Table 2.

Clinical studies—single warm compress application [21–26]

Year author	Level of evidence	N	Type of WC	Application	Significant outcomes (p < 0.05)	Other outcomes/notes
2023 Ishikawa	I	200	Self-heating (Kao corp mask) n = 100	20 min	Increased tear break-up time Increased tear meniscus height Improved meibomian gland score Increased conjunctival hyperemia Increased corneal blur time^	^Improved intraoperative visibility
2022 Park	II	26	Microwavable (Bruder®)*	10 min	Increased tear film lipid layer thickness	Partial blink rate, frequency (p > 0.05) *Mechanical decompression after WC in 2nd part of study, not included here
2021 Zhou	I	37	Self-heating (Zhenshiming co. eye mask)	20 min	Increased tear film lipid layer thickness Increased tear break-up time Improved meibomian gland score Increased glands with liquid secretion Decreased partial blink rate + frequency	Glands with clear secretion (p > 0.05)
2018 Tan	I	31	Hot towel (reheated)	5 min	Increased tear film lipid layer thickness Increased tear meniscus height	Tear break-up time (p > 0.05)
		31	Microwavable (Bruder®)	5 min	Increased tear film lipid layer thickness Increased tear meniscus height	Tear break-up time (p > 0.05)
2018 Turnbull	I	81	Microwavable (EyeBag®) n = 28	10 min	Increased tear break-up time—severe MGD grp (> 40% MG dropout) Increased lipid layer grade	Tear break-up time-mild grp (p > 0.05) Tear meniscus height (p > 0.05) Tear evaporation rate (p > 0.05)
2015 Wang	I	41	Self-heating (EyeGiene®) one eye	10 min	Increased tear break-up time Increased tear lipid layer grade Increased tear meniscus height	Degree of difference in measured outcomes to contralateral eye (p > 0.05)
		41	Microwavable (EyeBag®) contralateral eye	10 min	Increased tear break-up time Increased tear lipid layer grade Increased tear meniscus height	Degree of difference in measured outcomes to contralateral eye (p > 0.05) Preferred over EyeGiene® (p < 0.05)

N = number of participants in the study, n = number of participants in the group

WC Warm compress, MGD meibomian gland dysfunction