← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting NCT07173530

NCT07173530 Low Level Light Therapy & Skin Pigmentation

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT07173530
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor University of Houston
Condition Dry Eye
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 40 participants
Start Date 2025-06-11
Primary Completion 2026-08

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Three 15-minute low-level light therapy sessions using Light Emitting Diodes of wavelength 633nm (Essilor epi-c plus).

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

This trial targets 40 participants in total. It began in 2025-06-11 with a primary completion date of 2026-08.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if there is a difference in eyelid temperature after low-level light therapy (LLLT) in individuals with different amounts of skin pigmentation and dry eye/meibomian gland disease. Participants will have 3 fifteen minute in office LLLT therapy sessions over a period of approximately 7 to 14 days.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to read and understand the study informed consent in English * Age 18 years or older at enrollment * Individuals with MGD based on one or more of the following clinical signs/symptoms, e.g., meibum quality score of 1-3 (Bron et al.), meibography score of 1, 2, or 3 on the Pult Meiboscale, non-invasive 1st tear break up time of 10 seconds or less, or an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score greater than 12 points. Exclusion Criteria: * Active anterior segment pathology (e.g., bacterial conjunctivitis, microbial keratitis) * History of systemic disease associated with aqueous-deficient dry eye disease (e.g., Sjogren's syndrome) * History of corneal surgery, refractive surgery, or eyelid surgery within 6 months * History of corneal ectasia (e.g. keratoconus, Pellucid marginal degeneration) * History of ocular trauma within 6 months * History of LipiFlow, iLux, Meiboflow, IPL or LLLT within the last 12 months * Habitual use of photosensitizing medications within the last 30 days * Pregnant and/or lactating females, by self-report * Pigmented lesions, tattoos, or skin cancer in the periocular region * Unwilling to have eyes photographed or video recorded

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Eric Ritchey, OD, PhD

✉ erritche@central.uh.edu

📞 713-743-1933

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT07173530 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Dry Eye. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT07173530 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT07173530 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at erritche@central.uh.edu for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT07173530 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Houston, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT07173530 clinical trial?

NCT07173530 is sponsored by University of Houston. The trial plans to enroll 40 participants.

Related Trials

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: September 2026  ·  Data Methodology