{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T03:48:28Z","timestamp":1791776908470,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,11]],"date-time":"2026-10-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791676800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,11]],"date-time":"2026-10-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791676800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Acta Ophthalmologica"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    A healthy tear film is vital for ocular surface integrity and relies on the coordinated function of the lacrimal glands, meibomian glands and conjunctival goblet cells. Dysfunction in any of these elements can lead to dry eye disease (DED). This systematic review and meta\u2010analysis evaluated the efficacy of low\u2010level light therapy (LLLT) as a standalone DED treatment. Although evidence for LLLT's therapeutic potential is growing, prior reviews have focused on short\u2010term outcomes or combined LLLT with intense pulsed light. This meta\u2010analysis consolidates current findings to clarify the clinical value of LLLT monotherapy in DED management. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies evaluating LLLT for DED. Study selection and data extraction were conducted according to pre\u2010specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta\u2010analyses were performed for Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non\u2010invasive break\u2010up time (NIBUT) and tear meniscus height (TMH). Ten clinical studies were eligible for our systematic review, which included a total of 473 participants. Irradiation protocols included treatment sessions using wavelengths of 625\u2013640\u2009nm and\/or 810\u2013850\u2009nm, with each session lasting a minimum of 10\u2009min. In our meta\u2010analyses, LLLT monotherapy was associated with significant improvements in OSDI (weighted mean difference [WMD] \u221211.42,\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009&lt;\u20090.00001), NIBUT (WMD +1.49\u2009s,\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.005), and TMH (WMD +0.04\u2009mm,\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.007). Sensitivity analyses restricted to eligible RCTs confirmed significant effects on OSDI and NIBUT, but not on TMH. No adverse events were reported. LLLT appears to be well tolerated and may improve signs and symptoms of DED, particularly ocular discomfort. It may represent a promising standalone treatment option for patients in whom combination regimens involving IPL treatment are contraindicated.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/aos.70252","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T03:37:59Z","timestamp":1791776279000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Low\u2010level light therapy for dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction: A systematic review and meta\u2010analysis"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"given":"Sjur","family":"Reppe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"Department of Medical Biochemistry Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6620-5365","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yousif","family":"Subhi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology University Hospital of Southern Denmark  S\u00f8nderborg Denmark"},{"name":"Department of Regional Health Research University of Southern Denmark  Odense Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tore","family":"Steinkjer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"The Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic  Oslo Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9187-3231","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mazyar","family":"Yazdani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"Department of Medical Biochemistry Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8697-0734","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Miriam","family":"Kolko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology University of Copenhagen  Copenhagen Denmark"},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology Rigshospitalet  Glostrup Denmark"},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology Aalborg University Hospital  Aalborg Denmark"},{"name":"Eye Hospital Your Eye Doctors  Rungsted Kyst Denmark"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tor P.","family":"Utheim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"Department of Medical Biochemistry Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"The Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"Department of Quality and Health Technology, The Faculty of Health Sciences University of Stavanger  Stavanger Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3835-8772","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fredrik Andreas","family":"Fineide","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"Department of Medical Biochemistry Oslo University Hospital  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"The Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic  Oslo Norway"},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology \u00d8stfold Hospital Trust  Moss Norway"},{"name":"Department of Computer Science Oslo Metropolitan University  Oslo Norway"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_6_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1080\/08164622.2023.2206950","article-title":"Thermal effect on eyelid and tear film after low\u2010level light therapy and warm compress","volume":"107","author":"Antwi A.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clinical & Experimental Optometry"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1464","DOI":"10.1111\/opo.13371","article-title":"Effect of low\u2010level light therapy in individuals with dry eye disease","volume":"44","author":"Antwi A.","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clae.2024.102344","article-title":"Low\u2010level light therapy and intense pulse light therapy in meibomian gland dysfunction. A systematic review and meta\u2010analysis","volume":"48","author":"Chan K.E.","year":"2025","journal-title":"Contact Lens & Anterior Eye"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1186\/s13195-025-01714-w","article-title":"Photobiomodulation modulates mitochondrial energy metabolism and ameliorates neurological damage in an APP\/PS1 mousmodel of Alzheimer's disease","volume":"17","author":"Chen H.","year":"2025","journal-title":"Alzheimer's Research & Therapy"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clae.2025.102456","article-title":"Low\u2010level light therapy alone versus combination therapy with intense pulsed light in the treatment of dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction: a randomised paired\u2010eye and mechanism of action trial","volume":"48","author":"Chiang J.C.B.","year":"2025","journal-title":"Contact Lens & Anterior Eye"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_7_1","article-title":"Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction","volume":"3","author":"Cote S.","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1080","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000002954","article-title":"Clinical and molecular outcomes after combined intense pulsed light therapy with low\u2010level light therapy in recalcitrant evaporative dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction","volume":"41","author":"D'Souza S.","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"e_1_2_6_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1159\/000509001","article-title":"Examining the safety and efficacy of low\u2010level laser therapy for male and female pattern hair loss: a review of the literature","volume":"6","author":"Egger A.","year":"2020","journal-title":"Skin Appendage 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