A recent paper investigating transcutaneous radiofrequency (RF)-assisted meibomian gland expression using the InMode Envision platform and Forma-I handpiece in dry eye patients has found the technology is effective, lasting at least six months in most patients.
The multicentre prospective cohort study was published in The Open Ophthalmology Journal by a team of North American ophthalmic professionals and involved 47 patients across three sites from October 2019 to June 2022.
Study participants saw significant improvements across multiple primary endpoints, including Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) score, changes in Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Tear Breakup Time (TBUT), Corneal Fluorescence Score (CFS), and Meibomian Gland Score (MGS) at one, three, and six months after treatment. Secondary endpoints were measurements of patients’ subjective improvement and subjective satisfaction.
The findings may be useful to Australian practitioners who have recently gained access to the Envision platform, described as a non-surgical, non-drug alternative by InMode for dry eye comprising three distinct technologies.
Forma-I is the primary treatment on the Envision platform and features bipolar RF to address the symptoms of dry eye disease caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) using controlled dermal heating to aid gland expression. According to InMode, it is intended for use in the periorbital area and eyelids to relieve inflammation of MGD and eye irritation, and improves local blood circulation.
Envision’s secondary treatment is Lumecca-I, which InMode said delivers precise, targeted, intense pulsed light (IPL) procedures to treat inflammatory conditions associated with dry eye disease. Lumecca is indicated for the treatment of benign pigmented epidermal lesions and benign cutaneous vascular lesions.
The third – and complementary – treatment is MORPHEUS8. It adopts fractional RF microneedling for complete face and body dermal resurfacing, tightening and subdermal remodelling. The manufacturer said the device is a minimally-invasive alternative to blepharoplasty and provides an interchangeable portfolio of microneedling tips to deliver customisable fractional treatments.
In the recent study investigating the use of Forma-I handpiece in dry eye patients, the research team noted a significant improvement in SPEED score from baseline, 15.7 versus 11.4 at one month, 9.1 at three months, and 9.6 at six months.
There was also a statistically significant improvement for OSDI at all time points measured: 34.5 at baseline versus 25.2 at one month, 21.2 at three months, and 23.6 at six months.
Similarly, CFS was significantly reduced in each eye at all time points following treatment, with 80% of eyes responding. And TBUT improved after treatment in each eye with an average of 6.3 seconds at one month, 7.1 seconds at three months, and 7.1 seconds after treatment at six months versus 2.8 seconds at baseline.
Marked improvements were also noted in MGS across all time points, 5.6 at baseline versus 19.9 at one month, 24.7 at three months, and 22.9 at six months. Patients noted subjective improvement, with a lack of pain and discomfort from the treatment.
“This pilot study … supports the conclusion that the Forma-I treatment was efficacious in treating dry eye symptoms. Patients believed the treatment significantly improved from their baseline and reported high satisfaction,” the researchers concluded.
“Also, no complications were reported within the follow-up period. Across all endpoint metrics, the treatment was considered a success in treating dry eye symptoms.”
More information can be found here.
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