IPL-therapy in ophthalmology: literature review

INTRODUCTION: In the modern world, the prevalence of ophthalmological diseases is steadily growing and remains a pressing problem today. Various congenital anomalies of the lacrimal glands, contaminated environment, unbalanced nutrition, taking various medical drugs, wearing contact lenses, irrational use of digital/electronic devices are provoking factors in the development of eye pathology. Chronic processes of the eyelids, such as dry eye syndrome, dysfunction of meibomian glands, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, recurrent chalazions, significantly reduce the quality of life and working capacity of patients. Disorder in stability of the tear film entails a cascade of pathological alterations. Conservative therapy — artificial tears, thermal applications, anti-inflammatory drugs, antiseptics, antibiotics are unable to provide complete long-term elimination of objective and subjective symptoms. One latest achievement in ophthalmology for these conditions is the use of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. AIM: To analyze domestic and foreign literature sources on the use of IPL-therapy in ophthalmology, to determine the mechanism of its action, effectiveness of this treatment method, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the possibility to use it for various eye pathologies. The review summarizes the clinical results of the use of IPL-therapy in ophthalmology, discusses the possibilities of its incorporation in the algorithm of complex treatment of some ophthalmological diseases. CONCLUSION: IPL-therapy is an effective and safe procedure in some chronic diseases of the anterior segment of the eye.