Meibography: A review of techniques and technologies

Abstract

Meibomian glands play a significant role in tear production by contributing lipids to the superficial tear film.(1) Dysfunction of the meibomian glands destabilizes tears resulting in evaporative dry eye.(2,3) Historically, the meibomian glands were assessed in an ex vivo fashion through histologic studies. However, innovations in ocular imaging have advanced significantly in recent decades to include meibography. Meibography is an imaging study developed 35 years ago exclusively for the purpose of observing the morphology of meibomian glands in vivo.(4,5) In this review of meibography, we briefly describe the etiology of meibomian gland dysfunction and then discuss various meibography techniques, technologies, and methods of image analysis. We close with a review of the literature, crediting various studies for the significant contributions made toward our current understanding of the meibomian glands.

A Simple Novel Technique of Infrared Meibography by Means of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study

“…Traditional methods available for directly studying the architecture of MGs are meibography and biopsy [18]. Clearly, biopsy may reveal microscopic features of glandular structure, but it is an invasive ex vivo analysis and patients are frequently reluctant to consent to such procedure.…”

“…contact meibography ) and using a novel OCT technique (i.e. noncontact infrared meibography ), Schirmer I test, and evaluation of meibomian secretion (meibum) after digital pressure application on the upper lid tarsus [18–24]. Examinations were completed on the same day, generally within 25–30 minutes (~ 2–3 minutes for IRM-OCT, ~ 5–6 minutes for transillumination biomicroscopy).…”

“…Examinations were completed on the same day, generally within 25–30 minutes (~ 2–3 minutes for IRM-OCT, ~ 5–6 minutes for transillumination biomicroscopy). Assessment of the total area of the MGs in the everted eyelid (upper or lower) was performed, acquiring three scans (central, temporal and nasal) with IRM-OCT, and six or seven images (depending on the eyelid dimensions) with conventional meibography (since the transillumination area is small) [18,24]. …”

“…drop-out, shortening and distortion, are significantly associated with MGD [16]. For all these reasons, the practice of lid transillumination for observing MG rows remains a key technique (conventional or standard technique) in studying atrophic processes involving MGs, as well as their gross and microscopic changes [17–18]. …”

Meiboscore Correlation between Contact Lenses Weares and No Contact Lenses Weares in a Young Population

“…The state and evaluation of the lipid layer gives information of the integrity and stableness of the tear film and in the same time the right function of the MGs. Interferometry is used to evaluate the lipid layer where the creation of interference fringe patterns vary in pattern and color according to lipid layer thickness and integrity [3,4].…”