Since Lumenis launched OptiPLUS as the first dual-frequency radiofrequency (RF) technology—and complementary device for its OptiLIGHT intense pulsed laser (IPL) therapy—to the U.S. market last fall, it's drastically altered how eyecare professionals (ECPs) manage a specific patient demographic: those diagnosed with dry eye disease (DED) due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
For a real-world look at how exactly OptiPLUS is upgrading this form of patient management, Glance President Jaclyn Garlich, OD, FAAO, spoke with Ray Corbin-Simon, OD, FAAO, an optometrist at In Focus Vision Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, and avid user of the device.
First, a refresh on Lumenis.
Headquartered in Israel, Lumenis is a global energy-based medical device company developing minimally-invasive clinical solutions for two key markets:
- Aesthetic
- Ophthalmic
Got it. Now give me a brief refresh on OptiLIGHT.
First thing to know: It’s the first and only light therapy approved by the FDA for managing DED due to MGD.
- What makes it unique: The therapy uses Lumenis’s patented Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT) that is specifically designed for use on the delicate area below the eye.
How it works: Light is applied only to the skin located on the malar region of the face, from tragus to tragus (including the nose).
- Its intent: To break the cycle of inflammation typically associated with dry eye
And its intended purpose?
Essentially: To treat the root cause of DED due to MGD.
What’s Dr. Corbin-Simon’s experience with it?
For her, FDA clearance was a major green flag for making light therapy a standard of care in her DED practice.
“I started noticing that I was referring patients to other practitioners for treatment and I saw the difference in how they were feeling,” she said. “So I thought to myself, what if I were to do this in my own office?”
Dr. Corbin-Simon noted the device’s ease of use. “Where the machine puts in the work for me was key,” she added. “And I’ve definitely seen a difference in how my patients feel. They are more comfortable; it’s actually making a difference.”
That’s high praise … now talk about OptiPLUS.
This FDA-cleared dual-frequency RF technology is designed for customized treatment to complement the company’s novel OptiLIGHT technology.
- Its purpose: To deliver heat across tissue layers, leading to improved medical performance and aesthetic results such as enhanced:
- Collagen production
- Skin rejuvenation
Note: OptiPLUS cannot be purchased alone—it is intended for use only with OptiLIGHT.
So how does it work?
OptiPLUS uses dual-frequency RF technology to exert precise energy penetration across several skin layer depths, heating the superficial layer (applied on the skin and around the eyes, in the periorbital area).
- Its target: Promote collagen production and blood circulation as well as target meibomian glands (accessible by reaching into deeper tissue)
And the treatment length?
The quick duration typically averages around 6 minutes per side, with results noticeable in four sessions, according to Lumenis.
Click here to download the OptiPLUS complete information kit.
And how is this beneficial for clinicians?
For Dr. Corbin-Simon: “The use of RF has been a game-changer,” she said, “OptiLIGHT deals with just one segment of my demographic of patients—so with OptiPLUS, I can now offer my other dry eye patients (plus current OptiLIGHT patients) additional treatment options.”
The positive difference: Dr. Corbin-Simon noted she now has two devices in her practice that can help treat patients with various needs.
So … how do OptiPLUS and OptiLIGHT compare to similar devices on the market?
First, let’s address the distinction between these two devices: OptiLIGHT depends on the light-based OPT to manage dry eye inflammation (due to MGD), whereas OptiPLUS uses dual-frequency RF energy to achieve its clinical outcome.
Now compared to other (non-Lumenis) devices: Dr. Corbin-Simon noted that the regulatory clearance for both—not to mention the positive clinical research supporting the efficacy of similar technologies—played a major role in her decision to use these devices.
Let’s talk about supporting clinical data.
Research published in October 2023 in Clinical Ophthalmology evaluated the efficacy of IPL pairing for improving DED signs and symptoms due to MGD when paired with RF technology.
- The study: A prospective, interventional, single-arm pilot study (NCT05487547)
- Study setup: Total of 31 participants (aged 22 to 85) with moderate-to-severe DED symptoms due to MGD underwent four treatments at 2-week intervals
- Treatments: IPL followed by dual frequency RF on the periocular skin, then meibomian gland expression (MGX)
- Outcome measure:
- Primary: Meibum quality in 15 meibomian glands along the lower yield (via the modified Meibomian Gland Score [mMGS, also known as a Meibo-score] on a grading scale of 0 to 3)
- See here for other outcomes, including Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and non-invasive tear breakup time (TBUT)
- Study period: Measured 4 weeks after the fourth treatment session
- Primary: Meibum quality in 15 meibomian glands along the lower yield (via the modified Meibomian Gland Score [mMGS, also known as a Meibo-score] on a grading scale of 0 to 3)
And the findings?
Overall, the combination of IPL and RF resulted in:
- Decreased DED symptoms
- By +60%
- Improved meibum quality and appearance of eyelids
- Increased number of expressible glands (+150% average)
- Significant improvement (+70%) of meibum clarity
- Decreased meibomian gland loss
Compared to standard IPL and MGX only: These improvements were noted as “generally larger” when RF was included (-20.9 vs -18.3, p < 0.05)
What about OptiPLUS alone; how is it unique from other RF technology?
Per Dr. Corbin-Simon, unlike most RF technologies—which are typically bipolar— OptiPLUS uses a monopolar mechanism.
“That reason alone makes it safe to use, and we know that safety is a major issue when it comes to treating patients,” she said. “And the ease of use is a big difference—the beauty of these Lumenis devices is that the equipment is set up for you; just press a button and it takes care of the rest.”
Explain this monopolar capability.
A monopolar electrode is designed for patients’ safety and comfort, working to ensure “optimized contact with every delicate curve in the periorbital area,” according to Lumenis.
Further: Monopolar RF is described as a nonsurgical, noninvasive procedure using high-frequency electric current to heat deep tissue and treat the skin.
Impressive! So how can I request a demo of OptiPLUS for my practice?
Click here to contact the company and here to find a distributor.
Product notes
*Per the FDA’s cleared submission, OptiPLUS is not intended to be used within the orbital rim or on the neck.
*OptiPLUS is cleared for use in the United States as a standalone device and not as a combination device with other therapies.