The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the efficacy and safety of microblepharoeexfoliation (MBE), intense pulse light (IPL) and meibomian gland expression (MGX) combination in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The main question it aims to answer are: * Does MBE-IPL-MGX treatment improve dry eye symptoms? * Does MBE-IPL-MGX treatment improve dry eye signs? Participants were assigned to receive either three sessions of MBE-IPL-MGX treatment and home-based therapy (treatment group) or home-based therapy alone (control group). The investigators will compare both groups to see if MBE-IPL-MGX treatment is superior to home-based therapy.
MBE is a novel in-office treatment that works by exfoliating the eyelid margins to remove the accumulated biofilm debris, epithelial keratinization and capped meibomian glands, resulting in better meibum outflow . Different studies have shown that MBE improves DED symptoms \[1,2\], demodex blepharitis \[1-4\] and meibomian gland function \[2,3,5\] In addition, meta-analyses recommend combining IPL with meibomian gland expression (MGX) compared to IPL or MGX alone \[6-8\]. However, the investigators have not found any studies evaluating the benefits of MBE combined with IPL and MGX. Consequently, the purpose of the current study is to evaluate whether MBE combined with IPL and MGX leads to an improvement of symptoms and signs in patients with DED due to MGD.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
70
MBE was performed using the yokefellow instrument (Youke Electronic Corporation, Guangzhou, China), which contains a handpiece with a 1.80 mm diameter medical-grade diamond bur. Patients underwent MBE on the upper and lower lid margin of both eyes at 500 rpm until complete removal of accumulated biofilm debris, epithelial keratinization or capped meibomian glands. MBE was carried out only in the first combined treatment session.
IPL treatment was carried out with Thermaeye Plus (MDS Medical Technologies SL, Barcelona, Spain). The procedure began by applying an ultrasound gel (Carmado SL, Alicante, Spain) to the patient's periocular areas and upper eyelids. In the periocular areas, 6 light pulses were applied; 4 light pulses on the skin below the lower eyelid (with handpiece placed horizontally in the first pass and vertically in the second pass) and 2 light pulses on the canthal area (with handpiece placed vertically in first and second pass). The parameters were as follows: (1) Filter: 650 nm; (2) fluence: 9 j/cm2; (3) pulses: 2; (4) duration: 3 ms; (5) Delay: 20 ms; and (6) Cooling: 70%. In the upper eyelids, 4 light pulses were applied; 2 light pulses in the first and second pass, respectively. The parameters were as follows: (1) Filter: 650 nm; (2) Fluence: 5 j/cm2; (3) pulses: 1; (4) duration: 3 ms and (5) Cooling: 70%.
Finally, the MGX was performed on both upper and lower eyelids of each eye with a Collins forceps (Medi Instrument Inc, New York, USA).
Home-based therapy was based on Therapearl eye mask warming compress (Bausch \& Lomb, Madrid, Spain) twice a day and Eyestil synfo eyedrops (Sifi Iberica SL, Madrid, Spain) 4 times a day during the study
Novovision ophthalmologic clinic
Murcia, Spain
Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire.
Values from 0 (Better) to 100 (Worse)
Time frame: Change from Baseline OSDI at 2 months.
Tear meniscus height (TMH)
Time frame: Change from Baseline TMH at 2 months.
Tear meniscus area (TMA)
Time frame: Change from Baseline TMA at 2 months.
Noninvasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT).
Time frame: Change from Baseline NIBUT at 2 months.
Lipid Layer Grade (LLG)
Values from 0 (Better) to 4 (Worse)
Time frame: Change from Baseline LLG at 2 months.
Ciliary hyperemia
Values from 0 (Better) to 100 (Worse)
Time frame: Change from Baseline Ciliary Hyperemia at 2 months.
Conjunctival hyperemia
Values from 0 (Better) to 100 (Worse)
Time frame: Change from Baseline Conjunctival Hyperemia at 2 months.
Meibomian glands Loss area (LAMG)
Values from 0 (Better) to 100 (Worse)
Time frame: Change from Baseline LAMG at 2 months.
Meibomian gland secretions (MGS)
Values from 0 (Worse) to 45 (Better)
Time frame: Change from Baseline MGS at 2 months.
Meibomian gland Dysfunction Grade (MGD Grade)
Values from 0 (Better) to 4 (Worse)
Time frame: Change from Baseline MGD grade at 2 months.
Ocular surface staining (OSS).
Values from 0 (Better) to 4 (Worse)
Time frame: Change from Baseline OSS at 2 months.
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