Treatment of obstructive disorders of the eye or eyelid

Abstract

In accordance with certain illustrative embodiments, methods and apparatuses of treating obstructive disorders of the structure of an eye or eyelid are disclosed. The treating may involve applying heat to the structure containing the obstructive disorder to melt an obstruction in the structure and place the obstruction in a melted state. The heat may be maintained for a time period to melt the obstruction and place the obstruction in the melted state. The structure may be treated by expressing the melted obstruction from the structure. The treating may be carried out either during the time period or after the time period when heat is applied but while the obstruction is in the melted state. In certain embodiments, the method further involves subsequently treating the structure by use of a pharmacological agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating at least one obstructive disorder of an eye or eyelid, including chalazion, hordeolum, pimples, blackheads, and styes, comprising:
 applying a regulated heat to an eye or eyelid at a temperature adequate to melt at least one obstruction in the eye or eyelid and place the at least one obstruction in a melted state;   maintaining the regulated heat for a time period to melt the at least one obstruction and place the at least one obstruction in the melted state; and   expressing the at least one melted obstruction from the eye or eyelid by applying a milking action to the eye or eyelid.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising subsequently treating the eye or eyelid by use of a pharmacological agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the time period comprises approximately 1 to 60 minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expressing is carried out using a heated instrument. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature reaches between approximately 42 and 47 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expressing is carried out during the time period. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expressing is carried out within approximately 90 seconds following an end of the time period. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expressing is carried out within approximately 3 minutes following an end of the time period. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the pharmacological agent comprises at least one of a topical pharmacological agent and a systemic pharmacological agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the pharmacological agent is selected from the group consisting of: anti-inflammatory agents; antibiotics; topical tetracycline; oral tetracycline; topical corticosteroids; oral corticosteroids; topical androgens; topical androgen analogues; TGF-β; omega 3 compounds; enzymes that promote lipid production; agents that stimulate production of enzymes that promote lipid production; agents that act as a secretagogue to enhance Meibomian gland secretion; and agents that replace or promote production of any tear component. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one obstructive disorder comprises a disorder selected from the group consisting of chalazion, hordeolum, pimples, blackheads, and styes. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one obstructive disorder is in a channel of the eye or eyelid, and wherein the expressing comprises expressing fluid or suspension of the at least one melted obstruction from the channel and through an orifice at an end of the channel by applying a milking action to the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising repeating at least one of the applying and maintaining of the regulated heat after a time interval to maintain flow of fluids from the channel and the expressing at the time interval to maintain the flow of fluids from the channel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the applying the milking action to the channel comprises applying a regulated directional force to the channel in a direction from a bottom of the channel to a top of the channel. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expressing further comprises one or more of: applying mechanical energy stimulation to the eyelid; applying vibratory energy to the eyelid; squeezing the eyelid; applying constant pressure to the eyelid; or applying pulsating pressure to the eyelid. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating at least one obstructive disorder of a channel of an eye or eyelid including chalazion, hordeolum, pimples, blackheads, and styes in which at least one obstruction blocks flow of fluid from the channel, comprising:
 applying a regulated heat source proximate to the channel for a selected time and at a selected temperature adequate to melt at least a portion of the at least one obstruction; and   applying a milking action to the channel while the at least a portion of the at least one obstruction is melted such that the at least a portion of the at least one obstruction is removed from the channel through an orifice at an end of the channel.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the selected temperature is between approximately 42 and 47 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising subsequently treating the eye or eyelid by use of a pharmacological agent. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the applying the milking action to the channel comprises applying a regulated directional force to the channel in a direction from a bottom of the channel to a top of the channel. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for treating at least one obstructive disorder of an eye or eyelid, including chalazion, hordeolum, pimples, blackheads, and styes, comprising:
 a heat source configured to apply regulated heat to an eye or eyelid at a temperature adequate to melt at least a portion of at least one obstruction in the eye or eyelid and place the at least a portion of the at least one obstruction in a melted state; and   a mechanical expressor configured to express the at least a portion of the at least one melted obstruction from the eye or eyelid by applying a milking action to the eye or eyelid.