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Published on: April 1, 2019
Development of a Meibomian Gland Dysfunction-Specific Symptom Questionnaire
Jerry R Paugh1, Justin Kwan, Michael Christensen
1Department of Basic and Visual Science (J.R.P.) and Department of Clinical Sciences (J.K.), Southern California College of Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University, Fullerton, CA; Department of Basic Science (M.C.), Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN; Department of Mathematics (A.L.N.), California State University, Fullerton, CA; and Allergan Plc. (M.S.), Irvine, CA; and Constellation Research LLC (D.M.), Gainseville, FL.
A new questionnaire effectively measures meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) symptoms in noncontact lens wearers. This validated tool quantifies MGD severity, aiding in understanding patient experiences.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition affecting noncontact lens wearers.
- Accurate assessment of MGD symptoms is crucial for effective management and patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and psychometrically evaluate a questionnaire specifically designed to measure MGD symptoms in noncontact lens wearers.
- To establish a valid and reliable instrument for quantifying MGD-related symptom frequency and intensity.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 69 MGD subjects classified by accepted diagnostic tests.
- Developed a preliminary 24-item questionnaire targeting 12 symptoms.
- Utilized Rasch analysis for psychometric evaluation and item reduction.
Main Results:
- Reduced the questionnaire to 14 items (seven question pairs) with excellent fit to the Rasch model.
- Demonstrated good construct validity, correlating with existing symptom surveys and treatment outcomes.
- The final instrument showed high reliability and validity for measuring MGD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- The developed MGD-specific questionnaire is a valid quantitative measure for MGD symptoms.
- Further research is needed to confirm its diagnostic efficacy in differentiating dry eye subtypes.
