Warm compression using a commercial heat pad was used to evaluate the effects of temperature on the eyelids and tear film lipid layer thickness.

Targeting 13 patients (26 eyes) with non-specific eye disease such as dry eye syndrome or Meibomian gland dysfunction, we measured the average thickness of the tear film lipid layer in both eyes with the LipiView 2® System (Tearscience®, Morrisville, NY, USA). We performed warm compression on the right eye only in order to evaluate the effectiveness of massage and measured the temperature of the right eye lid immediately, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after compression in order to compare with the untreated left eye. After warm compression for 5 minutes, we measured tear film lipid layer thickness of both eyes and analyzed the effectiveness of warm compression.

The average tear film lipid layer thickness was 55.1 ± 21.0 nm in the right eyes and 53.9 ± 13.9 nm in the left eyes ( p = 0.474). Before performing the warm compression, the temperature of the right eye lid was 53.9 ± 13.9 nm, and that of the left was 35.9 ± 0.2℃. The eye lid temperature of the right eye immediately, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after warm compression was 40.3 ± 1.3℃, 40.3 ± 1.3℃, and 40.3 ± 1.9℃, respectively, and these temperatures were relatively constant during the massage. Tear film lipid layer thickness after warm compression in the right eye was 83.5 ± 18.8 nm, which was increased compared to the original temperature ( p = 0.001) and showed significant difference compared with the 65.5 ± 27.1 nm in the left eye ( p = 0.005).

Warm compression increased the tear film lipid layer thickness and showed a relatively constant increased temperature of 40.3℃ over 5 minutes. This technique will be helpful for maintaining tear film lipid layer thickness in patients with Meibomian gland dysfunction.