Patent ID: 7981145

Claim:
A method of treating mammalian meibomian glands having a meibomian gland channel and a meibomian gland orifice at a top of the meibomian gland channel, comprising: applying regulated heat to an eyelid containing the meibomian glands that reaches a temperature adequate to melt obstructions within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian glands and place the obstructions in a melted state; maintaining the heat for a time period adequate to melt the obstructions and place the obstructions in the melted state; mechanically treating one or more of the meibomian glands by expressing the melted obstructions located within the meibomian gland channel from within the meibomian gland channel through the meibomian gland orifice using a compressive force, wherein the mechanical treating is carried out either during the time period or after the time period but while the obstruction remains in the melted state; and subsequently treating the meibomian glands by use of a pharmacological agent.