Meibomian gland dysfunction with involutional eyelids malposition

Abstract

The state of the ocular surface and visual functions depends on ocular adnexal tissues. Involutional changes of the eyelids and meibomian glands occur with age. There is a lack of information about possible relationship between involutional lower lid malposition and meibomian gland dysfunction. Purpose. To evaluate meibomian glands dysfunction in patients with lower eyelid malposition. Methods. Two groups of patients were enrolled: 26 patients (52 eyelids) with involutional lower eyelid malposition and a control group of 22 patients (44 eyelids) without eyelid malposition. Groups were comparable by age and sex. The clinical examination included general eye examination; evaluation of the degree of the eyelids laxity, signs of retractors dehiscence and clinical score of meibomian gland’s dysfunction (The International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, 2011). Results. Atonic eyelid changes and meibomian gland dysfunction were significantly more expressed in patients with involutional eyelid malposition (р < 0,05). Conclusion. Our study showed an age-independent clinical relationship between involutional lower eyelid malposition and dysfunction of meibomian glands.