Thermal pulsation technologies show promise in alleviating MGD and dry eye symptoms
A single session of thermal pulsation treatment can effectively enhance both subjective and objective parameters of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and dry eye, according to a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
However, the authors caution that the presence of industry affiliations in a significant portion of the studies raises some questions about potential bias.
The literature search for thermal pulsation technologies addressing MGD and dry eye identified 59 citations, of which 11 were selected that met the specified inclusion criteria. The selected studies were then categorized based on their evidence level, with 8 studies classified as level I evidence and 3 as level II evidence.
The primary focus of the included studies was a single 12-minute session using the LipiFlow automated thermal pulsation system (TearScience, Inc, or Johnson & Johnson). Patients who underwent thermal pulsation treatment demonstrated improvements in both subjective and objective measurements of MGD and dry eye symptoms. These improvements were observed within a time frame of 1 to 12 months post-treatment.
Most studies (9 out of 11) reported superior efficacy of thermal pulsation technology over conventional warm compress therapy and eyelid hygiene. However, 4 of these studies disclosed relevant conflicts of interest with industry involvement. In contrast, 2 level I studies without direct industry participation concluded that thermal pulsation treatment did not significantly outperform conventional warm compress therapy or eyelid hygiene in certain aspects.
No serious adverse events were reported across the 11 studies.
Reference
Tao JP, Shen JF, Aakalu VK, et al. Thermal Pulsation in the Management of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2023;S0161-6420(23)00488-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.07.009. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37642619.
