Restoration of meibomian gland functionality with novel thermodynamic treatment device-a case report.
A new and previously unpublished thermodynamic treatment device, which for the first time applies heat directly to both inner eyelid surfaces with a precision-controlled resistive heater while pulsating pressure is simultaneously applied to the outer eyelids using an inflatable air bladder, was used to restore meibomian gland functionality for a subject with severe evaporative dry eye. The subject, a 39-year-old white woman of light complexion with severe symptoms and corroborating objective signs of dry eye, had been unsuccessfully treated for 3 years by 7 practitioners. Using a new standardized meibomian gland expression device, a diagnosis of nonobvious meibomian gland dysfunction, where none of the approximately 24 meibomian glands of the right lower eyelid and 1 meibomian gland of the left lower eyelid were functional, was made. The patient underwent a single 12-minute treatment per eye with the treatment device. The treatment restored the functionality of 8 glands in each eye, doubled the fluorescein break-up time (FBUT) from 5 to 10 seconds, and decreased the symptom scores by approximately 80% for the entire follow-up period of 3 months.
Korb
Donald R
DR
Korb Associates, Boston, MA, USA.
Blackie
Caroline A
CA
D000328:Adult; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology