Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare the number of meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion (MGYLS), using standardized diagnostic meibomian gland expression (MGE), in 1) asymptomatic non contact lens (CL) wearers < 25 yrs old, 2) asymptomatic non-CL wearers > 40 yrs old, 3) asymptomatic rigid CL (RGP) wear for > 30 years and 4) asymptomatic soft contact lens (SCL) wear for > 30 years.
Methods: :
Data was gathered from patients presenting in routine clinical practice. Standardized MGE was performed along the entire lower lid. The total number of MGYLS along the lower eyelid was determined. The number of MGYLS was compared among the four different groups.
Results: :
The mean age of each group: 1) 21.3±1.9 (asymptomatic non-CL wearers < 25 yrs old, n = 12), 2) 55.6±8.9 yrs (asymptomatic non-CL wearers > 40 yrs old, n = 16), 3) 60.6±6.8 yrs (asymptomatic RGP wearers, n = 19) and 4) 57.3±7.1 yrs (asymptomatic SCL wearers, n = 21). The number of MGYLS in the young asymptomatic non-CL wearers (OD: 11.1±2.7; OS: 10.2±2.7) was not significantly different from the asymptomatic RGP wearers > 30 yrs (OD: 8.7±2.4; OS: 9.3±2.2). The number of MGYLS in the asymptomatic non-CL wearers > 40 yrs old (OD: 5.2±2.7; OS: 5.7±2.9) was not significantly different from the asymptomatic SCL > 30 yrs (OD: 5.6±2.0; OS: 5.8±1.8). However, the number of MGYLS was significantly higher in the both the asymptomatic non-CL wearers < 25 yrs old and the RGP wearers > 30 yrs relative to asymptomatic non-CL wearers > 40 yrs old (p< 0.05) and the asymptomatic SCL wearers > 30 yrs (p< 0.05).
Conclusions: :
Standardized diagnostic MGE has provided data to answer many fundamental questions regarding the basic functioning of an individual MG, and for the correlation of MG functionality to many areas, including CL wearing. This preliminary study suggests that long-term successful RGP wearing may require a greater number of MGYLS than do long-term successful SCL wearers or age matched asymptomatic non-contact lens wearers.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • contact lens