Low-level Light Therapy Versus Intense Pulsed Light to Prevent Iatrogenic Dry Eye Disease After Cataract Surgery

Launched by CLINIQUE TRENEL · Jul 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying two types of light therapy—low-level light therapy (LLLT) and intense pulsed light (IPL)—to see if they can help prevent dry eye symptoms that sometimes happen after cataract surgery. Dry eye disease causes discomfort and blurry vision because the eyes don’t have enough healthy tears. Since cataract surgery can make dry eye worse or cause it in people who didn’t have it before, this study wants to find out if using these light treatments before and after surgery can keep eyes more comfortable and healthy.

People who might join this study are adults aged 50 or older who are scheduled for cataract surgery in both eyes, but who don’t currently have significant dry eye symptoms or treatment. Participants should be able to understand and answer questions in French and be generally healthy without certain eye or skin conditions. During the study, they will receive one of the light therapies around the time of their surgery, and researchers will monitor their eye comfort and tear health afterward. This study is not yet recruiting, but it aims to help improve recovery and comfort for people having cataract surgery by preventing dry eye problems early on.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • aged ≥50 years
• • scheduled for bilateral cataract surgery by phacoemulsification
• • without current DED treatment, including eye drops, for at least two months before the inclusion
• • with preoperative OSDI ≤22 points, indicating absence of DED or mild DED
• • who signed the informed consent and are willing to comply with the protocol requirements based on the investigator's judgment
• • affiliated with a social security scheme
• • with an ability to answer questionnaires and to communicate freely in French.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • set to undergo implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens
• • using contact lenses
• • with any of the following in the included eye: (i) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), (ii) previous ocular surgery, (iii) abnormal clinical exam of the ocular surface or (iv) undergoing any ocular treatment
• • with systemic contraindications, including autoimmune diseases (e.g., Sjögren syndrome)
• • with general contraindications for LLLT or IPL treatment: dark pigmented skin (Fitzpatrick grade ≥5), skin photosensitivity (regardless if innate, pathological or medically-induced), or neurological light sensitivity (e.g. epilepsy, light-induced migraines)
• • with contraindications for LLLT or IPL treatment limited to the treatment area: history of skin cancer, skin pigmented lesions, as well as fixed/permanent skin piercings, face tattoos, semi-permanent make-up (including microblading) or skin defects
• • with any concomitant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may put the patient at risk or may influence the result of the study
• • with protected status under articles L1121-6, LL121-8 and L1122-2 of the French Public Health Code
• • who cannot comply with the protocol requirements based on the investigator's judgment.