Abstract
Purpose :
To report statistically significant growth of Meibomian Gland (MG) tissue after Meibomian Gland Probing (MGP) from patients with obstructive Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (o-MGD).
Methods :
Retrospective study comparing pre and post MGP non-contact infrared (IR) meibography results in patients with o-MGD, looking at signs of individual MG growth and increase in overall MG tissue area within total measurement field (TMF).
Results :
Post MGP meibography of 34 upper lids of 19 patients (4.5-12 month follow up) showed 14 lids (41.2%) with signs of individual gland growth. 3 lids had light artifact or lid distortion limiting quantitative analysis, 1 lid developed a hordeolum. 10 remaining lids showed a significant collective increase in mean individual glandular area within TMF of 4.87% (p=0.0145). 4 of 10 lids showed significant increase in MG tissue area from 10.70% to 21.13% (p< 0.0001, p=0.0277, p=0.0292, and p=0.0345). At >12 to <25 months follow-up, 16 upper lids of 9 additional patients showed 4 lids (25%) with signs of individual gland growth. 1 lid had distortion, limiting quantitative analysis. 3 remaining lids showed significant collective increase in mean individual glandular area within TMF of 11.19% (p=0.0004). 2 of 3 lids showed significant increase in MG tissue area of 13.73% and 20.00% (p= 0.0097 and p=0.0001). For all 13 analyzed lids with a follow-up of <25 months, there was a significant increase of 6.23% in overall total glandular area from 34.93% to 37.16% of TMF (p=0.0447). Findings included lengthening of shortened MGs, increased density and definition of faded atrophic appearing MGs, growth of discontinuous segments into continuous MG, and appearance of a new MG.
Conclusions :
MGP was associated with increased MG tissue area and regrowth of atrophied MGs as viewed on meibography. MGP may promote MG regrowth in part by mechanically and directly establishing a patent duct/orifice system as well as provide unequivocal physical proof of a patent meibum outflow tract through the natural orifice.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.