Efficacy Of A Warm Moist Air Device Of Patients With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction-related Dry Eye

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a Warm Moist Air eyelid warming device for patients with meibomian gland dysfunction-related dry eyeMethods: Forty patients with meibomian gland dysfunction-related dry eye were randomly assigned to receive either the Warm Moist Air eyelid warming device or artificial tears treatment. The eyelid warming device was applied to the eyes of the patients twice a day for 15 min.Patients in the artificial tears group received 0.1% sodium hyaluronate solution four times daily. The Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI) score, break-up time(TBUT), SchirmerⅠ test, Corneal Fluorescein Staining(CFS), meibum expressibility and meibum quality were evaluated after 2 weeks and 4weeks.Results: OSDI and TBUT showed a significant improvement in both groups and improvement was significantly greater in eyelid warming device at 4weeks(P=0.04). SchirmerⅠtest and CFS showed a significant improvement in both groups,but no differences between the two goups after treatment. Meibum expressibility and meibum quality improved significantly in eyelid warming device after 4 weeks(P<0.01). No statistically significant changes were noted in Meibum expressibility and meibum quality in the upper eyelid of the artificial tears group. Meibum expressibility and meibum quality in the lower eyelid of the artificial tears group were growing worse after 4 week(p=0.01,p=0.04). Meibum expressibility and meibum quality improvement was significantly greater in eyelid warming device at 4weeks(P<0.01).Conclusions: The eyelid warming device was effective in improving meibomian gland dysfunction-related dry eye syndrome both subjectively and objectively.