Tear Film Aterations With a New Eyewarmer Device "The Orgahexafiber Mask": Implications for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (mgd)

Abstract

Purpose: : Orgahexafiber mask is a new promising development for the treatment of MGD. The mask is composed of a new material produced by burning cotton plant at extremely high temperatures where the resultant carbon fibers are woven into a dense mesh cloth with the ability to release low grade heat. We investigated the tear film alterations associated with the wear of the new mask and report our preliminary findings in patients with simple MGD and healthy control subjects.

Methods: : In an initial short tem experiment to delineate the changes of the tear film,the mask was worn in 7 healthy control subjects for 10 minutes. Eyelid surface temperatures were measured before and after mask wear with a contact type surface thermometer (Tasco, Japan). Likewise, tear film break up time, Schirmer test–1, and DR–1 tear film lipid layer interferometry examinations were performed before and after mask wear. In another prospective long term trial, 5 control subjects and 3 MGD patients underwent two weeks of mask wear everyday for at least 6 hours during sleep. The same tear function and lid temperature measurements were performed before and after mask wear in the long term study. Informed consents were obtained and the study followed the tenets and the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results: : The eye lid temperatures increased slightly from the baseline value of 32 degrees by a mean of 0.82 degrees in the short term study after mask wear(p>0.05).Tear stability, tear quantity and DR–1 lipid layer interferometry grades did not show statistically significant changes after short term mask wear. In the long term study, the mean eyelid temperature was observed to increase significantly by 1.36 degrees in the MGD group associated with significant improvement of tear stability ( mean: 3 seconds) and interferometry grades. Long term mask wear was also associated with improvement of clinical findings of MGD.

Conclusions: : The orgahexa fiber eye warmer mask seems to be a safe, efficient and a promising development for the treatment of MGD with advantages of safe long term night wear which will also be beneficial for patients with busy life styles unable to apply conventional MGD treatment options during day time.

Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • eyelid • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications