Preoperative Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction with a Vectored Thermal Pulsation System Prior to Extended Depth of Focus IOL Implantation

• Published in: Ophthalmology and therapy 2023-10, Vol.12 (5), p.2427-2439
• Main Authors: Matossian, Cynthia, Chang, Daniel H., Whitman, Jeffrey, Clinch, Thomas E., Hu, Jerry, Ji, Leilei, Murakami, David, Wang, Ying, Blackie, Caroline A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cataract; Extended depth of focus; Internal Medicine; LipiFlow; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meibomian gland dysfunction; Ocular surface disease; Ophthalmology; Original Research; Tecnis IOL
• ISSN: 2193-8245; 2193-6528
• DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00740-x

Introduction Patients implanted with a range-of-vision intraocular lens (IOL) (multifocal or extended depth of focus, EDOF) may be more susceptible to visual disturbances from poor tear film quality, and prophylactic treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) has been recommended. The purpose was to evaluate whether vectored thermal pulsation (LipiFlow™) treatment prior to cataract surgery with a range-of-vision IOL safely improves postoperative outcomes. Methods This is a prospective, randomized, open-label, crossover, multicenter study of patients with mild-to-moderate MGD and cataract. The test group underwent LipiFlow treatment prior to cataract surgery and implantation of an EDOF IOL, while the control group did not. Both groups were evaluated 3 months postoperatively, after which the control group received LipiFlow treatment (crossover). The control group was re-evaluated 4 months postoperatively. Results A total of 121 subjects were randomized, with 117 eyes in the test group and 115 eyes in the control group. At 3 months after surgery, the test group had a significantly greater improvement from baseline in total meibomian gland score compared with the control group ( P  = 0.046). At 1 month after surgery, the test group had a significant decrease in corneal ( P  = 0.04) and conjunctival ( P  = 0.002) staining compared to the control group. At 3 months after surgery, the test group had significantly lower incidence of being bothered by halos compared with the control group ( P  = 0.019). The control group had a significantly lower incidence of being bothered by multiple or double vision compared with the test group ( P  = 0.016). After crossover, patients had significant improvement in vision ( P  = 0.03) and total meibomian gland score ( P