Thermal Pulsation Therapy (Lipiflow®): A Retrospective Analysis of Its Impact on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye Disease
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of thermal pulsation therapy on dry eye parameters and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in patients with evaporative dry eye.Methods: A retrospective, single-center study included 250 eyes of 125 symptomatic patients with evaporative dry eye disease (DED) due to MGD.Patients received a single 12-min thermal pulsation therapy (LipiFlow®) (TearScience Inc., Morrisville, NC, USA).Before and at 1 and 6 months after treatment, the presence of DED and MGD was evaluated using the Schirmer-I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), oxfordstaining score, and meibomian gland secretion (MGS) score.Subjective dry eye complaints were measured using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score. Results:The LipiFlow treatment improved both clinical signs (Schirmer I test, Oxford staining score, MGS score, and TBUT, respectively, p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.000) and symptoms (OSDI scores p=0.000) up to 1 month posttreatment.While TBUT and MGS scores (respectively p=0.008, p=0.035) continued to improve until the 6 th month, improvements in Schirmer I test, Oxford staining, and OSDI scores (respectively p=0.000, p=0.000, p=0.000) were sustained through 6 months.Conclusion: It has been observed that single-session thermal pulsation treatment provides improvement in MGD and dry eye parameters up to 6 months and decreases in OSDI scores, indicating subjective complaints of patients.This treatment is thought to be an effective treatment option in evaporative DED secondary to MGD.
Source: Beyoglu Eye Journal
Author: Emine Savran Elibol
Institution: Bahçeşehir University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411651433