Variation of Meibomian glands contrats throughout the day

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate Meibomian glands (MG), specialized imaging techniques are used. The most commonly used technique for the observation of MG is non-contact meibography with infrared light. This technique allows to see specific details of the MG, provides quantitative measurements, in addition to structural appearance, shortening, distortions or atrophy. [1] Recent studies have shown that the analysis of MG contrasts can represent an advance in the diagnosis of related pathologies to MG, such as Meibomian gland dysfunction and Blepharitis. [2] The present study wants to observe the contrast variation throughout the day in the spaces between two adjacent MG, interglandular contrasts (CINTER) and within the same gland, intraglandular contrasts (CIN). The main objective of this study is to observe the variation of MG contrasts throughout the day and analyze its possible correlation with alterations related to these glands. Methods: A prospective, descriptive, pilot study was carried out on 8 participants, including controls, MG pathology participants, and contact lens users. A set of tests were performed, including symptomatology tests, clinical tests to recognize the ocular surface and an assessment of the MG. Images of the MG were taken throughout the day, with the Oculus Keratograph 5MTM. Meibography images were captured from 8 am to 8 pm in two hours slots. The eyelids were everted and the images were always captured by the same clinical examiner. The meibography images have been processed with the Matlab® program to analyze the CINTER and CIN contrast. [3] Results: Preliminary results show that there is an oscillatory and fluctuating trend in glandular contrasts throughout the day, following different patterns in each subject. Conclusions: As has been previously studied, MG contrasts are postulated as a possible biomarker of MG alterations. The study of the behavior of these contrasts throughout the day and in different groups of subjects may lead to advances in the diagnosis of MG alterations or pathologies such as Meibomian gland dysfunction or Blepharitis, and could also provide further insight on the meibum production cycle and MG physiology.