The association between infestation and ocular surface manifestations in meibomian gland dysfunction.

AIM

To investigate the association between ocular infestation and ocular surface manifestations in meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

METHODS

Eight-six patients with MGD were enrolled. All enrolled subjects were tested in the following sequence: ocular surface disease index (OSDI), slit-lamp biomicroscope examination, corneal surface regularity index (SRI) and surface asymmetry index (SAI), tear fluid collection, fluorescein tear film break-up time (F-BUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), Schirmer I test (SIT) and counting. Tear matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity was assessed using MMP-9 activity assay kit.

RESULTS

Among 86 MGD patients, 40 were positive for . The ocular -positive group showed significantly increased scores of OSDI (25.96±13.74 18.07±11.55, =0.01), lid margin abnormality (2.38±0.87 1.98±0.91, =0.04) and CFS (1.28±2.00 0.94±1.36, =0.01) compared to the ocular -free group. The tear MMP-9 activity was higher in the ocular -positive group (102.9±32.4 ng/mL) than the ocular -free group (46.2±19.2 ng/mL, =0.03). There was no significant difference in meibum quality and expressibility, SRI, SAI, F-BUT and SIT between the two groups (>0.05 for each). No significant correlation was noted between the number of and ocular surface parameters in -positive MGD group (>0.05 for each).

CONCLUSION

Ocular infestation may be associated with ocular discomfort and ocular surface damage in MGD.