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Meibomian Gland Dysfunction in Patients Receiving Long-Term Glaucoma Medications
Enes Uzunosmanoglu1, Mehmet C Mocan, Sibel Kocabeyoglu
1Departments of *Opthalmology and †Biostatistics, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Cornea
|April 8, 2016
Summary
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) affects 80% of glaucoma patients on medication. While MGD is common, it doesn't worsen ocular surface damage beyond that caused by glaucoma treatments.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Ocular Surface Disease
- Glaucoma Research
Background:
- Glaucoma management often involves long-term topical hypotensive medications.
- Medication use can impact the ocular surface.
- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition affecting the eyelids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and impact of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) on the ocular surface in patients with medically treated glaucoma.
- To compare ocular surface parameters in glaucoma patients with and without MGD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 70 glaucoma patients on long-term topical hypotensive medications and 45 healthy controls.
- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) assessed clinically and graded.
- Ocular surface evaluated using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear break-up time (BUT), lissamine green (LG) staining, and Schirmer test.
Main Results:
- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) was detected in 80% of glaucoma patients, primarily mild to moderate obstructive type.
- Glaucoma patients with MGD showed significantly worse ocular surface test results compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001).
- No significant differences in OSDI, tear break-up time, lissamine green scores, or Schirmer results were found between glaucoma patients with and without MGD.
Conclusions:
- Mild to moderate meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is highly prevalent in patients with medically treated glaucoma.
- The presence of MGD does not appear to cause additional ocular surface damage beyond the effects of chronic topical medication use in glaucoma patients.
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