Lipiflow

LipiFlow® is a procedure designed to treat the root cause of Evaporative Dry Eye, blocked meibomian glands. Opening and clearing these blocked glands can allow them to resume natural production of lipids (oils) needed for a healthy tear film. Some treatments attempt to add more liquid to your tears, but without the complex natural oil, tears continue to evaporate faster than produced.

Central to the LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System is an Activator (eyepiece). The Activator uses patented, precisely controlled heat applied to the inner eyelid with adaptive pressure encouraging your body to resume the natural production of lipids (oils) needed for your tear film. Its single-use design and built-in sensors ensure a safe, sterile treatment. The treatment is an in-office procedure — and in some cases, on the same day as your evaluation.

The TearScience® technology is based on more than 25 years of research into the causes of dry eye. Many people with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye symptoms have now been treated with LipiFlow®, including patients in controlled feasibility studies and in a randomized, controlled, multi-center clinical trial. The randomized, controlled trial showed statistically significant improvement, on average, for the number of Meibomian glands yielding clear liquid. This study also showed significant improvement, on average, in patient self-reported Dry Eye symptoms. The graphs below refer to the results of a nine center, randomized, controlled trial conducted in 2009 showing clinically meaningful improvement in the primary endpoint, which measures Meibomian gland functionality, and the secondary endpoint of Dry Eye symptoms.

Additional data published during the 4 years following these early findings are consistent with a treatment effect continuing to be reported at 9-months, 12-month, 24-months and 3 years post-Lipiflow treatment. The findings at three years suggest that simultaneous applications of regulated levels of heat and pressure applied to the upper and lower eyelids most likely contribut the duration of this treatment effect.