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=

Purpose: To evaluate the morphology changes of meibomian glands (MGs) after cataract surgery.

Setting: Hangzhou Branch of the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China.

Methods: 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.

Results: MG length, width, area, DI, and SI were significantly decreased after cataract surgery in the study group (operated eyes, P < 0.001, P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively) and showed no significant changes in the control group (non-operated eyes) (all P > 0.05). MG loss increased more in the study group (P = 0.030), and the changes in TMH and NIBUT were not significantly different between the two eyes (both P > 0.05).

Conclusion: 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.