LipiFlow and the Transformation of Therapeutic Meibomian Gland Expression into Routine Clinical Practice

In 2011, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) was officially recognized as a condition that necessitated treatment with the goal of improving ocular symptoms. This was a tipping point in the understanding of MGD and the need for treatment. After 2011, there was an exponential increase in the research of MGD and treatment modalities. This commentary aims to provide information for clinicians to understand the value of in-office treatments with LipiFlow and the inherent differences in efficacy, patient/doctor experience, compliance, and safety of other treatment modalities. Also, the aim of this commentary is to describe how LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System contributed to the evolution of MGD management by transforming therapeutic gland expression from an underutilized intervention into a widely adopted, evidence-based standard of care.