Meibomian gland secretion quality association with ocular parameters in university students during COVID- 19 restrictions

Abstract

Purpose To determine if the Meibomian Gland (MG) secretion quality is associated with symptoms of ocular discomfort, hours of Video Display Terminals (VDT) use, eyelid margin abnormalities, conjunctival hyperemia, and Meibomian Gland Loss Area (MGLA) in a sample of university students. Methods An online survey that included an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and an extra question about hours of VDT use recruited an initial sample of 183 participants. Only 120 participants that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were scheduled for a battery of ocular surface and MG specific exam. The tests include: 1) meibometry, 2) slit lamp exploration of eyelid margin abnormalities (irregularity, hyperemia and MG orifices plugging), MG secretion quality and conjunctival hyperemia, and 3) Meibography. Results Significant positive correlations between the MG secretion quality and eyelid margin hyperemia, MG orifices plugging, MGLA, nasal conjunctival hyperemia, and temporal conjunctival hyperemia (Spearman Rho; all r>0.186, p<0.042) were found. Multivariate regression found association between OSDI with hours of VDT use (B=0.316, p=0.007), and eyelid hyperemia (B=0.434, p≤ 0.001). A statistical association between MG secretion quality and eyelid margin hyperemia, MG orifices plugging, MGLA and conjunctival hyperemia (Fisher’s exact; all p<0.039) were found. Multivariate regression found association between MG secretion quality with MG orifices plugging (B=0.295, p=0.004) and meibometry (B=-0.001, p=0.029). Conclusion Participants with higher values in MG secretion quality have higher values in eyelid margin hyperemia, MG plugging, MGLA, and conjunctival hyperemia. No direct relationship between MG secretion quality and hours of VDT use or OSDI were found.

Meibum Lipidomic Analysis in Evaporative Dry Eye Subjects

“…However, a decrease in all VIP lipids analysed from the MG orifice plugging feature in group 1 and group 2 can be observed in the heatmap (Figure 5). Both margin hyperaemia and MG orifice plugging findings in the heatmaps could be interpreted from a clinical perspective, because it is common to find high values of eyelid margin hyperaemia and margin telangiectasia related to high values of MG orifice plugging [6,28]. The decrease in lipid abundance found in the analysed samples between both groups for MG orifice plugging could be explained by the physico-chemical properties of the plug because the plugs are composed of polar species such as diacylglycerols [6].…”