Effect of a commercially available warm compress on eyelid temperature and tear film in healthy eyes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate eyelid temperature change and short-term effects on tear film stability and lipid layer thickness in healthy patients using a commercially available warm compress (MGDRx EyeBag) for ophthalmic use. METHODS: Eyelid temperature, noninvasive tear film breakup time (NITBUT), and tear film lipid layer thickness (TFLLT) of 22 healthy subjects were measured at baseline, immediately after, and 10 minutes after application of a heated eyebag for 5 minutes to one eye selected at random. A nonheated eyebag was applied to the contralateral eye as a control. RESULTS: Eyelid temperatures, NITBUT, and TFLLT increased significantly from baseline in test eyes immediately after removal of the heated eyebag compared with those in control eyes (maximum temperature change, 2.3 ± 1.2 °C vs. 0.3 ± 0.5 °C, F = 20.533, p <0.001; NITBUT change, 4.0 ± 2.3 seconds vs. 0.4 ± 1.7 seconds, p <0.001; TFLLT change, 2.0 ± 0.9 grades vs. 0.1 ± 0.4 grades, Z = -4.035, p <0.001). After 10 minutes, measurements remained significantly higher than those in controls (maximum temperature change, 1.0 ± 0.7 °C vs. 0.1 ± 0.3 °C, F = 14.247, p <0.001; NITBUT change, 3.6 ± 2.1 seconds vs. 0.1 ± 1.9 seconds, p <0.001; TFLLT change, 1.5 ± 0.9 vs. 0.2 ± 0.5 grades, Z = -3.835, p <0.001). No adverse events occurred during the study. CONCLUSIONS: The MGDRx EyeBag is a simple device for heating the eyelids, resulting in increased NITBUT and TFLLT in subjects without meibomian gland dysfunction that seem to be clinically significant. Future studies are required to determine clinical efficacy and evaluate safety after long-term therapy in meibomian gland dysfunction patients. Copyright © 2014 American Academy of Optometry.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)163-170
Number of pages8
JournalOptometry and Vision Science
Volume91
Issue number2
Early online date21 Nov 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Feb 2014

Keywords

  • noninvasive tear film breakup time
  • meibomian gland dysfunction
  • eyelid temperature
  • eyelid-warming therapy
  • tear film lipid layer thickness

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