UNDERSTANDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PRIMARY CHRONIC DACRYOCYSTITIS AND MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION- A CLINICAL EVALUATION

Abstract

Background: One prevalent comorbidity of PCD (primary chronic dacryocystitis) is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
In PCD, regurgitation of mucopurulent material from the lacrimal sac to the ocular surface causes inflammation of the tarsal
and conjunctival tissues, which increases the risk of MG damage.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between primary chronic dacryocystitis and meibomian gland
dysfunction. Additionally, the study evaluated how DCR dacryocystorhinostomy affected tear film stability and MGD.
Methods: The study evaluated 200 participants, 100 of whom had unilaterally acquired PCD and the remaining 100 of whom
were age-matched healthy controls. Every subject's medical history was documented, and the OSDI (ocular surface disease
index) was calculated. Meibography, Schirmer 1 test, MG expressibility, TWD (tear wall diameter), TBUT (tear break-up
time), TMH (tear meniscus height), and visual acuity were all part of the ocular evaluation. After eight weeks, PCD eyes
underwent DCR, and the tests were conducted again.
Methods: the average duration of epiphora was 2.4±1 years. When compared to controls, 98% (n=98) of participants with
PCD eyes had MG expressibility grade ≥2, indicating a high correlation with PCD (p=0.000). A ≥50% 2qw w33n MG loss
was seen in 62% (n=62) PCD participants and none in the control group. MG loss remained constant during DCR, although
OSDI scores, MG expressibility grade, Schirmer 1 values, and TWD all significantly decreased. With p=0.003, the mean
TMH decreased from 767.62±331.60 µm to 382±204.27 µm after DCR.