Tear secretion is preserved while the area of meibomian glands is reduced in patients with prosthetic eyes, contributing to the symptoms of dry eye

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 109; no. 2; pp. 300 - 304
• Main Authors: Bohman, Elin, Berggren, Johanna, Neumann, Olof, Sheikh, Rafi, Malmsjö, Malin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.02.2025; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Clinical Medicine; Clinical Science; Dry Eye Syndromes - diagnosis; Dry Eye Syndromes - etiology; Dry Eye Syndromes - metabolism; Exocrine glands; Eye diseases; Eye Lids; Eye, Artificial - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Klinisk medicin; Lacrimal Apparatus - diagnostic imaging; Lacrimal Apparatus - metabolism; Lacrimal gland; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Meibomian Glands - diagnostic imaging; Meibomian Glands - metabolism; Meibomian Glands - pathology; Middle Aged; Oculoplastic and Orbit; Oftalmologi; Ophthalmology; Patients; Prostheses; Prosthesis; Questionnaires; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tears; Tears - metabolism; United Kingdom > UK; Eye Lids; Lacrimal gland; Prosthesis; Tears
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2024-325777

Background/aimsIt is unclear whether a reduction in tear secretion contributes to the discomfort experienced by those with prosthetic eyes. Tear secretion has hitherto only been measured with the Schirmer test which may be affected by the pooling of tears behind the prosthesis. In this study, direct imaging of the lacrimal gland has been performed to measure tear secretion in anophthalmic sockets. The relation between the area of meibomian glands and dry eye symptoms was also assessed.Methods12 patients were included. The amount of tear secretion was measured by direct imaging of the lacrimal gland while the presence of meibomian glands was determined using meibography. The 5-item Dry Eye Questionnaire was used to assess symptoms of dry eye.ResultsNo difference was found in tear secretion between the anophthalmic socket and the contralateral eye. The area of meibomian glands was significantly reduced in eyelids on the side of the prosthetic eye, compared with the contralateral eye. Seven patients reported symptoms indicative of dry eye in the anophthalmic socket, compared with only two in the contralateral eye.ConclusionsThe effects of an eye prosthesis on meibomian glands may contribute to the frequently perceived symptoms of dry eye despite unaffected in tear secretion.