To evaluate the clinical usefulness of KCL 990® for the treatment of dry eye with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Patients (n = 54 eyes, 27 subjects) diagnosed with dry eye with MGD were recruited for a prospective, one-month clinical trial. Patients received a twice-a-day 15-minute treatment using the KCL 990®. Effectiveness parameters included patient symptom scores using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaires, tear osmolarity measured with TearLab® (TearLab Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA), classical tear break-up time (TBUT), and objective TBUT value using an Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS®, Visiometrics, Castelldefels, Spain). Data are presented for pre-treatment (baseline) and at 1 week and 1 month post-treatment. An objective TBUT value was estimated in each eye when the optical scattering index (OSI) started to increase consistently, and data were obtained at pretreatment (baseline) and at 1 month post-treatment.

The symptom scores on OSDI questionnaires, tear osmolarity, and tear break-up time improved significantly from baseline to one week ( p < 0.05). This improvement was maintained with no significant regression at 1 month ( p < 0.05). The objective TBUT value decreased significantly at 1 month ( p < 0.05).

KCL 990® contributed to improve not only signs and symptoms of dry eye with MGD, but also the function of the tear film and ocular surface.