Dysfunction of the meibomian glands in children with certain types of chronic dermatoses

In order to investigate the possible presence and features of the clinical course of dry eye syndrome (DES) in children of various ages with certain types of chronic dermatoses, 65 patients aged 4 to 17 years were examined. The criteria for their inclusion in the study were the presence of a verified diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (in the acute stage) (48 children) or ichthyosis (vulgar and congenital) (17 children). All were examined for the severity of subjective discomfort, the condition of the ocular surface, the production and stability of the pre-corneal tear film. The results obtained indicate the presence of clinical and functional signs of DES (mainly due to dysfunction of the meibomian glands) in 31 children (64.6%) with atopic dermatitis and 14 (82.4%) with ichthyosis. At the same time, in children with the studied types of chronic dermatoses, DES occurred mainly in mild and moderate forms. It is advisable to conduct an examination of patients with other forms of chronic dermatoses in order to identify and treat their meibomian gland dysfunction and the associated dry eye syndrome. Keywords: dysfunction of the meibomian glands, dry eye syndrome, chronic dermatoses, atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis