Refractive Surgery Outcomes In Patients With Meibomian Glans Dysfunction
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP21.11 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/9m25-8h17
Authors: Kaweh Mansouri* 1 , Ewald Lindner 2 , Swaantje Grisanti 3 , Sheng Lim 4 , Burkhard Dick 5 , Jan Luebke 6 , Clemens Vass 7
1Swiss Visio,Lausanne,Switzerland, 21. Medizinische Universitat,Graz,Austria, 33. Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein,Luebeck,Germany, 4St Thomas Hospital,London,United Kingdom, 54. University Eye Hospital, Knappschaftskrankenhaus,Bochum,Germany, 65. Universitatsklinikum Freiburg,Freiburg,Germany, 7Medical University of Vienna,Vienna,Austria
Purpose
To evaluate the differences of postoperative refractive surgery outcomes between high and low meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)
Setting
Care-laser vision center Tel-Aviv, Israel
Methods
This retrospective case-control study compared the postoperative outcomes of patients with documented high meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) to those with low MGD. The study included patients who underwent PRK or LASIK between 2019 and 2024 with a target refractive error within ±0.5 diopters. Preoperative MGD assessment was performed using digital expression by a single experienced surgeon (IK). Postoperative results were compared between patients with high MGD (MGD >3) and low MGD (MGD <3).
Results
A total of 3,460 eyes were included in the study, with 50.61% undergoing LASIK and 49.39% undergoing PRK. High MGD was present in 49.7% of patients. Notably, patients with high MGD were older than those with low MGD (p<0.01). Postoperative outcomes revealed that the low MGD group had significantly better uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity (p<0.001). Furthermore, the efficacy index was notably lower in the high MGD group compared to the low MGD group, highlighting the impact of MGD on refractive surgery outcomes.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that high meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) negatively impacts postoperative outcomes following refractive surgery. Patients with high MGD experienced poorer uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity and a lower efficacy index compared to those with low MGD. These findings emphasize the importance of evaluating and managing MGD prior to refractive surgery to optimize surgical outcomes. Further research is needed to explore potential strategies for improving results in patients with high MGD.