Abstract:

Objective To analyze the correlation between demodex infection and meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD). Design Prospective case series. Participants 60 patients (60 eyes) diagnosed with MGD in Beijing Tongren Hospital between September 2015 and March 2016 were included. The average age was 43.10±12.64 years-old. Methods Patients were divided into MGD with inflammation (group A, 38 cases) and MGD without inflammation (group B, 22 cases) according to congestion of lid margin. According to the number of demodex per eye, the group A patients were divided into 3~6 (group a), 7~10 (group b) and ＞10 (group c). The positive rate of demodex and its correlation with sign scores were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures Positive rate of demodex, manifestation of lid margin and the secretion function of meibomian gland. Results The positive rate of demodex in group A was 86.84%, significantly higher (P=0.001) than that of group B 18.18%. All sign scores of group A were significantly higher than group B(P＜0.01) except meibomian gland dropout (P=0.09). The scores of lid margin scales and meibomian gland secretion were significantly different among group a, b and c. There were significant positive correlations between the number of demodex and lid margin scales, and meibomian gland secretion (P=0.001), while no correlations between the number of demodex and congestion of lid margin, the characters of meibum or meibomian gland dropout (P=0.197; P=0.114; P=0.988). Conclusions Demodex may cause or aggravate the degree of MGD by causing eyelid inflammation. It is noteworthy to detect Demodex for MGD patients with blepharitis. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2016, 25: 387-390)

Key words: demodex folliculorum, meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis