Effect of Meibomian Gland Expression on Optical Quality in Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

To evaluate the changes in meibomian gland function, ocular surface parameters, and optical quality before and after meibomian gland expression in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Patients with MGD underwent meibomian gland expression once weekly for 4 consecutive weeks. Comprehensive assessments, including the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear break-up time, corneal fluorescein staining, lid margin abnormality grading, meibum expressibility and quality evaluations, Schirmer I test (SIT), as well as optical quality examinations using the Pentacam and Optical Quality Analysis System II, were conducted before and after the treatment. 124 eyes of 62 patients were included in the study. Most meibomian gland function and ocular surface parameters showed significant improvement after treatment. Except for and coma (p = .029), no other significant changes in optical quality were observed. Changes in SIT were significantly correlated with changes in total corneal high-order aberrations (tHOA-4mm) (r = -.224, p = .019). Changes in objective scattering index were significantly associated with changes in spherical aberration (r = .219, p = .022), trefoil (r = .797, p < .001), total high-order aberrations (r = .408, p < .001) and total corneal spherical aberration (r = .590, p < .001). Meibomian gland expression effectively improves meibomian gland function and ocular surface parameters. However, it does not appear to significantly impact optical quality in patients with MGD.