scholarly journals Androgen and meibomian gland dysfunction: from basic molecular biology to clinical applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 915-922
Author(s):  
Li-Xiang Wang ◽  

Meibomian gland, the largest sebaceous gland of the body, is responsible for the biosynthesis of lipid layer of the tear film to prevent excessive evaporation. The loss of normal functions of meibomian gland, known as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), is a chronic disease and is the leading cause of dry eye symptoms in the clinics. Studies have found sex hormones, especially androgen, play vital roles in the regulation of the functions of meibomian gland. Recently, androgen has also been preliminarily applied in clinics for the treatment of MGD and showed promising results, especially in people with endogenous androgen deficiency. This review summarized the mechanisms of the function of androgen on meibomian gland based on molecular, animal, and clinical studies, and proposed evidence-based views about its potential applications for the treatment of MGD.

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-514
Author(s):  
Onkar H Pirdankar ◽  
Vaishal P Kenia ◽  
Merlin Saldanha ◽  
Raj V Kenia

: We aimed to examine the effectiveness of eye-light therapy in improving the dry eye symptoms.: The retrospective case series where patients who underwent eye-light therapy between March 2019 to May 2020 were analyzed. Twenty patients aged ≥18 years with dry eyes were included. Patients with ocular infections, complications, contact lens users and missing data were excluded. OSDI scores and tear parameters such as  noninvasive break up time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), tear meniscus height, meibography of upper and lower lid were evaluated pre and post one month Eye-Light therapy.: Twenty patients with mean±SD age of 43.55±20.53 years and mean spherical equivalent refractive error of 0.69±1.79 diopters were analyzed. OSDI was significantly associated with NBUT (r=-0.50, P = 0.02), lipid layer thickness (r=-0.45, P=0.047) and tear height (r =-0.45, P=0.046).  OSDI was positively associated with upper lid meibography (r=0.74, P=<0.001) and lower lid meibography (r=0.45, P=0.045). Post-therapy, reduction in OSDI score post-therapy was present, NBUT was similar, lipid layer thickness and tear height were increased, meibography of upper lid was reduced, and meibography of lower lid did not alter much. Eye-light therapy is effective in reducing dry eye related symptoms with minimal immediate effect on tear film parameters post therapy. Eye-light therapy acts as an adjunct to ameliorate MGD. MGD being a chronic disease requires sustained therapy with environmental changes. Long term evaluation is required to assess the tear film changes and the pattern of efficacy of light therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kangcheng Liu ◽  
Yau Kei Chan ◽  
Xia Peng ◽  
Ruolan Yuan ◽  
Min Liao ◽  
...  

Purpose: To explore the therapeutic effect of a dietary supplement on dry eye with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).Methods: Sixty patients with MGD-related dry eye were included in this prospective and randomized, placebo-controlled study. All the subjects were treated with eye hot compress, artificial tears, and antibiotic ointment. After that, the patients received dietary supplementary or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The dry eye signs, function of MG, and visual quality of the patients were assessed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the treatment.Results: Twelve weeks after the treatment, patients who received dietary supplement had a significantly better improvement of dry eye symptoms, in terms of ocular surface diseases index and tear breaking-up time (TBUT), than those who received placebo (P < 0.05). The functions of MG, in terms of meibum quality and MG exclusion and MG obstruction scores, were significantly improved in both dietary supplement and placebo groups (P < 0.05). Patients who received dietary supplement had a significantly better improvement in the MG structure, in terms of acinar diameter and acinar density, than those who received placebo (P < 0.05). The number of inflammatory cells near MG was significantly lower in the dietary supplement group when compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05). The objective visual quality was significantly improved in the dietary supplement group, but not in the placebo group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The dietary supplement can effectively improve the symptoms and signs of MGD-related dry eye, reduce the inflammatory reaction of MG, restore the gland structure, and indirectly improve the visual quality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 604-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calesta Hui Yi Teo ◽  
Hon Shing Ong ◽  
Yu-Chi Liu ◽  
Louis Tong

Author(s):  
Yuqiang Bai ◽  
William Ngo ◽  
Safal Khanal ◽  
Kelly K. Nichols ◽  
Jason J. Nichols

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 3467
Author(s):  
Reiko Arita ◽  
Shima Fukuoka ◽  
Takanori Mizoguchi ◽  
Naoyuki Morishige

Aqueous-deficient dry eye (ADDE) and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) can be refractory to therapy. Intense pulsed light (IPL) was recently introduced as an effective treatment for MGD. We here evaluated the efficacy of IPL combined with MG expression (MGX) compared with MGX alone (n = 23 and 20, respectively) for patients with refractory ADDE with mild MGD at three sites. Symptom score, visual acuity (VA), noninvasive breakup time (NIBUT) and lipid layer thickness (LLT) of the tear film, lid margin abnormalities, fluorescein BUT (FBUT), fluorescein staining, tear meniscus height (TMH), meibum grade, meiboscore, and Schirmer’s test value were assessed at baseline and 1 and 3 months after treatment. LLT, plugging, vascularity, FBUT and NIBUT were improved only in the IPL-MGX group at three months compared with baseline. All parameters with the exception of VA, meiboscore, TMH, Schirmer’s test value were also improved in the IPL-MGX group compared with the control group at three months, as was VA in patients with central corneal epitheliopathy. Although IPL-MGX does not affect aqueous layer, the induced improvement in quality and quantity of the lipid layer may increase tear film stability and ameliorate symptoms not only for evaporative dry eye but for ADDE.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junhua Li ◽  
Jiling Ma ◽  
Man Hu ◽  
Jianqin Yu ◽  
Yune Zhao

Abstract Background To evaluate the correlations between lipid layer thickness (LLT) and morphology and function of the meibomian glands in patients who were diagnosed as meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in different age groups. Methods Patients who have diagnosed as obstructive MGD were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into three groups: young (ages 20–39 years), middle-aged (ages 40–59 years), and older (aged ≥60 years). All patients completed an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and were evaluated for LLT, tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive tear film break-up time (NI-BUT) measurement, invasive TBUT (ITBUT), corneal fluoresceinstaining (CFS) score, eyelid margin abnormalities, Schirmer I test, and MG function and morphology, by using the Keratograph 5 and LipiView interferometer. Results Two hundred and nine patients (209 eyes) were included. The median LLT of all patient was 57 nm (IQR, 36.5 nm), and the LLT values were significantly different among the young group (median, 51 nm; IQR, 23.5 nm), middle-aged group (median, 59.5 nm; IQR 46.5 nm) and older group (median, 62 nm; IQR, 42.5 nm) (P = 0.033, Kruskal-Wallis test). In regression analyses controlling for confounder factors sex and MG loss, the LLT was positively correlated with age (β = 5.539, P = 0.001). There was a negative correlation between LLT and MG dropout in the all (r = − 0.527, P < 0.001), young (r = − 0.536, P < 0.001), middle-aged (r = − 0.576, P < 0.001), and older (r = − 0.501, P < 0.001) groups. LLT was positively correlated with the MG expressibility in the all (r = 0.202, P = 0.003), middle-aged (r = 0.280, P = 0.044) and older (r = 0.452, p < 0.001) groups, but it was no statistical significance in the young group (r = 0.007, P = 0.949). Conclusions The thickness of LLT was increased with age and significantly correlated with both MG secretion and morphology in middle-aged and older patients with obstructive MGD. LLT measurement is a useful screening tool for detecting obstructive MGD and age as an influential factor should be accounted for when interpreting the meaning of the LLT value. Trial registration NCT02481167; Registered 25 June, 2015.


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