Evaluation of the Corneal Layers in Meibomian-Gland-Dysfunction-Related Dry Eye by In Vivo Slit-Scanning Confocal Microscopy

In the current study it was aimed to evaluate the findings of cornea in Dry Eye related Meibomian Gland Dysfunction through in vivo confocal microscopy. 30 patients of Dry Eye related Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (DEMGD) and 30 healty individuals were included. 46 eyes of 30 DEMGD patients (group 1) and 46 eyes of 30 healthy individuals (group 2) were formed as control group and images were captured from the centre of the cornea. 26 of the patients (%86,6) in Group 1 were male, and four of them (%13,4) were female and 25 of healthy individuals (% 83,3) were male and 5 of them(%16,7) were female. The ages of the patients in Group 1 were between 23-67 (51,58 +/- 13,4 on average). The ages of the healthy individuals in Group 2 were between 23-67 (51,45 +/- 10,4 on average). Tear film break-up time and Schirmer 1 values were significantly lower in the MGDDE group than the control group (p<0.001). There were statistically significant intergroup differences in basal epithelial cell density and area and stromal nerve thickness (p<0.05). Surface epithelium changes, anterior stromal hyperreflectivity and subepithelial nerve morphology changes were not observed in the control group. As a result, some of the effects on cornea tissue caused by Dry Eye related Meibomian Gland Dysfunction were able to be visualized with confocal microscopy at micro level.