Meibomian gland dropout in Sjögren's syndrome and non-Sjögren's dry eye patients. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zang, Siwen; Cui, Ying; Cui, Yang; Fei, Wenlei
• Is Part Of: Eye. Volume 32:Number 11(2018)
• Page Start: 1681
• Page End: 1687
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Ophthalmology -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1038/s41433-018-0149-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-222X

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the differences in ocular symptoms and signs between Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and non-SS aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE) patients. Methods Twenty-two eyes of 22 SS patients (Group 1) and 22 eyes of 22 non-SS ADDE patients (Group 2) were enrolled. The evaluated variables included the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED), the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear meniscus height, first and average non-invasive keratographic breakup time (fNIKBUT and avNIKBUT), Schirmer I test, lipid layer thickness (LLT), meibomian gland expressibility, Marx line, corneal staining, conjunctival congestion, incomplete blinking, and meibomian gland dropout using two novel, non-invasive instruments, the Keratograph and LipiView II. Results Ocular signs of the NIKBUT (fNIKBUT: 3.8 (2.7, 5.2)s and 6.3 (3.7, 8.9)s, P = 0.024; avNIKBUT: 5.4 (4.5, 8.9)s and 7.6 (5.8, 13.7)s, P = 0.041), meibomian gland dropout of the upper eyelid (35.5% (29.1%, 54.8%) and 21.9% (16.7%, 24.9%), P = 0.000), and corneal staining (P = 0.050) were more severe but were associated with less severe symptoms, i.e., a lower SPEED score (P = 0.001), in SS subjects than in non-SS subjects. Conclusion SS patients exhibit more severe meibomian gland destruction of the upper eyelid than non-SS patients. Meibomian gland dysfunction is another key cause of SS-associated dry eye.