Alterations in meibomian gland characteristics and tear film-related parameters in patients with threatened abortion: a new diagnostic index

Abstract

Objective To analyze the alterations in ophthalmic parameters in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), and find the possible eye surface recognition site of threatened abortion (TA) patients. Methods Fifty-two patients with RSA (104 eyes) were recruited. Analyzers were used to examine the parameters of MG and tear film. The distribution of the MG grades of the patients and the correlation between the MG and tear film were analyzed; tear film rupture was used as the grading standard for the MG grade. Results The grade for MG loss in the patients increased with the grade for tear film rupture. MG length (L) and MG area ratio (GA), MG diameter (D) and MG tortuosity index (TI), MG diameter deformation index (DI) and TI were positively correlated. L and TI was negatively correlated. The tear film rupture area was mainly concentrated in the fifth ring and quadrants 3 and 4. The intersection area was mainly located in the fifth ring of sixth and seventh regions. Conclusion In RSA patients, tear film stability is greater when MG loss is farther from the pupil. The degree of gland distortion may be a new diagnostic index for gland variation, and the probability of gland variation in patients with larger meibomian gland area can decrease. The tear film rupture area was mainly concentrated in the fifth ring of the sixth and seventh regions of the pupil, which is expected to become the eye surface recognition site for women with TA.