Effect of Meibomian Gland Expression on Optical Quality in Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in meibomian gland function, ocular surface parameters, and optical quality before and after meibomian gland expression in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Methods: Patients with MGD underwent meibomian gland expression once weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Comprehensive assessments, including the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear break-up time, corneal fluorescein staining, lid margin abnormality grading, meibum expressibility and quality evaluations, Schirmer I test (SIT), as well as optical quality examinations using the Pentacam and Optical Quality Analysis System II, were conducted before and after the treatment.

Results: 124 eyes of 62 patients were included in the study. Most meibomian gland function and ocular surface parameters showed significant improvement after treatment. Except for and coma ( = .029), no other significant changes in optical quality were observed. Changes in SIT were significantly correlated with changes in total corneal high-order aberrations (tHOA-4mm) ( = -.224,  = .019). Changes in objective scattering index were significantly associated with changes in spherical aberration ( = .219,  = .022), trefoil ( = .797,  < .001), total high-order aberrations ( = .408,  < .001) and total corneal spherical aberration ( = .590,  < .001).

Conclusion: Meibomian gland expression effectively improves meibomian gland function and ocular surface parameters. However, it does not appear to significantly impact optical quality in patients with MGD.