AUTHOR=Chang Pingjun , Qian Shuyi , Xu Zhizi , Huang Feng , Zhao Yinying , Li Zhangliang , Zhao Yun-e 

TITLE=Meibomian Gland Morphology Changes After Cataract Surgery: A Contra-Lateral Eye Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.766393

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.766393

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> To evaluate the morphology changes of meibomian glands (MGs) after cataract surgery.</p><p><bold>Setting:</bold> Hangzhou Branch of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In this contra-lateral eye study, 40 patients received unilateral cataract surgery for age-related cataract. All the patients underwent the evaluation of non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) and lower tear meniscus height (TMH) before the surgery and 6 months post-operatively. The MGs were evaluated via ImageJ and Meibomian Gland Bio-image Analyzer. MG dropout, length, width, area, gland diameter deformation index (DI), and gland signal index (SI) were recorded.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> MG length, width, area, DI, and SI were significantly decreased after cataract surgery in the study group (operated eyes, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001, <italic>P</italic> = 0.003, <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001, <italic>P</italic> = 0.001, and <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001, respectively) and showed no significant changes in the control group (non-operated eyes) (all <italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05). MG loss increased more in the study group (<italic>P</italic> = 0.030), and the changes in TMH and NIBUT were not significantly different between the two eyes (both <italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Cataract surgery aggravated meibomian gland morphology, such as MG loss, MG length, width, area, and SI, and produced no change in NIBUT and TMH at 6 months post-operatively.</p>