Quantitative Assessment of Lid Margin Vascularity Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition affecting eyelid health.
• Accurate assessment of eyelid margin vascularity is crucial for diagnosing and managing MGD.
• Current methods for evaluating lid margin vascularity may be limited in precision and noninvasiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the capability of swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) in assessing eyelid margin vascularity.
• To determine the repeatability and reproducibility of SS-OCTA measurements of lid margin blood flow density (LMBFD).
• To validate the efficacy of LMBFD as a quantitative index in patients with MGD.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, cross-sectional study involving 125 participants (15 controls, 110 MGD patients).
• Lid margin blood flow density (LMBFD) was measured using SS-OCTA.
• Repeatability and reproducibility of LMBFD were assessed. Correlations with MGD-related parameters (OSDI, FTBUT, CFS, ME, LMS) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• SS-OCTA demonstrated high repeatability (ICC=0.905-0.888) and reproducibility (ICC=0.986-0.988) for LMBFD measurement.
• LMBFD showed a significant increase with MGD severity (mild, moderate, severe; P < 0.001).
• LMBFD significantly correlated with OSDI, FTBUT, CFS, ME, and LMS (P < 0.05 for all).

Conclusions:

• LMBFD measured by SS-OCTA is a noninvasive, repeatable, and reproducible index for quantitative evaluation of eyelid margin vascularity.
• SS-OCTA shows potential for assessing eyelid margin vascularity in MGD patients.
• This technique may guide future treatment strategies for MGD.