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Innovative treatments for MGD ‐ EVER more important for ocular surface disease
Author(s) -
KNOP N,
KNOP E
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2014.2671.x
Subject(s) - meibomian gland , medicine , azithromycin , disease , surgery , antibiotics , pathology , eyelid , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract The 2011 TFOS MGD Report has translated into several new developments in the therapy of Dry Eye Disease with a focus on MGD. Lipid supplementation is recognized as crucial for dry eye therapy either as liposomal spray or in many new tear substitutes. Physical therapy is recognized as a causative treatment in order to re‐liquify inspissated secretum before the application of mechanical pressure in order to eventually release obstructed glands. Since the application of adequate heat is time consuming and tricky, pre‐heated gel applicators or controlled heating googles can be used but must still be repeated every day. Even then, manual expression of the multitude of meibomian glands can be painful or ineffective. A new automated device that allows the computer controlled application of heat and pressure under the supervision of the ophthalmologist in his practice presently occurs as the most advance and effective therapy option that can lead to longterm restoration of meibomian gland function over several months. Azithromycin, a new topical drug has, besides a long‐term tissue uptake, not only an antibiotic but also an anti‐inflammatory and a newly observed promotive effect on gland function and is widely used for MGD.