Potential link found between pregnancy and loss of meibomian glands

Pregnant women may experience lower non-invasive break-up times (NIBUT) and higher meibomian gland losses compared to non-pregnant individuals, according to a new study.

Although dry eye symptoms may not be significantly pronounced during pregnancy, the study highlights the importance of considering meibomian gland loss as a potential factor in evaluating ocular health during pregnancy.

The research included 30 pregnant women in the study group and 32 age-matched healthy non-pregnant women in the control group. The study utilized a multifaceted approach, including the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) for symptom assessment, the Schirmer test for tear production evaluation, NIBUT measurements, and non-contact meibography to examine meibomian gland health.

Key findings from the study found that although there were no significant differences in terms of OSDI scores and the Schirmer test results between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups, a notable discrepancy emerged in terms of NIBUT and meibomian gland loss. The pregnant study group exhibited lower NIBUT values and higher meibomian gland losses compared to the control group, suggesting a potential link between pregnancy and meibomian gland dysfunction.

Reference
Kunduracı MS, Koçkar A, Helvacıoğlu Ç, et al. Evaluation of dry eye and meibomian gland function in pregnancy. Int Ophthalmol. 2023;doi: 10.1007/s10792-023-02836-6. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37553440.