Therapeutic profile of a latent heat eyelid warming device with temperature setting variation

To compare the effects on ocular temperature and tear film parameters following a single application of a latent heat eyelid warming device at a range of temperature settings.

Fifteen subjects were enrolled in a prospective, investigator-masked, randomised, cross-over trial. On separate days, participants were randomised to 10-minute application of a research latent heat device (Laboratoires Théa) at device temperature settings of 45 °C, 50 °C and 55 °C. Outer eyelid and corneal temperatures, tear film lipid layer grade, and non-invasive tear film breakup time (NIBUT) were measured at baseline and immediately after 10 min of device application.

Baseline measurements did not differ between treatment groups (all p > 0.05). Ocular temperatures, lipid layer grade and non-invasive tear film stability rose significantly following device application in all treatment groups (all p < 0.05). The 55 °C setting effected a mean ocular surface temperature rise in the order of +4 °C from baseline, which was 1.46 and 1.26 times greater than at the 45 °C and 50 °C temperature settings, respectively (all p < 0.05). Similarly, improvements in mean non-invasive tear film stability from baseline in the order of +7 s were observed, which were 2.43 and 1.66 times greater than those at the lower temperature settings of 45 °C and 50 °C, respectively (all p < 0.05).

At all temperature settings, the latent heat device resulted in clinically and statistically significant increases in ocular temperature, lipid layer grade, and non-invasive tear film stability. However, the 55 °C setting proved to be most effective at raising ocular temperature (in the order of +4 °C from baseline) and improving tear film stability.