Clinical Features of Lid Margin, Meibomian Gland and Tear Film Changes in Patients with Primary Pterygium

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate lid margin abnormality, meibomian glands expression and tear function changes in patients with primary pterygium. Methods: Fifty normal and 50 primary pterygia participants without other ocular pathologies were randomly selected from patients who attended an ophthalmology visit. The lid margin abnormality, meibomian gland expression, tear break-up time, Schirmer's test results and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were evaluated. Multiple tear meniscus values include the lower tear meniscus height (TMH), tear meniscus depth (TMD) and tear meniscus area (TMA) were also measured using time-domain ocular coherence tomography. Comparative analyses between groups were performed for all parameters. A statistical significance level of P < 0.05 was considered. Association of ocular surface disease index with lid margin abnormality scores, meibomian gland expression and tear break-up time were evaluated. Results: Ocular surface disease index, lid margin abnormality and meibomian gland expression scores were significantly higher in primary pterygium patients than in normals (P < 0.001). Tear break-up time, Schirmer's test results, lower TMH, TMD and TMA values donot differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated that lid margin abnormality, meibomian gland expression and tear break-up time were significantly correlated with ocular surface disease index (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Primary pterygium may cause alteration of lid margin and meibomian glands expressions, which is associated with ocular discomfort. Early detection of lid margin and meibomian gland changes seem to be important to understand the relationship between pterygium, tear film functions and changes of the ocular surface.