No quantitative synthesis was attempted for either mebiomian plugging or meibomian secretion scores and no significant changes were observed with any other outcome parameter .
Conclusion : Only the systemic antimicrobials were found to improve the clinical features of meibomian gl and dysfunction .
Varying effects of different therapeutic agents ( heat therapies , omega-3-fatty acids and castor oil ) were identified for MGD but the risk of bias pertaining to r and omization and allocation concealment was found to be associated with most of the current RCTs .
Introduction : Meibomian Gl and Dysfunction ( MGD ) is a common , often overlooked , chronic condition affecting eyes for which various therapies are being evaluated .
Considering the absence of a systematic review and meta- analysis , the present review was carried out .
Comparison of Self-applied Heat Therapy for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Purpose To compare the effects on ocular temperature , lipid layer grade , tear film stability , and tear meniscus height after a single application of two commercially available warm compresses in mild-to-moderate dry eye and to report participant treatment preference . Methods Forty-one subjects with mild-to-moderate dry eye symptoms were enrolled in a r and omized , paired-eye , investigator-masked trial . Heat was applied simultaneously to one eye ( r and omized ) with a portable eye mask ( EyeGiene ) and to the contralateral eye with a microwave-heated flaxseed eye bag ( MGDRx Eye Bag ) .  Outer and inner eyelid temperatures , tear film lipid layer grade ( LLG ) , and noninvasive tear film breakup time ( NIBUT ) were measured at baseline and immediately after 10 minutes of device application . Results Outer and inner eyelid temperatures , LLG , and NIBUT did not differ before treatment between eyes assigned to eye mask and eye bag therapy . All measurements were significantly increased from baseline , after warming with both devices ( all p < 0.05 ) . Outer and inner eyelid temperature changes were significantly greater with the eye bag than with the eye mask ( outer eyelid , + 3.5 ± 1.0 ° C vs. + 2.4 ± 0.8 ° C ; inner eyelid , + 3.5 ± 1.0 ° C vs. + 2.5 ± 0.9 ° C ; all p < 0.001 ) , although there was no significant difference in LLG and NIBUT improvement between treatments ( all p > 0.05 ) . A majority of subjects ( 78 % ) preferred the application of heat with the eye bag over the eye mask . Conclusions Both the EyeGiene mask and the MGDRx Eye Bag are convenient eyelid warming devices that result in clinical ly and statistically significant increases in NIBUT and LLG in patients with mild-to-moderate dry eye symptoms . The MGDRx Eye Bag is more effective in raising ocular temperature and is the preferred treatment method among subjects
No quantitative synthesis was attempted for either mebiomian plugging or meibomian secretion scores and no significant changes were observed with any other outcome parameter .
Conclusion : Only the systemic antimicrobials were found to improve the clinical features of meibomian gl and dysfunction .
Varying effects of different therapeutic agents ( heat therapies , omega-3-fatty acids and castor oil ) were identified for MGD but the risk of bias pertaining to r and omization and allocation concealment was found to be associated with most of the current RCTs .
Introduction : Meibomian Gl and Dysfunction ( MGD ) is a common , often overlooked , chronic condition affecting eyes for which various therapies are being evaluated .
Considering the absence of a systematic review and meta- analysis , the present review was carried out .