Inflammation in MGD

Abstract

AbstractMeibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is thought to be the leading cause of dry eye disease (DED), a multifactorial disorder in which inflammation plays a significant role in the progression and symptoms. Any dysfunction of the meibomian glands modifies the secreted meibum, and such quantitative and/or qualitative changes impair the ocular surface system in several ways, including triggering inflammation. According to the report presented by the DEWS MGD Workshop, the term meibomitis describes MGD associated with diffuse or focal inflammation of the meibomian glands, although inflammation is not always present. Meibomitis is an inflammatory form of MGD, which often coexists with ocular surface inflammation in conditions such as blepharokeratoconjunctivitis, ocular rosacea and flictenular keratitis. Obstructive MGD, the most commonly observed type of MGD, is considered a precursor of meibomitis.This presentation is focused onto evaluation and staging of inflammatory status in MGD either at the clinical level, in the laboratory setting, and emerging analytical techniques. In particular, the need to standardize the inflammatory panel is stressed, with the aim to stratify subjects by biomarkers with more accurate diagnostic accuracy.