Abstract
Purpose:
Eyelid disease is a common cause of evaporative dry eye. Lid scrubs and warm compresses done consistently will address this problem but poor compliance makes an office based procedure desireable. Korb found the debridement-scaling of the lower lid margin provides statistically significant symptom relief and improvement in the meibomian gland (MG)function. The Bleph Ex provides a method of accomplishing lid debridement without using a surgical instrument. This study compares signs and symptoms before and after BlephEx treatment.
Methods:
Twenty subjects all with MG dysfunction were examined at baseline using a biomicroscope using the Efron scale for grading. Subjects also had a TBUT and OSDI performed. The subjects were then treated with the BlephEx according to manufacturer’s directions. 4 weeks later all testing was repeated. Data was analyzed by a t-test with post hoc test for significance.
Results:
Subjects TBUT improved from 3.31+/-1.3 to 5.47+/-4.3 p=0.05. Blepharitis on the Efron scale improved from 1.24+/-0.69 to 0.575+/-0.54 p=0.01. MG dysfunction also dramatically improved from 1.65+/-0.5 to 0.76 +/- 0.59 p=0.01. Symptoms also improved based on the OSDI which went from 43.74+/-14.27 to 20.33+/-14.35 p=0.01.
Conclusions:
This study suggests BlephEx is a viable alternative to lid scrubs and warm compresses. Statistically significant improvement was observed in signs and symptoms of the subjects treated. Eyelid functions improved based on TBUT increase, reduced inflammation and enhanced MG function. Subjects were 50% less symptomatic after treatment. BlephEx appears to be a reasonable clinical approach for use non-compliant MG dysfunction patients.