[ad_1]
December 10, 2025
2 min read
Key takeaways:
- Eyes with MGD had lower fluorescein breakup time and higher Schirmer test scores.
- MGD prevalence varied by definition, suggesting a need for standardization.
BOSTON — Eyes with meibomian gland dysfunction are more likely to have increased tears and lower tear film stability, possible signs of dry eye disease, according to data presented here.
The conclusion came from a study by Gurneet Kaur, an optometry student at the UC Berkeley Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, and colleagues presented at Academy 2025.
Eyes with meibomian gland dysfunction are more likely to have increased tears and lower tear film stability, possible signs of dry eye disease. Image: Adobe Stock
Aiming to learn more about connections between dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction, Kaur and colleagues conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Dry Eye Evaluation and Management (DREAM) study. The analysis included 535 participants with moderate-to-severe dry eye disease.
Generalized linear regression models were used to assess links between MGD and clinical parameters of dry eye disease, including corneal and conjunctival staining scores, fluorescein tear breakup time, Schirmer test score and patient-reported symptoms. The Oculus Keratograph 5M was used to collect noninvasive tear breakup time.
On average, eyes with MGD had lower tear film stability, as indicated by lower fluorescein breakup time (2.7 seconds vs. 3.36 seconds; P < .001) compared with eyes without MGD. However, noninvasive tear breakup time had no relationship with dry eye disease.
“Why might this difference exist? … For fluorescein breakup time, both fluorescein volume and concentration may impact tear film stability,” Kaur said. “In terms of noninvasive keratograph breakup time … this null finding may have been due to the fact that the Oculus Keratograph 5M has wider spacing between its rings in comparison to other noninvasive breakup time instrumentation, such as the Medmont E300, which has narrow rings.”
Eyes with MGD also had increased tear secretion, as indicated by higher Schirmer test score (10.37 mm vs. 9.16 mm; P = .024), compared with eyes without MGD. Schirmer test values were elevated only in MGD as defined by the quality of meibum secretion, not as defined by gland obstruction, Kaur said.
“This could be due to two possible reasons,” Kaur said. “Previous work by Arita, et al., has speculated that an increase in tear production could be occurring as a compensatory response to increased tear evaporation, which could be occurring due to meibum deficiencies.
“Another possible reason is reflex tearing occurring as a response to poor quality meibum,” Kaur continued. “Research shows that chemical changes occur in poor quality meibum, which could make the poorer quality meibum deviate from healthy meibum and cause it to act as a foreign substance or an irritant to trigger reflex tearing, and this could, in return, increase tear secretion.”
Overall, “increased tear secretion, as seen by the Schirmer test, and increased tear film instability, as seen by the fluorescein breakup time, may be associated with MGD,” Kaur said. Future studies should “focus on standardizing the MGD definition,” as its prevalence can vary depending on the exact definition, she added.
“We also need to clearly state the MGD definition that is being used in studies, because sometimes that isn’t being done, and the way we state the MGD definition impacts how we interpret the results,” she said.
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Kaur G, et al. Associations between diagnosis of meibomian gland dysfunction and clinical signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Presented at: Academy 2025; Oct. 8-11, 2025; Boston.
Disclosures:
This study was funded by grants from the National Eye Institute.
Ask a clinical question and tap into Healio AI’s knowledge base.
- PubMed, enrolling/recruiting trials, guidelines
- Clinical Guidance, Healio CME, FDA news
- Healio’s exclusive daily news coverage of clinical data
[ad_2]
Source link
