J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2020 Jun;61(6):603-609. 10.3341/jkos.2020.61.6.603.

Clinical Efficacy of Microblepharoexfoliation in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Patients

• Byeon HJ
• Jun I
• Seo KY
• Kim EK
• Kim TI

• KMID: 2502964
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2020.61.6.603

Abstract

Purpose
To assess the clinical efficacy of microblepharoexfolication using BlephEx™ (Scope Ophthalmics, London, UK) in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) patients.
Methods
We performed a prospective study involving 48 eyes of 24 patients who were diagnosed with MGD. All patients were treated with BlephEx™ for 8-10 minutes, and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s I test, corneal staining score, lid margin abnormality, MGD score, and lipid thickness layer using the Lipiview II (TearScience, Morrisville, NC, USA) were assessed before treatment and after one month.
Results
Significant changes were observed after microblepharoexfoliation using BlephEx™. The TBUT improved from 2.65 ± 1.16 to 3.77 ± 1.80 after 1 month (p < 0.001) and the OSDI improved from 38.83 ± 17.13 to 18.67 ± 15.01 after 1 month (p < 0.001). Before and after 1 month of treatment, the lid margin abnormalities were 2.98 ± 1.16 and 2.50 ± 1.01 (p < 0.001) and the MGD scores were 21.60 ± 6.95 and 18.02 ± 6.68 (p = 0.001), respectively.
Conclusions
BlephEx™ improved the patients’ ocular surface symptoms, MGD score, and TBUT. Using steroid eye drops, there was a synergistic effect in improvement. Therefore, using BlephEx™ may be suggested as a treatment option for MGD patients.

Keyword

Biofilm; BlephEx™; Dry eye disease; Meibomian gland dysfunction; Microblepharoexfoliation