This study attempted to determine whether contact lens wear has any adverse effect on the Meibomian glands. The study also tried to elucidate the prevalence of Meibomian gland dysfunction in the general population. The results of the study showed that Meibomian gland dysfunction exists in 43% of the population (lens wearers and nonlens wearers), 49% of the contact lens wearing population (81 subjects), and 39% of nonlens wearers (150 subjects). No statistically significant difference was found in the prevalence of Meibomian gland dysfunction between healthy contact lens wearers and the control group of nonlens wearers. The study therefore could not prove that contact lens wear is a contributing factor to Meibomian gland dysfunction.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of ocular surface disease (OSD) in glaucoma and nonglaucoma subjects using different clinical tests and to determine the effect of number of antiglaucoma medications and preservatives on OSD.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, case-comparison study at the Eye Clinic of the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia, between June 2012 and January 2013. Glaucoma subjects (n = 105) using topical antiglaucoma medications were compared with control subjects (n = 102) who were not on any topical medications. The presence of OSD was assessed using the tear film breakup time (TBUT) test, corneal staining, Schirmer test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire grading.
RESULTS: The prevalence of OSD varied from 37 to 91% in the glaucoma group, depending on the type of clinical test. More subjects in the glaucoma group had corneal staining (63% vs. 36%, p = 0.004), abnormal Schirmer tests (39% vs. 25%, p = 0.049), and moderate OSDI symptoms (17% vs. 7%, p = 0.028). The percentage with abnormal TBUT increased with higher numbers of topical medications and was high with both benzalkonium chloride-containing and preservative-free eye drops (90% and 94%, respectively, both p < 0.001). Benzalkonium chloride was associated with a nearly three times higher odds ratio of showing abnormal OSDI.
CONCLUSIONS: Ocular surface disease is common in those using topical antiglaucoma medications. Abnormal TBUT is associated with increasing number of eye drops and benzalkonium chloride-containing eye drops, although this also occurs with the use of preservative-free eye drops.
Study site: Eye Clinic, University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,