Department of Keratonosus, Weifang Eye Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China (mainland).
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Qingzhou, Shandong, China (mainland).
Med Sci Monit. 2022 Apr 5;28:e935359. doi: 10.12659/MSM.935359.
BACKGROUND Allergic conjunctivitis, one of the frequently occurring ocular surface diseases, can cause mucus discharge, itchy sensation, conjunctival hyperemia, and papillary formation. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) is associated with xerophthalmia and instability of tear film. Meibomian gland (MG) can secrete lipids to avoid xerophthalmia. However, there have been few reports on MG morphological alterations of SAC patients. This study aimed to examine the morphological alterations of MG among SAC patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our study included 89 eyes from 89 patients with SAC and 112 eyes of healthy volunteers. The symptoms were assessed by ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. Then, the tests shown below were carried out, including tear evaporation rate from the ocular surface (TEROS), slit-lamp examination, break-up time (BUT) of tear film, Schirmer test I, vital staining, meibography, and meibum expression grading. MG was examined with laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). RESULTS Relative to the control group, the OSDI was significantly higher in the SAC group. TEROS values, BUT, vital staining, MG expression, MG distortion rates, and MG dropout grades were significantly worse in the SAC group compared with the control group. As suggested by LSCM, SAC patients had markedly worse averages of parameters compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS The patients with SAC have more significant morphological and cytological changes in the MG. The Keratograph 5M system and LSCM are effective methods for evaluating MG status and ocular surface diseases.
过敏性结膜炎是常见的眼表疾病之一，可导致黏液分泌、瘙痒感、结膜充血和乳头形成。季节性过敏性结膜炎（SAC）与干眼症和泪膜不稳定有关。睑板腺（MG）可以分泌脂质以避免干眼症。然而，关于 SAC 患者 MG 形态改变的报道较少。本研究旨在研究 SAC 患者 MG 的形态改变。
我们的研究包括 89 例 SAC 患者的 89 只眼和 112 名健康志愿者的 112 只眼。通过眼表面疾病指数（OSDI）问卷评估症状。然后进行以下测试，包括眼表面泪液蒸发率（TEROS）、裂隙灯检查、泪膜破裂时间（BUT）、Schirmer 试验 I、荧光素染色、睑板腺照相和睑板腺分泌物分级。使用激光共聚焦显微镜（LSCM）检查 MG。
与对照组相比，SAC 组的 OSDI 明显更高。SAC 组的 TEROS 值、BUT、荧光素染色、MG 表达、MG 扭曲率和 MG 脱落分级明显差于对照组。LSCM 提示，SAC 患者的参数平均值明显差于对照组。
SAC 患者的 MG 存在更明显的形态和细胞学改变。Keratograph 5M 系统和 LSCM 是评估 MG 状态和眼表疾病的有效方法。
