Posters

Effectiveness of intraductal meibomian gland probing for the management of obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction

Poster Details

First Author: M.Yagmur TURKEY

Co Author(s):    T. Incekalan   E. Erdem           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of intraductal meibomian gland probing in addition to conventional treatment in patients with obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction (O-MGD).

Setting:

Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Ophthalmology Department, Adana/Turkey

Methods:

Forty patients diagnosed with chronic O-MGD were randomized in this study to receive either conventional treatment alone (group 1: 40 eyes of 20 patients), or conventional treatment plus intraductal meibomian gland probing (group 2: 40 eyes of 20 patients). Conventional treatment consisted of warm compress, lid cleaning, topical antibiotic drops, artificial tear drops, and omega 3 fatty acid supplement. Probing was performed at the first visit in group 2. The ocular surface disease index score (OSDI), Oxford graing of ocular surface, tear break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test measurements, and meibum quality score results were evaluated baseline and compared with end of treatment (day 30 and day 90).

Results:

All patients had moderate O-MGD before enrollment. There was no significant difference in baseline symptom scores (OSDI; mean 78 in group 1 and 77.2 in group 2, p=0.8) and baseline clinical scores (BUT; mean 4 second in both group, Schirmer; 6.7 mm in group 1, 6.6 mm in group 2, p=0.9, Oxford score; 2.9 in group 1, 3.3 in group 2, p=0.1, meibum score; 16.5 in group 1, 17.2 in group 2, p=0.7) between groups. Symptoms disappeared at the end of three months in all patients (mean OSDI score; 6.54in group 1, 5.4 in group 2, p=0.44), although there was no significant difference between groups it was observed earlier in group 2 (30 days) than group 1 (90 days) (p=0.001). Tear volume and function (Schirmer; mean 10.7±1.9 mm in group 1, 10,8 mm in group 2, BUT; 8 second in group 1, 9 second in group 2), Oxford grading (mean 0.7 in group 1, 0.8 in group 2) and meibum quality (mean 7.3 in group 1, 6.8 in group 2) scores demonstrated significantly improvement from baseline in both group, but it was faster in group 2 (30 days) than group 1 (90 days) (p=0.0001).

Conclusions:

Chronic posterior blepharitis is one of the challenges in ophthalmology practice. Patient compliance is a critical part of the successful treatment. This study showed that intraductal meibomian gland probing seems to provide rapid symptom relief and clinical improvement for patients with chronic posterior blepharitis. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE