Lipiflow Objectively Improves Dry Eye Signs and Symptoms: Control Eye (no Lipiflow) versus Case Eye (Lipiflow used)

The below study assess the safety and effectiveness of a 12-minute LipiFlow monocular treatment on elderly Chinese patients with MGD. Previous studies reported that a single LipiFlow 12-minute treatment improved meibomian gland secretion, Tear Break Up Time (TBUT) which is a measure of instability of the tear film to keep the tear on the surface and not dry up too quickly, and symptom scores at one month, nine months, 12 months, and even three years posttreatment compared with traditional or new-style warm compress therapies and common clinical methods of physical expression of meibomian gland obstruction (See Reference1).

Most studies have shown the efficacy of LipiFlow by treatment of both eyes but this is the first study to report the results of monocular treatment with LipiFlow with the contralateral eye as a control (one eye had Lipiflow & the other did not)

They used clinical parameters that show LipiFlow significantly improves of meibomian gland function and tear film stability in the test eye.

They show that LipiFlow restored the function of previously blocked dysfunctional meibomian glands and an increase in gland function improved tear film stability, which may directly influence other objective and subjective measures of ocular surface health: TBUT improved, reduced corneal staining (all MDs want to decrease corneal staining as corneal staining can lead to permanent corneal scarring and it can make the cornea more likely to get a bacterial infection as the first layer of the cornea’s defense, the epithelium, is broken down or gone), and improved subjective symptoms provide strong evidence of the efficiency of LipiFlow.

Sandra Lora Cremers, MD, FACS

2016;2016:9640643. doi: 10.1155/2016/9640643. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

Evaluation of Monocular Treatment for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction with an Automated Thermodynamic System in Elderly Chinese Patients: A Contralateral Eye Study.

Zhao Y1, Xie J1, Li J1, Fu Y1, Lin X1, Wang S1, Ma J1, Zhao Y1.

Author information

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate the safety and efficacy of monocular treatment for elderly Chinese patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) with an automated thermodynamic system. Methods. This study was a prospective, examiner-masked, contralateral eye clinical trial. The eye perceived by the patient to be worse (test eye) received a 12-minute LipiFlow treatment, while the other eye served as control. All patients were examined before treatment and one week, one month, and three months after treatment. Clinical parameters included dry eye symptoms, lipid layer thickness (LLT), partial blink (PB) ratio, invasive tear breakup time (ITBUT) and cornea staining, Schirmer I test, meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion (MGYLS), and meibomian gland dropout. Results. A total of 29 patients were examined during the three-month follow-up. At each posttreatment visit, they had a significant reduction in dry eye symptoms accompanied by an increase of ITBUT and MGYLS and a reduction in corneal staining compared with the baseline parameters. There was a significant improvement in MGYLS and ITBUT in the test eye compared with the control eye. Other clinical parameters were not statistically significant. Conclusion. LipiFlow is an effective treatment for patients with MGD. Monocular treatment with LipiFlow may be a cost-effective treatment option to those afflicted with MGD in the developing world.