Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate and compare clinical efficacy and safety of immediate manual meibomian gland expression (MGX) after thermal pulsation (LipiFlow) with thermal pulsation for obstructive meibomian gland obstruction.
Methods :
Patients who underwent immediate manual MGX after LipiFlow or LipiFlow for Obstructive MGD were included. 30 eyes of 15 patients were enrolled in both groups. All patients underwent 3 times of treatment at a monthly. All patients were followed for 6 months. All patients were examined before, 3 and 6 months after treatments. Investigation included Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) Score, non-invasive tearfilm break-up time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT) by LipiView, corneal and conjunctival staining, and tear meniscus height.
Results :
OSDI scores had improved in both groups for follow-up periods. In LipiFlow group, there was a significant improvement in NIBUT and LLT at 3 months. However, NIBUT and LLT were deteriorated at 6 months. In MGX after LipiFlow group, the improvement of NIBUT and LLT at 3 months was maintained up to 6 months. In comparison of both groups, the improvement of NIBUT at 3 months was greater in MGX after LipiFlow group, and the improvement of LLT and OSDI scores at 6 months were greater in MGX after LipiFlow group.
Conclusions :
Both LipiFlow and MGX after LipiFlow are clinically effective in obstructive MGD. However, the effectiveness and persistence of treatment were greater in MGX after LipiFlow than LipiFlow.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.