A comparison of an eyelid-warming device to traditional compress therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the warming and humidifying effect and ocular safety of the Blephasteam® eyelid-warming device vs. warm and moist compresses in healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Twenty subjects (8 females, 12 males; mean age 39.2 years) were included in the study. Temperature and relative humidity were measured over a period of 10 min at the lower eyelid margin of one randomly selected eye during application of the Blephasteam device and, 1 h later, during application of warm compresses (in a randomized order). Ocular signs and visual acuity were assessed before and after each application.


RESULTS
The mean duration of warming (temperature ≥38°C) was significantly longer with Blephasteam than with compresses (7.5 vs. 1.0 min; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between treatments in the duration of 100% relative humidity. Compared with pretreatment values, visual acuity significantly improved after Blephasteam treatment (p < 0.05) but significantly decreased after treatment with compresses (p < 0.05). Limbal redness, eyelid redness, and corneal staining scores all improved significantly after Blephasteam treatment (p < 0.05 for all). Ocular signs did not change after compress treatment except conjunctival redness, which was significantly increased (p = 0.01 vs. pretreatment).


CONCLUSIONS
The Blephasteam eyelid-warming device appeared to provide more effective warming than warm and moist compresses in a group of healthy volunteers. Visual acuity, limbal redness, and eyelid redness were improved after Blephasteam use but not after treatment with compresses.
Dr. Heiko Pult-Optometry & Vision Research, Weinheim, Germany. ovr@heiko-pult.de
Heiko
H
Pult
Britta H
BH
Riede-Pult
Christine
C
Purslow
D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D001831:Body Temperature; D004867:Equipment Design; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult