Tear film lipid layer thickness measurement from Ocular Surface Analyzer as a marker to monitor treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction in a study comparing physiological detergent-free eyelid wipes with conventional therapy: A randomized trial

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of physiological, non?detergent eyelid wipes with conventional lid hygiene in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Methods: Fifty participants with MGD were recruited and randomized into two groups. Participants in group I used Evolve Pure? Eyewipes twice a day to clean the eyelid debris along with standard therapy (antibiotic and lubricants) and participants in group II followed lid hygiene with warm compresses along with standard therapy. Symptoms, ocular surface assessment (lipid layer thickness, tear meniscus height, non?invasive tear film breakup time, and meibography), slit?lamp biomicroscopy (eyelash contamination, meibomian gland blockage, meibomian gland secretion, and meibomian gland telangiectasia) and tear film osmolarity were noted at baseline and 90 days after therapy. Results: Significant improvement in symptoms and signs of MGD was observed in both groups after treatment (P < 0.001); however, the clinical improvement was better with the use of eyelid wipes. Lipid layer thickness increased significantly in group I (P = 0.0006) and group II (P = 0.0002), which was maintained even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, and severity score of symptoms and signs. Conclusion: Lipid layer thickness of the tear film is a sensitive marker in monitoring response to treatment in patients with MGD. The use of physiological detergent?free eyelid wipes is non?inferior to lid hygiene and warm compresses, which remains the mainstay for treatment of MGD; the clinical improvement with eyelid wipes was noted to be better

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.

Clinical Aspects of Phlyctenular Keratoconjunctivitis Using a Tear Film Interferometer

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical findings in phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis patients and assess the function and morphology of Meibomian glands using an interferometer (LipiView®, TearScience, Morrisville, NC, USA) in such patients.METHODS: This retrospective study included 19 eyes of 13 patients diagnosed with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis. The lipid layer thickness (LLT) and meibograph of each eye was quantified by tear interferometry. Tear film break-up time (TBUT) and corneal staining score were measured. Meibomian gland morphology (lid margin vascularity, plugging of gland orifices, lid margin irregularity, lid margin thickening, and partial glands) was evaluated based on anterior photographs and meibographs.RESULTS: The mean age was 21.3 years (8–44 years). Mean BUT and Oxford corneal staining scores were 2.6 ± 1.2 seconds and 1.9 ± 0.8, respectively. Abnormal findings of the Meibomian glands were observed in all patients. The mean LLT was 79.6 ± 27.4 µm and the incomplete eye blinking frequency was 3.8 ± 5.9 during 20 seconds. The graphs of the tear lipid layer showed various patterns such as flat, up-hill, down-hill, and mixed.CONCLUSIONS: Meibomian gland dysfunctions and changes in the tear film lipid layer were noted in patients with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis. These factors are to be considered for the treatment of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis in young patients under 10 years of age.

Study on the correlation between tear film lipid layer thickness and macular microvascular changes in patients with diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To analyze the correlation between tear film lipid layer thickness(LLT)and macular microvascular parameters in diabetic retinopathy. <p>METHODS: Totally 60 eyes of type 2 diabetes patients with non-proliferative stage(NPDR group)and 60 eyes of proliferative stage(PDR group)with diabetic retinopathy diagnosed in our hospital from 2018-01/12 were selected, and 60 eyes of healthy volunteers with appropriate age and gender were selected as the normal control group. The tear film lipid layer thickness(LLT)was examined by Lipiview eye surface interferometer, while the foveal avascular zone(FAZ), superficial capillary layer(SCL)vessel density and deep capillary layer(DCL)vessel density were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)in three groups. The differences and correlations between the parameters were compared. <p>RESULTS: LLT(69.87±11.401nm)in normal control group was higher than that in NPDR(54.87±7.453nm)and PDR group(42.67±5.246nm), and FAZ(0.312±0.021mm2)was lower than that in NDPR group(0.389±0.037mm2)and PDR group(0.437±0.032mm2). The vascular density of SCL(51.977%±4.164%)was significantly higher than that of NPDR(47.067%±4.757%)and PDR(41.865%±5.512%), and that of DCL(49.578%±2.619%)was higher than that of NPDR(46.032%±2.622%)and PDR(40.598%±2.671%)(all <i>P</i><0.01). There was no correlation between LLT, FAZ, SCL and DCL in normal subjects. LLT was negatively correlated with FAZ in both NPDR group and PDR group(<i>r</i>=-0.922, <i>r</i>=-0.923, all <i>P</i><0.01), positively correlated with SCL(<i>r</i>=0.798, <i>r</i>=0.902, all <i>P</i><0.01), and had no correlation with DCL(<i>r</i>=0.140, <i>r</i>=0.073, <i>P</i>=0.285, <i>P</i>=0.581).<p>CONCLUSION: In diabetic retinopathy, the lipid layer of tear film is lower and the stability of tear film is decreased, and there is a correlation between diabetic dry eye and macular microvascular changes.

Correlation between abnormal blink in children and thickness of lipid layer of tear film / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To detect the thickness of tear film lipid layer(LLT)in children with abnormal blink, to explore the relationship between abnormal blink and LLT, and to find out the diagnostic value of LLT in children with abnormal blink.<p>METHODS: Prospective comparative study. Selecting 46 cases of children with "frequent blink" as the first reason in our ophthalmic outpatient clinic in 2016-11/2017-02 as abnormal blink group. In the same period, 46 children with non-anomalous blink were selected as control group. The history collection, slit lamp examination, refractive examination, Schirmer I test(SⅠt), tear film break-up time(BUT), and the number of times of LLT and incomplete blink(PB)were measured and compared surface light interferometer were compared.<p>RESULTS: The LLT of the abnormal blink group was 72.17(22.13, 91.00)nm, which was lower than that of the control group 81.97(30.25,95.27)nm,(<i>U</i>=674.5, <i>P</i>=0.028); The mean equivalent spherical degrees(-0.98±3.09D)and SⅠt(11.39±2.46mm/5min)in the abnormal blink group were not different from those in the control group(-0.24±3.06D, 11.74±2.10mm/5min)(<i>P</i>>0.05). Mean PB(0.58±0.28)and mean BUT in the eyes of blink group There was a difference(18.27±5.51s)from the control group(0.43±0.17, 21.01±6.14s)(<i>P</i><0.05).<p>CONCLUSION: Children's abnormal blinks are associated with many factors, and the LLT decline may be an important factor in children's abnormal blink.

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.

Lipid layer thickness of tear film and its association with clinical characteristics in different types of dry eye patients / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objeetive To investigate tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) and its association with clinical symptom and sign in different types of dry eye patients.Methods A serial case-observational study was carried out.Three hundred and six eyes of 306 dry eye patients were included in Beijing Tongren Hospital from April to August 2016.Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire,eyelid slit lamp examination,the measurement of tear film lipid thickness (LLT),tear film break-up time (TBUT),Schirmer Ⅰ test (S Ⅰ t) and the infrared meibomian photography were performed on the patients.The 157 patients with OSDI ＞12 and eyelid score ≥2 served as the MGD group;53 patients with OSDI ＞12 and S Ⅰ t value ＜ 5 mm/5 minutes served as ADDE group;96 patients with OSDI＞12,eyelid score ≥2 and S Ⅰ t value ＜ 5 mm/5 minutes served as MGD/ADDE group.Tear film LLT was detected with LipiView(R) ocular surface interferometer and the association of LLT with clinical characteristics of the patients was analyzed.This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital and written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to any relative medical examination.Results Tear film LLT of the participants was normally distributed with the average was (60.41±18.57)nm.LLT in the MGD group,ADDE group,MGD/ADDE group were (57.04 ± 18.26),(63.52 ± 18.44) and (60.56 ± 18.71) nm,respectively,with a significant difference among the three groups (F =2.347,P =0.035),and the LLT value was significantly lower in the MGD group than that in the ADDE group (t =2.077,P =0.039).The LLT value showed negative correlations with the severity of dry eye symptom,S Ⅰ t and meibomian gland loss rate (r=-0.201,P=0.003;r=-0.146,P=0.005;r=-0.156,P=0.046).OSDI score was significantly correlated with LLT only in the MGD group (r =-0.285,P =0.000).No significant correlation was seen between LLT and S I t in all the groups (all at P＞0.05).In the MGD/ADDE group and MGD group,the correlation between LLT and meibomian gland loss rate was significantly greater than the overall correlation (r=-0.335,-0.248,-0.156).The dry eye symptoms in OSDI questionnaire like foreign body sensation,eye pain,discomfort when watching TV or computer showed significant correlations with LLT (r =-0.243,-0.205,-0.223,-0.258,all at P ＜0.05).Conclusions The tear LLT is appeared to be varied in different types of dry eye.The LLT is thinner in the dry eyes with MGD and thicker in the dry eyes with ADDE.There are association between tear LLT and foreign body sensation,eye pain,discomfort when watching TV or computer.

Significance of ocular surface interferometer in the diagnosis of Meibomian gland dysfunction / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·AIM: To investigate the significance of ocular surface interferometer in the diagnosis of Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). ·METHODS: Prospective case-control studies. Totally 62 patients with MGD and 38 healthy volunteers were selected in Peking University Third Hospital from October to November in 2017. All subjects of both groups were examined respectively for Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire ( OSDI ), slit - lamp anterior segment check, the eye surface interferometer inspection, and break up time. Independent sample t- test and chi-square test were used for comparison between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used in the group of patients with MGD. ·RESULTS: In both groups, there were changes on the morphology of the eyelid, and the lesions were different. The score of OSDI, the discharge ability and the loss score of the MGD group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0. 05). However, the lipid layer thickness (LLT) was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0. 05). There was no significant difference in BUT, the proportion of incomplete blink time, the score of Meibomian gland orifice and the quality score of the Meibomian gland discharge ability between the two groups ( P > 0. 05 ). The Spearman correlation analysis indicated that the negative correlation between LLT and the OSDI questionnaire score (rs= -0. 730, P<0. 01), LLT and the Meibomian gland orifice (rs=-0. 639, P<0. 01), LLT and the loss of Meibomian gland (rs=-4. 15, P=0. 001); however, the positive correlation was shown between the loss of Meibomian gland and the OSDI questionnaire score (rs=0. 790, P<0. 01). · CONCLUSION: Meibomian gland dysfunction symptoms and signs significantly correlates with LLT, loss of Meibomian gland detected by ocular surface interferometer, so ocular surface interferometer can be used for rapid, noninvasive and objective diagnosis of Meibomian gland dysfunction and assess the stage of disease progression.

Study on correlation of dry eye symptoms and signs in middle-aged and aged people by Lipiview(R) ocular surface interferometry / 眼科新进展

Objective To analyze the correlation between the dry eye symptom and signs in middle-aged and aged people by Lipiview(R) ocular surface interferometry.Methods A total of 170 eyes from 85 middle-aged and aged people (55-80 years old) were examined with Standard Patient Evaluaion of Eye Dryness(SPEED) questionnaire and Lipiview(R) ocular surface interferometry,meanwhile obtaining the consent of the subjects.Then the correlation between the symptom and Lipid Layer Thinckness (LLT) and partial blink rate were analyzed.Results SPEED questionnaire score was 6.13 ±4.60.LLT was(74.88 ± 21.16) nm.LLT variability was 4.47 ± 3.40.The partial blink rate was 0.62 ± 0.36.The Spearman correlation analysis indicated that the nega-tive correlation was shown between the SPEED questionnaire score and LLT (r =-0.823,P =0.000),SPEED questionnaire score and LLT variability(r =-0.268,P =0.018).The positive correlation were found between LLT and Std.Dev of LLT (r =0.339,P =0.030).However,the results of the SPEED score were uncorrelated with partial blink rate (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The results from this study demonstrate that correlation among symptom,LLT and LLT variability,but poor correlation between symptom and partial blink rate.

Correlation Analysis of Tear Film Lipid Layer Thickness and Ocular Surface Disease Index

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between ocular surface disease index and tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) using a LipiView II® (LipiView® Ocular Surface Interferometer, TearScience®, Morrisville, NC, USA) interferometer. METHODS: Forty-nine patients diagnosed with dry eye syndrome were recruited for this prospective study. Patients completed ocular surface disease index questionnaires. We performed slit lamp examination, Schirmer test, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, measured tear film break-up time, and graded meibomian gland dysfunction. Tear LLT, blinking time, and dynamic meibomian imaging were analyzed using a LipiView II® ocular interferometer. To control for missing data, we analyzed four sets of imputated data via the multiple imputation method and performed Pearson correlation analysis. Patients were assigned to one of two LLT categories (LLT < 60 or LLT ≥ 60) and Chi-square test was performed. RESULTS: Among ocular surface disease parameters, tear film break-up time (tBUT) had a statistically significant correlation with average and maximum LLT (average LLT; p = 0.008, 0.035, 0.006, 0.049, maximum LLT; p = 0.006, 0.042, 0.020, 0.049, Pearson correlation analysis with multiple imputation) but there was no significant correlation with minimum LLT (minimum LLT; p = 0.048, 0.090, 0.079, 0.039). Of the patients with a relatively thick average LLT or maximum LLT (LLT ≥ 60 nm), 80% and 88% had a tBUT < 10, respectively. Conversely, 39% and 47% of patients with relatively thin average LLT (LLT < 60 nm) had a tBUT < 10 (average LLT; p = 0.013, maximum LLT; p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Average LLT and maximum LLT were significantly correlated with tBUT. Patients with a relatively thin average or maximum LLT tended to have a shorter tBUT. Based on these results, measuring tear film LLT using a LipiView II® interferometer may be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with evaporative dry eye.

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.