Blephasteam

[glimmer-of-hope]

Does anybody have an experience with this device?

http://www.blephasteam.com

http://www.spectrum-thea.co.uk/Apps/...nt.aspx?fid=31

[peter56]

Hi,
after the ten Minute Blephasteam Treatment, the temperature of the MGs does increase about one degree-C.
That is sufficient to make the meibum somewhat more liquid in eyes, suffering from mild MGD.
Blephasteam is very well suited for people with healthy eyes, that have to work for hours at computer screen.
A 10 min Treatment before and after computer work, can prevent or reduce the symptoms of Computer Vision
Syndrome.
To warm-up the MGs more - 3 deg-C, it takes a facial sauna or Lipiflow.

[littlemermaid]

Peter ~ have you used Blephasteam yourself?

This is their blurb http://www.spectrum-thea.co.uk/bleph...ephasteam.aspx 'Meibum from subjects with MGD were observed to begin melting at 35°C, whereas meibum from normal subjects started to melt at 32°C (6). It is important in MGD patients to warm the eyelids up to 40°C to ensure successful melting and outflow of obstructing meibum.' 'The temperature of the eyelids never rose above 40°C. Blephasteam® was considered as safe. None of these experiments with human volunteers was reported as uncomfortable.'

[peter56]

Hi littlemermaid,
on the Blephasteam there are only two studies available.
One is from Christine Purslow from Plymouth.
The problem is, that they measured the temperature on the lids and not carefully under the lids - Fornix.
In one study the temp on the lids reached 40 d-C and in the other study about 38 d-C with closed lids.
So the MGs temp may be 36-37 d-C.
That is sufficient for preventing CVS and also to treat mild MGD obstructions.
If it would be so easy to achieve 40-42 d-C at the lids insides where the MGs are located, then
almost nobody will apply the expensive Lipiflow system.
Warming the MG to 40-42 d-C and then performing careful Manual expressions, is more efficient than Lipiflow
and does only cost a fraction. So the clear Advantage of Lipiflow is the temp of 42 d-C at the Fornix-MGs.
Our experiences here clearly do Show, that if the warming and expressions are being performed at home one time in a
week, the patients have almost no more MGD problems.
If someone does Forget this regular Treatment, it takes 2 or 3 days and the the sticky meibum-MGD is coming back again. Keep the meibum liquid and flowing, that it is!
In Germany they have developed a patented low cost warming and Expression device for the ophthalm practice and at home, that does work most effeciently.
Maybe that device should become available in Europe in late 2014.
But I don't think they will offer it in the USA in the near future.

I do have only a very few surviving vital MGs, so for me such treatments are useless.
I do wear most of the time prescription bandage lenses from England and for certain tasks Menicon-Z material
sclerals.

[littlemermaid]

Thank you very much, Peter. Do you have references for the 2 studies on Blephasteam? We are using it most days because it's convenient, relaxing, and is a moisture chamber. But it's difficult to know how to keep the rubber clean. My daughter prefers an eye bag hot compress for the direct heat. But if she feels her eyes are too sensitive or inflamed, she uses Blephasteam.

You're right though. We feel the same that if we don't use some hot compress and cleaning regime, the eyes suffer again quite fast. She's managed on tour just with hot showers and flannel, but only for a week.

Peter, have you tested the MGs so you know what state they are in? How did you do that? Thank you for anything you can tell us.

[glimmer-of-hope]

Do you think that Blephasteam can be useful for someone with more than mild MGD?

And what about the replacement rings? How do they work? Is it necessary to replace them after every use?

Thank you for any info you can share!

[OlympusMons]

Hi littlemermaid,

In Germany they have developed a patented low cost warming and Expression device for the ophthalm practice and at home, that does work most effeciently.

What's the name of the device?