Prevalence of MGD in a clinical dry eye population

Abstract

Purpose The meibomian glands inside the tarsal plates of the eyelids contribute to the superficial lipid layer of the tear film. These lipids reduce evaporation of tears, enhance tear film stability, protect the ocular surface and provide a clear optical image. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition and can lead to evaporative dry eye. The purpose of this study was to characterize patients in an Austrian dry eye unit with MGD. Methods Between 2004 and 2010, 1372 consecutive patients with ocular discomfort from the dry eye unit of the Ophthalmological Department, Medical University Graz, were analysed retrospectively. Subjective symptoms were evaluated with a visual analogue scale. Fluorescein‐break up time, Schirmer test without local anaesthesia, fluorescein and lissamine green staining of the ocular surface and evaluation of the lid margins were performed. MGD patients were defined as follows: presence of teleangiectasia, irregularity of the lid margins, altered expressibility of meibomian glands and poor quality of expressed meibomian gland secretions. Results Overall 70.2% of all patients suffered from MGD. The mean age of these patients was 55.3 ± 16.6 years and 70.9% were women. 52.1% of the MGD patients had Schirmer test values equal or below 10mm/5min and 30.1% of the MGD patients had Schirmer test values equal or below 5mm/5min. Sjögren's syndrome according to the American‐European Consensus Group was found in 4% of the MGD patients. The intensity of subjective symptoms did not differ among these patients. Conclusion MGD is a major cause of ocular discomfort as evaluated in a large clinic‐based population of Austria. Tear deficiency is often accompanied with this disorder.