients with photosensitizing drugs, and then exposing them to light using a directed energy device in order to manifest a therapeutic effect. Healthcare professionals providing PDT should be aware of potential occupational health and safety hazards posed by these treatment devices and photosensitizing agents administered to patients., Materials and Methods: Here we outline and identify pertinent health and safety considerations to be taken by healthcare staff during PDT procedures., Results: Physical hazards (for example, non-ionizing radiation generated by the light-emitting device, with potential for skin and eye exposure) and chemical hazards (including the photosensitizing agents administered to patients that have the potential for exposure via skin, subcutaneous, ingestion, or inhalation routes) must be considered for safe use of PDT by the healthcare professional., Conclusions: Engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment controls are recommendations for the safe use and handling of PDT agents and light-emitting technologies.