Risk Factors of Meibomian Gland Loss in Dry Eye Disease

Purpose: To determine the risk factors of meibomian gland loss in dry eye disease.Methods: The medical charts of 229 dry eye disease patients who had a meibography were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into 4 groups according to the degree of meibomian gland loss. Telangiectasia and irregularity of eyelid margin, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non invasive breakup time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT) and tear meniscus height (TMH) were compared. Age, gender, history of eyeline tattoo, history of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and autoimmune diseases were also investigated to analyze the correlation with the severe meibomian gland loss. Severe meibomian gland loss was defined as loss of more than 75% of the conjunctival area, and risk factors were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.Results: Comparing the four groups divided according to the degree of meibomian gland loss, the group with severe meibomian gland loss was older (p = 0.001), had lower LLT (p < 0.001), had a higher frequency of eyeline tattoos. The ratio of hyperlipidemia (p < 0.001) and chemotherapy (p < 0.001) was also high in the group with severe meibomian gland loss. As a result of multiple logistic regression analysis, age, eyeline tattoo, hyperlipidemia, and chemotherapy were variables that had a significant effect on sever meibomian gland loss. (p < 0.05)Conclusions: Age and history of eyeline tattoo, hyperlipidemia, and chemotherapy are significant variables that cause severe meibomian gland loss in dry eye disease patients. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2023;64(12):1152-1157