The E-Eye Medical Grade IPL device, developed and manufactured in France by E-Swin, is the first and only Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) device in the world, specifically designed for the treatment of dry eye syndrome due to the Meibomian Glands Dysfunction (MDG).
It generates a polychromatic-pulsed light by producing perfectly calibrated and homogenously sequenced light pulses. The energy, spectrum and time period of the pulsed light is precisely set to stimulate and unblock the meibomian glands in order for them to return their normal functions. As a result the dry lipid layer returns to a natural flow of lipid and tear evaporation is reduced.
A study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Auckland University found that “Intense pulsed light, with multiple sculpted pulses, shows therapeutic potential for meibomian gland dysfunction, improving tear film quality and reducing symptoms of dry eye”.1
Accidental Early Adopter
Brisbane ophthalmologist Dr. Brendan Cronin was an accidental early adopter of the E-Eye device and he said he has had huge success with it, having managed his own patients’ dry eye as well as patients from other optometrists and ophthalmologists who had run out of options.
Intense pulsed light, with multiple sculpted pulses, shows therapeutic potential for meibomian gland dysfunction, improving tear film quality and reducing symptoms of dry eye
“I’d just returned from overseas and, being early in my career, I was loaded with debt. I trialled the E-Eye for a while but despite the positive responses from my patients, I decided I couldn’t afford to buy the unit.
“When I told my patients I was not going to continue with it, they were absolutely scathing of my decision, so much so that I was forced to change my mind. One of my patients, a teacher, came to me and told me the treatment had been life-changing. He had used up almost all of his sick leave due to dry eye but having been treated with the E-Eye device he’d been back at work full time.”
Dr. Cronin has been using the device since 2013 and says although it doesn’t work for everyone, 85 per cent of patients are “really happy” with the results.
Optometrist Dr. Jason Holland has been using the E-Eye IPL device to treat meibomian gland dysfunction since 2015 and says his patients have embraced it.
“When I offer them four in-house treatments compared with daily heat packs for 10 –12 minutes for three to four weeks, most are relieved that there is an alternative!,” said Dr. Holland.
He said investing in an E-Eye IPL device wasn’t a snap decision. “I waited with anticipation for Dr. Jennifer Craig’s paper to be released at ARVO before making the purchase. The results published gave me the confidence to dive in,” he said.
Twenty-eight people, aged 45±16 years, 68 per cent of whom were female, participated in the prospective, double-masked, placebo-controlled, paired-eye study led by Associate Professor Jennifer Craig. Treatment was delivered three times following baseline (BL) evaluation; on Day one, Day 15, and Day 45. A/Prof Craig and her team evaluated lipid layer grade (LLG), non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT), tear evaporation rate (TER), tear meniscus height (TMH) and subjective symptom score (SPEED) against baseline and control values.
According to the study, which was published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, results were as follows: “Lipid layer grade improved significantly from BL to Day (D) 45 in the treated eye (P < 0.001), but not the control eye (P = 0.714), with 82 per cent of treated eyes improving by at least one LLG. Noninvasive tear break-up time also improved significantly from BL to D45 in the treated (P < 0.001) but not in the control eye (P = 0.056) and was significantly longer than in the treated eye at D45 (14.1 ± 9.8 seconds versus 8.6 ± 8.2 seconds, P < 0.001). The tear evaporation rate was not different in the treated eye compared with the control eye at any visit. Tear meniscus height did not change from BL in either eye (P > 0.05). Visual analog scale symptom scores improved from BL in the treated (P = 0.015), but not the control eye (P = 0.245), with 86 per cent of participants noting reduced symptoms in the treated eye by D45.”1
Contact: Contact: France Medical (AUS) 07 3160 3110 or www.francemedical.com.au
