Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition that practitioners will increasingly encounter due to the ageing population. Lid-warming therapy has been used for over 40 years to help melt and remove stagnant oils from the glands. Recently, an electronic eye warming device called Meiboleyes was designed to address the drawbacks of existing at-home treatment tools.
The Meiboleyes device heats to a target temperature and delivers constant sustained heat for the duration of the treatment. It contains heating eye cups and is designed to accommodate various anatomical facial differences. The device is placed over the closed eyes and held in place with an adjustable headband. Built-in audio cues and coloured lights indicate when the device is ready for use and when the treatment has been completed, including automatically powering off upon completion of the session. Data regarding patient usage are able to be stored within the device, which would allow subsequent monitoring for treatment compliance.
Study Results
A recent pilot study examined the safety and efficacy of the Meiboleyes device compared to the Bruder moist heat eye compress in patients with signs and symptoms of MGD. The study involved 20 participants who were randomised to receive one of the study treatments, which was prescribed to be used twice per day for 15 minutes each time.
The results showed that the Meiboleyes device was as safe and effective as the Bruder moist heat eye compress for improving meibomian gland secretion quality and the number of meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion. However, significant improvements in tear film stability and subjective comfort were observed in the Meiboleyes group only.
Device Features and Future Developments
The cost of the Meiboleyes device is projected to be only slightly higher compared to microwavable eye masks. Future technological advances planned for the Meiboleyes device include development of an app to send reminders and monitor user compliance.
