Efficacy and safety of a vectored thermal pulsation system (Lipiflow®) in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A 2021 study published in Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology found that Lipiflow® treatment can improve the subjective and objective outcomes of Meibomian Gland Disease and does not increase the incidence of adverse events. The study was an analysis of randomized clinical trials conducted up to January 2021 and evaluated the syptoms reported by patients, the results of tests of dry eye and meibomian gland function and the incidence of adverse events.
The authors reported that:
Lipiflow® treatment brought slight improvement in corneal fluorescein staining (mean difference (MD), - 0.42; 95% CI, - 0.75 to - 0.1), significant improvements in ocular surface disease index (OSDI) score (MD, - 7.4; 95% CI, - 11.06 to - 3.74), Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) score (MD, - 2.7; 95% CI, - 3.95 to - 1.45), meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion (MGYLS) (MD, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.82), and meibomian glands yielding secretion score (MGYSS) (MD, 4.09; 95% CI, 1.18 to 6.99). Meanwhile, significant improvements were detected in OSDI score, SPEED score, MGYLS, and MGYSS with patients who received Lipiflow® treatment compared with those who received nontreatment. The adverse events were comparable in the two control groups.
Source:
Hu, J., Zhu, S. & Liu, X. Efficacy and safety of a vectored thermal pulsation system (Lipiflow®) in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 260, 25–39 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-021-05363-1
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