Wei Jingting, Xiao Kunhong, Cai Qingyuan, Lin Shenghua, Lin Xiangjie, Wang Yujie, Lin Jiawen, Lai Kunfeng, Ye Yunxi, Liu Yuhan, Li Li
Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
Department of Optometry, School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Front Cell Dev Biol. 2025 Jan 6;12:1518154. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1518154. eCollection 2024.
To investigate the changes in meibomian gland (MG) structure in allergic conjunctivitis (AC) patients using an intelligent quantitative analysis algorithm and to explore the relationship between these changes and clinical parameters.
A total of 252 eyes from patients with AC and 200 eyes from normal controls were examined. Infrared meibography was performed using the non-contact mode of the Keratograph 5M. MG images were analyzed using a deep learning-based a quantitative analysis algorithm to evaluate gland length, area, dropout ratio, and deformation. Clinical parameters, including tear meniscus height, tear break up time (TBUT), conjunctival hyperemia, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores, were assessed and correlated with changes in the structure of MG.
The average MG length in AC patients was 4.48 ± 1.04 mm, shorter compared to the control group (4.72 ± 0.94 mm). The average length of the central 5 glands in AC patients was 4.94 ± 1.67 mm, which was also shorter than the control group's central 5 glands (5.38 ± 1.42 mm). Furthermore, the central 5 glands' area in AC patients (1.61 ± 0.64 mm) was reduced compared to the control group (1.79 ± 0.62 mm). Tear meniscus height was lower in the allergy group (0.26 ± 0.10 mm) compared to the control group (0.44 ± 0.08 mm) (P < 0.05). The non-invasive first tear film break-up time was shorter in the allergy group (8.65 ± 6.31 s) than in the control group (10.48 ± 2.58 s) (P < 0.05). Conjunctival congestion was higher in the allergy group (1.1 ± 0.52) compared to the control group (0.97 ± 0.30) (P < 0.05). The OSDI score in the allergy group (8.33 ± 7.6) was higher than that in the control group (4.00 ± 0.50) (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the gland dropout ratio was positively associated with male gender and negatively associated with age and OSDI scores. Additionally, despite an increased number of MG, tear film stability was not improved.
Through the intelligent quantitative algorithm, we found that AC leads to significant changes in MG structure, particularly affecting gland length and central area.
使用智能定量分析算法研究过敏性结膜炎（AC）患者睑板腺（MG）结构的变化，并探讨这些变化与临床参数之间的关系。
共检查了252例AC患者的眼睛和200例正常对照者的眼睛。使用Keratograph 5M的非接触模式进行红外睑板腺照相。使用基于深度学习的定量分析算法分析MG图像，以评估腺体长度、面积、缺失率和变形情况。评估包括泪河高度、泪膜破裂时间（TBUT）、结膜充血和眼表疾病指数（OSDI）评分在内的临床参数，并将其与MG结构的变化相关联。
AC患者的平均MG长度为4.48±1.04毫米，比对照组（4.72±0.94毫米）短。AC患者中央5个腺体的平均长度为4.94±1.67毫米，也比对照组中央5个腺体（5.38±1.42毫米）短。此外，AC患者中央5个腺体的面积（1.61±0.64平方毫米）比对照组（1.79±0.62平方毫米）小。过敏组的泪河高度（0.26±0.10毫米）低于对照组（0.44±0.08毫米）（P<0.05）。过敏组的无创首次泪膜破裂时间（8.65±6.31秒）比对照组（10.48±2.58秒）短（P<0.05）。过敏组的结膜充血程度（1.1±0.52）高于对照组（0.97±0.30）（P<0.05）。过敏组的OSDI评分（8.33±7.6）高于对照组（4.00±0.50）（P<0.05）。相关性分析显示，腺体缺失率与男性性别呈正相关，与年龄和OSDI评分呈负相关。此外，尽管MG数量增加，但泪膜稳定性并未改善。
通过智能定量算法，我们发现AC导致MG结构发生显著变化，尤其影响腺体长度和中央区域。
