The Effect of Eyeliner Tattoo on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and the Ocular Surface

PURPOSE: To determine whether eyeliner tattoo affects the meibomian gland (MG) and ocular surface.METHODS: The medical charts of an eyeliner tattoo group (16 eyes of 8 patients) and a control group (16 eyes of 18 patients) were retrospectively reviewed. The ocular surface disease index questionnaire, ocular surface staining score, tear film break-up time (TBUT), upper eyelid abnormality, meibum expressibility and quality, and MG loss and tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) which measured with LipiView® (TearScience, Morrisville, NC, USA) were compared. In the tattoo group, the correlation between the distance from the MG orifice to the tattoo pigment and other indices were analyzed.RESULTS: Compared to controls, the tattoo group had a significantly higher ocular surface disease index (p = 0.002), shorter TBUT (p < 0.001), higher vessel engorgement of the upper lid (p = 0.016), poorer meibum expressibility and quality (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively), higher MG loss (p < 0.001), and thinner LLT (p = 0.024). In the tattoo group, the closer the tattoo was to the MG orifice, the more the upper lid vessel was engorged and the more MG loss occurred (r(s) = −0.560, p = 0.024; r(s) = −0.563, p = 0.023, respectively), and a thinner LLT was observed (r(s) = 0.567, p = 0.022).CONCLUSIONS: Eyeliner tattoos may be related to changes in the lid margin, loss of the MG, and thinning of the LLT.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Tear Lipid Layer Analysis after Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: We report the clinical manifestations of dry eye syndrome after cataract surgery involving meibomian gland structure, meibomian gland function, and tear lipid layer analysis. METHODS: The clinical manifestations of dry eye syndrome were retrospectively evaluated in 34 eyes of 31 patients who underwent cataract surgery from September to November 2017. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time (tBUT), Oxford stain score, presence or absence of blepharitis, and meibomian gland expression were measured preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months postoperatively. Lipid layer thickness (LLT), partial blinks, and meibomian gland images were measured using LipiView® (TearScience, Morrisville, NC, USA), an interferometric eye surface measuring device. RESULTS: The postoperative OSDI was significantly higher than preoperative OSDI (17.09 ± 1.81): 22.76 ± 1.99 at 1 week, 23.12 ± 1.91 at 1 month, and 22.68 ± 1.92 at 2 months (p < 0.05). The postoperative tBUT was significantly lower than preoperative tBUT (5.07 ± 0.39): 3.99 ± 0.31 at 1 week, 3.49 ± 0.27 at 1 month, and 4.72 ± 0.39 at 2 months (p < 0.05). The Oxford staining score increased after surgery, but the difference was not statistically significant. Postoperative meibomian gland expression was significantly lower preoperative values (4.9 ± 2.8): 4.4 ± 2.8 at 1 month, and 3.9 ± 2.8 at 2 months (p < 0.05). The LLT decreased at 1 month postoperatively and increased at 2 months postoperatively, but these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract surgery resulted in a short-term meibomian gland dysfunction, leading to deterioration of dry eye after cataract surgery. However, we could not confirm structural changes in the meibomian gland, so it will be necessary to observe the clinical features of dry eye syndrome over a longer period of time.

Evaluation of Changes in Tear Film Lipid Layer Thickness Using Ocular Surface Interferometer after Artificial Tear Application

PURPOSE: The changes in tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) after artificial tears application using LipiView®II interferometer were assessed. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of patients with dry eye disease. All subjects underwent measurement of tear film break-up time, Schirmer test, ocular surface staining, meibomian gland evaluation, and subjective score assessment using the Ocular Surface Disease Index. All subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups using table of random numbers (group 1, sodium hyaluronate [HA] 0.1% eye drops without preservatives; group 2, HA 0.3% eye drops without preservatives and group 3, HA 0.1% with benzalkonium chloride 0.003%). LLT was measured before, immediately after and 1 hr, 3 hrs, and 6 hrs after artificial tears application. Additionally, the patients were divided into 2 subgroups depending on the presence of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and further evaluated. RESULTS: Significant change in LLT was observed at 3 hrs after artificial tears instillation. LLT in groups 1 and 2 showed significant changes over time (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). However, LLT in group 3 showed no change. LLT was unchanged in patients without MGD. Conversely, in MGD patients, a significant difference in LLT between groups 1 and 2 was observed immediately after and 1 hr and 3 hrs after instillation of artificial tears (p = 0.04, p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) but not at 6 hrs. However, no significant difference in LLT between groups 1 and 3 was observed in MGD patients. CONCLUSIONS: LLT after instillation of artificial tears measured using LipiView®II interferometer was affected by artificial tear concentration and presence of preservatives. Additionally, the presence of MGD can impact the pattern of LLT changes induced by artificial tear instillation. Therefore, LLT measurements using LipiView®II interferometer require at least a 6-hrs interval after use of eye drops, especially for patients with MGD or using artificial tears with preservatives.