title: Ocular Surface Parameters Predicting Patient Satisfaction After a Single Vectored Thermal Pulsation Procedure for Management of Symptomatic Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the ocular surface parameters that could predict patient satisfaction after single application of vectored thermal pulsation (VTP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective interventional case series; it included consecutive patients who underwent bilateral VTP for management of symptomatic meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Patients received a full ocular surface evaluation. The outcome was patient subjective improvement during the first 3-4 months after 3 follow-up visits. For analysis, patients were divided into responders and nonresponders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine patients received bilateral treatment, with 32 patients (65.3%) reporting subjective improvement after treatment. Responders had lower tear production (6.9 ± 5.9 mm vs. 13.6 ± 6.8 mm; t test P = 0.002), a higher corneal staining score (4.4 ± 5.0 vs. 0.43 ± 1.1; t test P = 0.003), and a higher conjunctival staining score (3.1 ± 2.4 vs. 1.5 ± 1.8; t test P = 0.023) and presented with a higher tear osmolarity (319.7 ± 23.22 mOsm/L vs. 306.9 ± 9.0 mOsm/L; t test P = 0.029) than the nonresponder group. We found no association between patient age, tear breakup time, Ocular Surface Disease Index score, tear lipid layer thickness, or MGD grading score, as measured before intervention, with patient-perceived success of treatment. No complications to treatment were noted, and no patient reported worsening of preexisting symptoms on follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VTP can be effective in treating dry eye symptoms of patients with MGD. Our data show that objective findings of dry eye, as evidenced by lower tear production, higher corneal and conjunctival staining scores, and higher osmolarity, tend to be markers present in the group of patients responding positively to VTP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.
authors.forename: Allister
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waren
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yesilirmak
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murillo
authors.forename: Victor L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013499:Surface Properties; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology