title: Long-term (12-month) improvement in meibomian gland function and reduced dry eye symptoms with a single thermal pulsation treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the 1-year post-treatment dry eye status of subjects with meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye symptoms after receiving a single LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-centre, prospective, observational, open-label, 1-month-registered clinical trial with a 1-year follow-up examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with evaporative dry eye disease with meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye symptoms who had participated in the registered 1-month clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen of 30 subjects initially enrolled were able to return for a 1-year follow-up. Both eyes of all patients were treated with a single 12-min treatment using the LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System. Meibomian gland function, tear break-up time and dry eye symptoms were measured. Data are presented for pretreatment (baseline), and 1-month and 1-year post-treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meibomian gland secretion scores, and tear break-up time and dry eye symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvement in meibomian gland secretion scores from baseline measurements (4.0 ± 3.4) to 1-month post-treatment (11.3 ± 4.7; P < 0.0005) was maintained at 1-year (7.3 ± 4.6; P < 0.05). Baseline tear break-up time (4.9 ± 3.0) was significantly increased at 1-month (9.5 ± 6.9; P < 0.05); however, this improvement was no longer evident at 1-year post-treatment (6.0 ± 4.4). The significant improvement in symptom scores on Ocular Surface Disease Index and Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness questionnaires observed at 1-month (P < 0.0005) was maintained at 1-year (Ocular Surface Disease Index [P < 0.05]; Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness [P < 0.0005]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single 12-min treatment with the Lipi Flow Thermal Pulsation System offers an effective treatment for evaporative dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction resulting in significant and sustained improvement in signs and symptoms for up to 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Schepens Eye Research Institute, The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. greiner@schepens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Jack V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Greiner
mesh_terms: D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: LipiFlow thermal pulsation system; dry eye; meibomian gland dysfunction