Methods and apparatuses for treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for treating dry eye include an energy source configured to apply energy to an obstruction located in a meibomian gland of a patient's eyelid. The apparatus also comprises an insulator configured to be positioned between a rear portion of the patient's eyelid and a surface of the patient's eyeball. An inner surface of the insulator has a curvature greater than that of the patient's eyeball such that an air pocket is formed between the inner surface of the insulator and the patient's eyeball, wherein the air pocket provides additional insulation to reduce or eliminate an amount of heat due to the applied energy from the energy source from being conducted to the surface of the patient's eyeball, such that the applied energy does not cause the temperature to reach a temperature sufficient to cause damage to a corneal or scleral portion of the patient's eyeball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating dry eye, comprising:
 an energy source configured to apply energy to an obstruction located in a meibomian gland of a patient's eyelid; and   an insulator comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured to be positioned between a rear portion of the patient's eyelid and a surface of the patient's eyeball,   the inner surface of the insulator having a curvature greater than that of the patient's eyeball such that an air pocket is formed between the inner surface of the insulator and the patient's eyeball when the insulator is positioned between the rear portion of the patient's eyelid and the surface of the patient's eyeball.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is further configured to apply regulated energy to the obstruction located in the meibomian gland of the patient's eyelid. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is further configured to apply energy sufficient to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 42° C. to about 46° C. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , farther comprising a force applicator configured to apply a regulated force to the patient's eyelid to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is further configured to apply the energy to the obstruction for a period of time sufficient that the temperature of the obstruction in the meibomian gland reaches a target temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is further configured to apply the energy to the obstruction such that the temperature of the obstruction in the meibomian gland reaches a target temperature within one (1) to two (2) minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a closed loop feedback control system configured to measure a temperature proximate the meibomian gland to determine if the obstruction reaches a temperature sufficient to soften the obstruction into a flowable, liquid, or semi-liquid state. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the insulator has a shape configured to complement a surface of the eyeball. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner surface of the insulator is concave. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulator is configured to provide greater resistance to the energy toward the surface of the patient's eyeball than toward the patient's eyelid containing the meibomian gland. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is configured to be placed between the rear portion of the patient's eyelid and the surface of the patient's eyeball and to apply the energy to an inner portion of the patient's eyelid such that a temperature level sufficient to melt, loosen, or soften the obstruction in the meibomian gland is reached. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the insulator has a curved portion with a first end and a second end, and only the first end and the second end physically contact the patient's eyeball, such that the insulator is vaulted over the patient's eyeball with the air pocket formed between a vaulted portion of the insulator and the patient's eyeball. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy source is located within the insulator. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulator comprises a lens. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating dry eye, the method comprising:
 applying energy to an obstruction located in a meibomian gland of a patient's eyelid; and   positioning an insulator comprising an inner surface and an outer surface between a rear portion of the patient's eyelid and a surface of the patient's eyeball, wherein a curvature of the inner surface of the insulator is greater than that of the patient's eyeball, thereby forming an air pocket between the insulator and the patient's eyeball when the insulator is positioned between the rear portion of the patient's eyelid and the surface of the patient's eyeball.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising applying the energy to the obstruction located in the meibonian gland of the patient's eyelid sufficient to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 42° C. to about 46° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising applying the energy to the obstruction located in the meibomian gland of the patient's eyelid sufficient to raise the temperature of the obstruction located in the meibomian gland to a target temperature within one (1) to two (2) minutes. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising measuring a temperature proximate the meibonian gland to determine if the obstruction reaches a temperature sufficient to soften the obstruction into a flowable, liquid, or semi-liquid state. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising positioning the insulator such that the insulator provides greater resistance to the applied energy toward the surface of the patient's eyeball than toward the patient's eyelid containing the meibomian gland. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising applying the energy to the obstruction located in the meibomian gland of the patient's eyelid by placing an energy source between the rear portion of the patient's eyelid and the surface of the patient's eyeball and applying energy to an inner portion of the patient's eyelid such that a temperature level sufficient to melt, loosen, or soften the obstruction in the meibomian gland is reached. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising vaulting the insulator over the patient's eyeball to form the air pocket between a vaulted portion of the insulator and the patient's eyeball.