Methods and apparatuses for treating gland dysfunction employing heated medium

Abstract

A method of treating dry eye includes delivering light energy from outside an eyelid toward the eyelid, and maintaining the delivery of the light energy toward the eyelid for a period of time sufficient to soften an obstruction of at least one meibomian gland. The light energy may be delivered specifically to the obstruction within the at least one meibomian gland without physically contacting the at least one meibomian gland, or the light energy delivered toward the eyelid may conductively apply heat to the meibomain gland sufficient to melt the obstruction. A corresponding apparatus includes a light energy source positionable outside an eyelid and configured to deliver the light energy from outside an eyelid toward the eyelid, and a controller configured to control the light energy source to maintain the delivery of the light energy toward the eyelid for a period of time sufficient to soften the obstruction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating dry eye, comprising the steps of:
 delivering light energy from outside an eyelid of a patient toward the eyelid; and   maintaining the delivery of the light energy toward the eyelid for a period of time sufficient to soften an obstruction of at least one meibomian gland located in the eyelid.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering the light energy comprises delivering the light energy specifically to the obstruction within the at least one meibomian gland without physically contacting the at least one meibomian gland. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the obstruction is located within a meibomian gland channel of the at least one meibomian gland. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying a regulated directional force to express the obstruction from the at least one meibomian gland. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of applying the regulated directional force expresses the obstruction from within a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland located at the top of the meibomian gland channel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of applying the regulated directional force comprises applying the regulated directional force to a meibomian gland channel in a direction from a bottom of the meibomian gland channel to a top of the meibomian gland channel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the regulated directional force is a milking type force. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivering of the light energy is maintained for a period of time sufficient to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 37° C. to about 47° C. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the delivering of the light energy is maintained for a period of time sufficient to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 42° C. to about 46° C. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivering of the light energy toward the eyelid applies heat to the obstruction according to one or more of conduction, convection, and radiation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivering of the light energy toward the eyelid conductively applies heat to the meibomain gland sufficient to melt the obstruction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivering of the light energy toward the eyelid of a patient is done with a hand held apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the applying the regulated directional force to express the obstruction from the at least one meibomian gland is done with a hand held apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the period of time is less than thirty (30) minutes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the period of time is selectable to range between zero (0) and thirty (30) minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light energy is one or more of: laser light energy, infrared light, RF energy, and microwave energy. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for treating dry eye, comprising:
 a light energy source positionable outside an eyelid of a patient, the light energy source configured to deliver light energy from outside the eyelid of the patient toward the eyelid; and   a controller configured to control the light energy source to maintain the delivery of the light energy toward the eyelid for a period of time sufficient to soften an obstruction of at least one meibomian gland located in the eyelid.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the light energy source is further configured to deliver the light energy specifically to the obstruction within the at least one meibomian gland without physically contacting the at least one meibomian gland. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the light energy source is further configured to deliver the light energy specifically to an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of the at least one meibomian gland. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a force application device configured to apply a regulated directional force to express the obstruction from the at least one meibomian gland. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the light energy source is further configured to deliver the light energy toward the eyelid and conductively apply heat to the at least one meibomain gland sufficient to melt the obstruction. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the light energy delivered by the light energy source is one or more of: laser light energy, infrared light, RF energy, and microwave energy.