The evaluation of the treatment response in obstructive meibomian gland disease by in vivo laser confocal microscopy

Yukihiro Matsumoto, Yuta Shigeno, Enrique Adan Sato, Osama M.A. Ibrahim, Megumi Saiki, Kazuno Negishi, Yoko Ogawa, Murat Dogru, Kazuo Tsubota

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the status of periglandular inflammation, ocular surface and tear function alterations in patients with obstructive meibomian gland disease (OMGD) by in vivo confocal microscopy before and after anti-inflammatory treatment, and to compare the results with patients receiving only topical non-preserved artificial tears and sodium hyaluronate eye drops without anti-inflammatory agents. Methods: Thirty-two eyes of 16 OMGD patients receiving anti-inflammatory treatment (treatment group) and 22 eyes of 11 OMGD patients receiving only topical non-preserved artificial tears and sodium hyaluronate eye drops (control group) were recruited in this prospective study. All subjects underwent slit-lamp examinations, tear film break-up time (BUT) measurements, fluorescein and Rose-Bengal stainings, Schirmer test I without anesthesia, transillumination of the lids (meibography), and in vivo laser confocal microscopy of the lids (HRTII-RCM). Results: The mean BUT, fluorescein staining scores, and inflammatory cell densities observed by in vivo confocal microscopy improved significantly in the group receiving anti-inflammatory treatment (p<0.05), whereas no significant alterations of these parameters were observed in the group not receiving anti-inflammatory agents (p>0.05). Conclusions: In vivo confocal microscopy was able to effectively demonstrate the treatment responses in patients with OMGD. Inflammatory cell density calculation seems to be a promising new parameter of in vivo confocal microscopy in the evaluation of treatment responses.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)821-829
Number of pages9
JournalGraefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Volume247
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009 Jun

Keywords

  • Confocal microscopy
  • Inflammation
  • Meibomian gland dysfunction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology
  • Sensory Systems
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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