Treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye symptoms with a single-dose vectored thermal pulsation

Abstract

A single 12 minute vectored thermal pulsation treatment allows for reducing dry eye symptoms, improving meibomian gland function and other correlates of the ocular surface health.

Meibomian gland dysfunction patients with novel Sjögren’s syndrome biomarkers benefit significantly from a single vectored thermal pulsation procedure: a retrospective analysis

“…LipiFlow is an automated thermodynamic pulsatile therapeutic procedure, which has been shown to improve meibomian gland function 12,19. The single, 12-minute in-office treatment has been found to be highly effective in the treatment of MGD-associated EDE by increasing meibomian gland function, thereby improving TBUT, tear film stability and reducing dry eye symptoms 10–12,14,17–19.…”

“…The core therapeutic approach for the treatment of obstructive MGD is to relieve the obstruction in the meibomian glands 10–12. Conventional treatments have included warm compresses for front surface lid warming and lid massage, but do not address obstruction of the meibomian glands 12.…”

“…Conventional treatments have included warm compresses for front surface lid warming and lid massage, but do not address obstruction of the meibomian glands 12. In the authors’ experience, these are supportive therapies that are best offered after obstruction has been addressed.…”

“…In the authors’ experience, these are supportive therapies that are best offered after obstruction has been addressed. While there is a long history supporting the benefits of forceful manual gland expression,13 a vectored thermal pulsation system (LipiFlow, TearScience Inc., Morrisville, NC, USA) is an innovative, automated method, which overcomes the limitations of conventional methods and offers an effective treatment for meibomian gland obstruction 12. LipiFlow safely delivers a therapeutic level of heat to the palpebral surfaces of the upper and lower eyelids directly over the meibomian glands,11,14 while graded pulsatile pressure simultaneously evacuates the meibomian glands during heating 11,14,15.…”

“…LipiFlow safely delivers a therapeutic level of heat to the palpebral surfaces of the upper and lower eyelids directly over the meibomian glands,11,14 while graded pulsatile pressure simultaneously evacuates the meibomian glands during heating 11,14,15. Several studies have shown that a single 12-minute LipiFlow treatment can be effective in relieving obstruction, returning function to meibomian glands, and thereby improving evaporative dry eye (EDE) symptoms 10–12,14,16–19. What has not been studied is the effect of LipiFlow thermal pulsation treatment on dry eye in SS, classically described as consisting purely of a deficiency in volume of ATDE 20.…”