Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common ocular surface disease, and the pathogenesis of MGD is closely related to the alteration of meibomian gland morphology and (or) function. At present, the treatment strategy for MGD consists of physical therapy, artificial lubricants, topical and systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents, topical steroids and Ω-3 dietary supplementation. Recently, the thermal pulsation system (LipiFlow) has been used clinically, which allows heat to be applied to the palpebral surfaces of the upper and lower eyelids directly over the meibomian glands, while simultaneously applying pulsatile pressure to the outer eyelid surfaces. Due to its specific design, the cornea and eyeball can successfully avoid the potential damage from overheating and improper expression, which will greatly improve the safety during the clinical application and patients’ compliance. Studies have showed that the effectiveness of LipiFlow when treating MGD is at least as well as twice-daily lid warming and massage for 3 months, which displays a broad application prospect. At present, the application of LipiFlow in China has not been fully developed, and only some hospitals have experimental applications. This paper summarizes the research progress of LipiFlow treatment in MGD.
