RESEARCH ARTICLE
MGrx - A Novel Multi-modal Thermal Device for Treating Moderate to Severe Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye
Brittany J. McMurren1, Michael A. Kling2, Andrew Fasciani3, M. Henrietta Nymark-McMahon4, *
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2023Volume: 17
E-location ID: e187436412308280
Publisher ID: e187436412308280
DOI: 10.2174/18743641-v17-231005-2023-13
Article History:
Received Date: 19/04/2023Revision Received Date: 06/07/2023
Acceptance Date: 15/08/2023
Electronic publication date: 10/10/2023
Collection year: 2023
open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Background:
MGD (meibomian gland dysfunction) is a chronic cause of dry eyes. Thermal expression of the meibomian glands, along with massage and debridement, is an effective treatment for MGD.
Objective:
We describe a multi-modal thermal device (MGrx) to manage meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). We observed the efficacy and safety of the MGrx to manage MGD in one 15-minute in-office session.
Methods:
We enrolled 37 patients in a prospective, open-label trial of the novel MGrx. Patients were enrolled with a Standard Patient Evaluation for Eye Dryness (SPEED) score > 12 or a Tear Breakup Time (TBUT) of < 6 seconds in at least one eye. After screening for eligibility, one 15-minute MGrx treatment was provided to each patient. The patient assessment consisted of a SPEED score, TBUT, and a Meibomian gland score (MGS) obtained pre-treatment and at a follow-up visit 30 days after the treatment.
Results:
Dry eye symptoms improved in the patient population, as measured by SPEED score, MGS, and TBUT, by 40%, 341%, and 145%, respectively (p<0.05). No adverse reactions were noted among the patients.
Conclusion:
A single 15-minute MGrx treatment was effective at significantly improving dry eye symptoms secondary to MGD in adult patients, as measured by SPEED score. Additionally, a single MGrx treatment improved meibomian gland function and all measures of MGD in the adult patients treated. Given the relatively low risk and efficient delivery of the MGrx treatment, a single MGrx treatment should be considered as a first-line treatment for MGD.
