Visible Meibomian Gland Structure Increases After Vectored Thermal Pulsation Treatment in Dry Eye Disease Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Figures & data

Figure 1 Subject 1: The first column shows the same dynamic meibomian images prior to VTP treatment with the total area analyzed (A₁, red outline), the area of meibomian gland atrophy + interglandular space (B₁, green outline), and (A₁, B₁) superimposed (C₁). The second column shows the same dynamic meibomian images after VTP treatment in the same patient as the first column. (A₂) indicates the total area analyzed (red outline), (B₂) indicates the area of meibomian gland atrophy + interglandular space (green outline), and (C₂) shows (A₂, B₂) superimposed.

Figure 2 Subject 2: The first column shows the same dynamic meibomian images prior to VTP treatment with the total area analyzed (A₁, red outline), the area of meibomian gland atrophy + interglandular space (B₁, green outline), and (A₁, B₁) superimposed (C₁). The second column shows the same dynamic meibomian images after VTP treatment in the same patient as the first column. (A₂) indicates the total area analyzed (red outline), (B₂) indicates the area of meibomian gland atrophy + interglandular space (green outline), and (C₂) shows (A₂, B₂) superimposed.

Table 1 Results from Morphometric Meibomian Gland Pixelar Analysis of Dynamic Meibomian Imaging for Treatment and Control Groups

	% Patients with Decline in VGS					% Patients with Improvement in VGS
	NC	<5%	5–10%	>10%	Total	NC	<5%	5–10%	>10%	Total
Vectored Thermal Pulsation (Treatment Group) (n=48 Eyes)	0	22.9	6.3	2.1	31.3	0	41.7	18.8	8.3	68.8
Control Group (n=22 Eyes)	0	59.0	13.6	0	72.6	0	27.3*	0	0	27.3

Notes: *Of this percentage of eyes, 83% had an improvement in VGS <1% and 17% had improvement between 1–3%.

Abbreviation: NC, no change.

Table 2 Statistical Analysis of Dry Eye Disease Markers for Treatment and Control Groups

	SPEED	MMP-9	Tear Osmolarity	Meiboscale	TBUT (p = 0.0001)	Corneal Staining (p = 0.0063)	MGE (p = 0.0038)
Pre-VTP (Baseline Average)	15	0.61	0.58	2	3	0.44	5
Post-VTP (Average)	10	0.56	0.47	2	7	0.31	12
Control (Baseline Average)	12	0.74	0.45	2	4	0.39	7
Control Follow-Up (Average)	9	0.74	0.45	2	3	0.67	6

Notes: P values indicate a statistically significant difference between Treatment and Control Groups. A value of 1 denotes a positive MMP-9 whereas a value of 0 denotes a negative MMP-9 value. A value of 1 denotes an abnormal tear osmolarity whereas a value of 0 denotes a normal tear osmolarity. A value of 1 for corneal staining denotes the presence of PEK whereas a value of 0 denotes the absence of PEK.