Clinical Usefulness of a Thermal-Massaging System for Treatment of Dry Eye with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of KCL 990(R) for the treatment of dry eye with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS: Patients (n = 54 eyes, 27 subjects) diagnosed with dry eye with MGD were recruited for a prospective, one-month clinical trial. Patients received a twice-a-day 15-minute treatment using the KCL 990(R). Effectiveness parameters included patient symptom scores using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaires, tear osmolarity measured with TearLab(R) (TearLab Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA), classical tear break-up time (TBUT), and objective TBUT value using an Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS(R), Visiometrics, Castelldefels, Spain). Data are presented for pre-treatment (baseline) and at 1 week and 1 month post-treatment. An objective TBUT value was estimated in each eye when the optical scattering index (OSI) started to increase consistently, and data were obtained at pretreatment (baseline) and at 1 month post-treatment. RESULTS: The symptom scores on OSDI questionnaires, tear osmolarity, and tear break-up time improved significantly from baseline to one week (p < 0.05). This improvement was maintained with no significant regression at 1 month (p < 0.05). The objective TBUT value decreased significantly at 1 month (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: KCL 990(R) contributed to improve not only signs and symptoms of dry eye with MGD, but also the function of the tear film and ocular surface.