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Automatic application of warmth and expression – a breakthrough in physical therapy of dry eye
Author(s) -
GREINER J
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.1755-3768.2014.2673.x
Subject(s) - medicine , crossover study , meibomian gland , ophthalmology , prospective cohort study , surgery , pathology , eyelid , alternative medicine , placebo
The most common form of dry eye disease is evaporative dry eye resulting from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) based on obstructed MG. A prospective, randomized, crossover, multicenter clinical study employed a single treatment with the automated computer controlled LipiFlow thermal pulsation system (LTPS). Improvement in signs & symptoms and its duration in patients with evaporative dry eye secondary to MGD was investigated over several time points. Initial results verified significant improvement of MG secretion at 2 & 4 weeks compared to conventional warm compress method. This was based on evaluation of tear film break up time (TF‐BUT), ocular surface staining, patient symptoms (OSDI & SPEED test). The secretion score improved significantly from baseline (4.4 ± 4.0) to 1‐month post‐treatment (11.3 ± 6.2; p < 0.0001) and this improvement was maintained with no significant regression at 9 months (11.7 ± 5.9) and even at 3‐years (18.4±6.2) after therapy. Treatment with the Lipiflow device is a technological advance that exceeds any known form of dry eye therapy in duration and efficacy, since it is efficacious even for extended durations (9‐mos, 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐years) following a single 12‐minute treatment.