Meibomian gland dysfunction in people who have been in the refuge for a long time during the hostilities in Ukraine

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: To study the indicators of the eye surface in people who have been in the refuge for a long time during the hostilities in Ukraine.Methods: We recruited 58 patients (main group) aged 32–75 years, who have been in the basement or underground from 3 to 5 month during the hostilities in Ukraine. The control group – 42 patients, aged – 32–72 years, who have been in their houses or flats. Each patients underwent additional examination: the Schirmer's test, the Norn's test, determination of the ocular protection index (OPI), contact meibography (Pult et al., 2012), compression test for evaluation of excretory capacity (Korb, 2005) and quality of the secretion (The International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, 2011) of meibomian gland, and Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire (OSDI). The International Workshop's Classification of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, 2011 was used to evaluate the severity of MGD.Results: In 75.8% patients of the main group Schirmer test was 4.8 ± 0.7 mm, Norn test was 4.1 ± 0.8 s, OPI test was 0.54 ± 0.8, test for evaluation of excretory capacity and quality of the secretion of meibomian glands was 2 stage, the mean of OSDI was 56.6 ± 3.4 (p < 0.05). In 71.4% patients of the control group Schirmer test was 14.1 ± 1.6 mm, Norn test was 9.7 ± 0.8 s, OPI test was 0.69 ± 0.1, test for evaluation of excretory capacity and quality of the secretion of meibomian glands was 1 stage, the mean of OSDI was 11.2 ± 1.7 (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that 75.8% of all patients who have been in the refuge from 3 to 5 month, have significant changes in the indicators of the eye surface, which corresponds to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction stage 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). 71.4% patients of the control group who have been in their houses or flats have changes in the indicators of the eye surface, which corresponds to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction stage 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). Long stays in the refuge caused significant changes in the surface of the eye, which required treatment for 75.8% of all patients (p < 0.001, respectively).