Meibomian gland probing in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of Meibomian gland probing for obstructive Meibomian gland dysfunction (O-MGD) using intraductal Meibomian gland probe. Materials and Methods: 30 patients with Obstructive MGD based on 1. Presence of lid tenderness/ lid margin congestion/ telangiectasia /viscous meibomian gland secretion on slit lamp examination; 2. Tear Film Breakup Time less than 10 seconds; 3. OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) score more than 12, were taken up to intraductal meibomian gland probing. Patients were reviewed after 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. In each visit slit lamp examination was done to see for the improvement of lid margin congestion. TBUT was done and improvement in symptoms were assessed with OSDI questionnaire. Results: At the end of 6 months 28 patients (93.3%) had improvement in TBUT and OSDI. Lid margin congestion decreased in all the patients. TBUT improved from 5.33 ±1.56 sec to 9.87±1.56 (p value 0.0001). OSDI score improved from 26±7.49 to 13.5±3.57 (p value 0.0001). 8 patients (26.6%) required retreatment after 3 months. Conclusion: Intraductal probing had a substantial improvement in lid tenderness, TBUT and provided symptomatic relief for patients with Obstructive-MGD.