Blephasteam® is an innovative patented medical device based on the original studies of Dr JR Fuller, a British consultant ophthalmic surgeon.
Blephasteam® delivers in standardised conditions, a latent moist heat therapy around the eyelids to unblock the Meibomian glands and thus to improve eyelids and ocular health.
Blephasteam® is designed to relieve symptoms of patients suffering from Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). This dysfunction causes a certain number of eye irritations, such as dry eye syndrome.
The ocular environment delivers by Blephasteam® naturally enhances tear quality by improving the thickness and quality of the lipid layer. These benefits provide on the ocular surface a better vision and comfort.
Blephasteam® is convenient, safe and allows clear vision during the use which able to carry out normal task activities such as reading, watching television…. It also allows normal function of the upper lid facilitating release of the oily secretions on lid closure and tears resurfacing.
Blephasteam® was designed to meet all safety requirement of the CE mark.
Blephasteam® is recommended to relieve the symptoms of patient suffering from Meibomian gland dysfunction. This dysfunction causes a certain number of eye irritations, such as itching, burning, foreign body sensation, dryness...
Blephasteam® could be used in children only under supervision and after consulting an eye care specialist.
Meibomian lipids vary in their melting point temperature between healthy and MGD patients. Indeed, in a normal subject melting point starts at 32°C1 whereas in a patient with MGD it requires higher temperature up to 35°C2, 3 either a 3°C higher melting4. And of course, apply external heat increases the flow of the secretion from the gland2 by increasing blood flow and melts waxy meibum.
Blephasteam® delivers a constant moist and heat therapy which is sufficient to melt the obstructed oily secretion and is below the safety limit. The safety and the efficacy of Blephasteam® was evaluated and showed that the temperature delivers by Blephasteam® is safe and comfortable Temperatures were measured on a dummy cornea (Figure 1), they were observed to rise from 34°C to a safe level of 42°C. These temperatures allow patients suffering from MGD to meet the melting point of their meibum (Figure 1).
Figure 1 : Blephasteam® temperature curve
Some studies realized by ophthalmologists showed that one session of Blephasteam® improved the thickness lipid layer thickness of 87.5% of patients and improved ocular comfort of 75% of patients5. The use of Blephasteam® also delayed tear evaporation, since the thickness and the quality of the lipid layer is increased. After 10 minutes of treatment, the tear evaporation is reduced by 32%6 (figure 2).
Figure 2 : Box plot of tear evaporation rate measured before
and immediately after treatment with Blephasteam®.
Moreover, the use of Blephasteam® decreased symptoms of grittiness/dryness, foreign body sensation and ocular discomfort7 (figure 3).
Figure 3 : Improvement of ocular symptoms after a Blephasteam® session
1. Tiffany, J. M. and Marsden, R. G. The influence of composition on physical properties of meibomian secretion. In The Preocular Tear in Health, Disease and Contact Lens Wear (ed. F. J. Holly), Dry Eye Inst., Inc., Lubbock, Texas, 1986; pp. 597-608.
2. Nagymihalyi A, Dikstein S, Tiffany JM. The influence of eyelid temperature on the delivery of meibomian oil. Exp Eye Res 2004; 78 (3): 367-370.
3. Terada O, Chiba K, Senoo T, Obara Y. Ocular surface temperature of meibomian gland dysfunction patients and the melting point of meibomian gland secretions. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 2004; 108 (11): 690-693.
4. Ong BL, Larke JR. Meibomian gland dysfunction: some clinical, biochemical and physical observations. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 1990; 10 (2): 144-148.
5. Spiteri A, Mitra M, Menon G, Casini A, Adams D, Ricketts C, Hickling P, Fuller ET, Fuller JR. Tear lipid layer thickness and ocular comfort with a novel device in dry eye patients with and without Sjögren’s syndrome. J Fr Ophtalmol 2007; 30 (4): 357-64
6. Pearce EI, Pentland MA, Shabbir S, McDonald ES, Ahmed K, Glyn G, Strang NC, Fuller RJ. Changes in visual acuity following Meibomian gland heat therapy. Abstract TFOSVA 2007.
7. Mitra M, Menon GJ, Casini A, Hamada S, Adams D, Ricketts C, Fuller ET, Fuller JR. Tear film lipid layer thickness and ocular comfort after meibomian therapy via latent heat with a novel device in normal subjects. Eye 2005; 19 (6): 657-660.
Blephasteam® is a medical device prescribed by your eye care specialist.
We recommend you to use Blephasteam® twice a day unless otherwise recommended by your eye care professional. You must allow at least 4 hours between each session.
It is important to follow the operating instructions and recommendations of your eye care professional.
Blephasteam® is easy to use:
- Blephasteam® operates while plugged into an electrical outlet and it should be plugged in for 15 minutes before use to enable preheating.
- The Blephasteam® rings must be moistened preferably with mineral water or saline solution and be placed inside the device. These rings are for single use only and must be thrown away after each use. New rings must be used for each treatment in order to ensure an optimal efficacy and hygiene. The device is now ready to use.
- The session of 10 minutes can start. Since blephasteam allows clear vision during the session, you can carry out normal activities.
- After 10 minutes, the session is completed. Blephasteam® has to be removed and the rings thrown away. Blephasteam® device must be used by a single individual only and must be cleaned carefully with the provided dry blue cloth or an alcohol-soaked wipe after each use.
- For a complete treatment, the eyelids should be massaged and cleaned with a pad.
Blephasteam® should not be used, except with medical advice:
- In case of acute diseases of the eyes and/or eyelids,
- In case of recent trauma and corneal lesions in the eye,
- In case of Meibomian seborrhea (excessive secretion produced by the eyelid glands),
- Following an eye or peri-ocular surface surgery.
If you wear contact lenses, always remove them before using Blephasteam®.
Eye drops should not be used for at least 15 minutes after the use of Blephasteam®.
In any doubt please contact your eye care specialist.
For any questions concerning this device or for medical advice,
please contact your eye care specialist or Laboratoires THEA.
Blephasteam® and Blephasteam® rings can be ordered from Laboratoires THEA or from www.blephasteam.com or by direct contact with Thea subsidiary in your country.
For any questions please send an email to contact@blephasteam.com.
As any ophthalmologic treatment, it is recommended to always remove your contact lenses before using Blephasteam®.
If you wear contact lenses, always remove them before using Blephasteam®.
Eye drops should not be used for at least 15 minutes before or after the use of Blephasteam®.
Blephasteam® should only be used by children under supervision, and after consulting an eye care specialist. There are no clinical data on the safety and efficacy in children.
Your Blephasteam® device must be used by a single individual only and must be cleaned with the dry blue cloth provided or an alcohol-soaked wipe after each use.
Do not immerse the device in water or clean under running water.
Blephasteam® has a 1-year warranty from the purchase date in normal usage conditions and covers any fault, defective material or workmanship, provided the product has been used strictly in accordance with the instructions.
For any other problem or question related to the functioning of this system, please contact Laboratoires THEA.
In the event of a fault or malfunction, please return the product to Laboratoires THEA, in the original packaging with the sales receipt and with an explanation of the malfunction.
For any other problem or question related to the functioning of this system, please contact Laboratoires THEA.
