Meibomian gland dysfunction patients benefit in ocular parameters and tear chemokines after thermal pulsation treatment.Objectives: To investigate the effect of thermal pulsation treatment on meibomian gland function, ocular parameters and tear inflammatory cytokines compared with the warm compress group.  Methods: Twenty-five participants with MGD underwent a 12-minute thermal pulsation treatment, while 25 participants with MGD underwent manual warm compress treatment.  Results: Compared with warm compress subjects, OSDI, lid margin and tear stability were found improved more in thermal pulsation treatment at 3 months (OSDI: *p = 0.014, lid margin: *p = 0.021, LLT: **p = 0.008, CFS: *p = 0.028).  The level of IP-10 and MIG decreased more in thermal pulsation group than in warm compress group (IP-10: *p = 0.021, MIG: *p = 0.039).  Conclusions: Thermal pulsation treatment obviously improved MGD probably by attenuating tear CXCL chemokines in ocular surface of MGD patients, which demonstrated an efficacy and well-tolerated therapy in clinical.
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