In-Office Procedures · Treatment

LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System (Johnson and Johnson Vision)

The original FDA-cleared thermal pulsation treatment for MGD, vectored heat from inside the eyelid combined with pulsating external pressure, clearing obstructed meibomian glands in a single 12-minute in-office session.

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Written by the Dry Eye Rescue clinical team | Medically reviewed by the DER Medical Advisory Panel | Last updated June 2026

Key points

  • We stock the single-use LipiFlow activators on the wholesale platform.
  • Vectored thermal pulsation heats the inner lids and expresses the glands.
  • One in-office treatment of about twelve minutes treats both eyes.
  • The original FDA-cleared thermal pulsation system for MGD.

How it works

LipiFlow uses single-use sterile Activators, vault-shaped devices that sit directly on the eye behind the eyelids. The inner surface, resting against the palpebral conjunctiva, delivers controlled heat (42.5°C) directly to the inner eyelid and meibomian gland orifices, while the outer surface simultaneously provides computer-controlled pulsating pressure from the outside. This vectored approach protects the cornea while uniformly heating and expressing all meibomian glands across the tarsal plate in a single 12-minute cycle.

FDA clearance

LipiFlow was the first thermal pulsation system FDA-cleared for the treatment of MGD and has been in clinical use since 2011. It remains the benchmark against which newer thermal pulsation devices are tested in head-to-head RCTs.

Clinical evidence

  • Lane et al. (2012), Cornea, Pivotal RCT demonstrating a single LipiFlow treatment improved meibomian gland secretion by 3.0x and TBUT by 2.1 seconds compared with no significant change with warm compresses alone at 4 weeks. PubMed
  • Greiner (2012), Cornea, 3-year follow-up data showing sustained meibomian gland function improvements persisting over 3 years after a single LipiFlow treatment. PubMed
  • Comparison with TearCare, OLYMPIA RCT (2022, Cornea), Head-to-head RCT (n=135) showing LipiFlow and TearCare produced statistically equivalent improvements in TBUT, meibomian gland secretion score, OSDI, SANDE, and eye dryness at 1 month; no significant between-group differences. PMC, Cornea
  • Comparison with Systane iLux2, 12-month RCT (2022, Clinical Ophthalmology), Prospective, randomized multicenter trial (n=236) demonstrating Systane iLux2 non-inferior to LipiFlow across all efficacy endpoints through 12 months. PMC, Clinical Ophthalmology
  • TFOS DEWS III Management and Therapy Report (2025), Thermal pulsation including LipiFlow included in the evidence-based treatment framework for MGD. American Journal of Ophthalmology

Typical treatment protocol

One bilateral treatment session using a pair of single-use sterile Activators. Most patients report symptom improvement within days to weeks. Re-treatment is typically considered at 12 to 18 months based on symptom recurrence or clinical signs of MGD re-obstruction.

Manufacturer

LipiFlow is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson Vision. Shop LipiFlow Activators at Dry Eye Rescue

Availability on Dry Eye Rescue

We stock LipiFlow single-use Activators on the wholesale platform. Auto-ship available for practices running a high volume of LipiFlow procedures. Contact Provider Relations for volume pricing.

Sources are linked inline above. Device descriptions reference FDA clearance status, published peer-reviewed studies, and manufacturer data. Clinical outcomes are not a guarantee of individual results. Review full prescribing information, the IFU, and FDA clearance documentation for each device before use.

Keep your LipiFlow stocked

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