title: Effect of a commercially available warm compress on eyelid temperature and tear film in healthy eyes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate eyelid temperature change and short-term effects on tear film stability and lipid layer thickness in healthy patients using a commercially available warm compress (MGDRx EyeBag) for ophthalmic use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyelid temperature, noninvasive tear film breakup time (NITBUT), and tear film lipid layer thickness (TFLLT) of 22 healthy subjects were measured at baseline, immediately after, and 10 minutes after application of a heated eyebag for 5 minutes to one eye selected at random. A nonheated eyebag was applied to the contralateral eye as a control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eyelid temperatures, NITBUT, and TFLLT increased significantly from baseline in test eyes immediately after removal of the heated eyebag compared with those in control eyes (maximum temperature change, 2.3 ± 1.2 °C vs. 0.3 ± 0.5 °C, F = 20.533, p < 0.001; NITBUT change, 4.0 ± 2.3 seconds vs. 0.4 ± 1.7 seconds, p < 0.001; TFLLT change, 2.0 ± 0.9 grades vs. 0.1 ± 0.4 grades, Z = -4.035, p < 0.001). After 10 minutes, measurements remained significantly higher than those in controls (maximum temperature change, 1.0 ± 0.7 °C vs. 0.1 ± 0.3 °C, F = 14.247, p < 0.001; NITBUT change, 3.6 ± 2.1 seconds vs. 0.1 ± 1.9 seconds, p < 0.001; TFLLT change, 1.5 ± 0.9 vs. 0.2 ± 0.5 grades, Z = -3.835, p < 0.001). No adverse events occurred during the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MGDRx EyeBag is a simple device for heating the eyelids, resulting in increased NITBUT and TFLLT in subjects without meibomian gland dysfunction that seem to be clinically significant. Future studies are required to determine clinical efficacy and evaluate safety after long-term therapy in meibomian gland dysfunction patients.
authors.affiliation: *BSc †MSc, PhD, FAAO ‡MBA, PhD, FAAO Ophthalmic Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom (all authors).
authors.forename: Paramdeep S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bilkhu
authors.forename: Shehzad A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Naroo
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wolffsohn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult