@article {468966,
	title = {In vivo detection of clinically non-apparent ocular surface inflammation in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction-associated refractory dry eye symptoms: a pilot study.},
	journal = {Eye (Lond)},
	volume = {29},
	number = {8},
	year = {2015},
	month = {2015 Aug},
	pages = {1099-110},
	abstract = {PurposeThe utility of in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in the investigation of palpebral conjunctival and corneal inflammation in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-associated refractory dry eye symptoms following gland expression, despite objective clinical improvement.MethodsA retrospective, observational pilot study was conducted evaluating five patients with MGD-associated refractory dry eye symptoms and three control groups: symptomatic untreated MGD patients (n=3), treatment-responsive MGD patients with improved symptoms (n=3) and asymptomatic healthy normals (n=11). Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) scores, tear break-up time (TBUT), the number of meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion (MGYLS), palpebral conjunctival epithelial and substantia propria immune cell (EIC, SIC), and corneal dendritic cell (DC) densities were measured.ResultsDespite clinical improvement (TBUT: 6.4{\textpm}1.2 s to 10.1{\textpm}2.1 s, P=0.03; MGYLS: 3.5{\textpm}0.8 glands to 7.0{\textpm}1.1 glands, P=0.13) and a normal clinical examination post treatment, MGD patients remained symptomatic. IVCM revealed increased immune cells in the palpebral conjunctiva (refractory MGD EIC=592.6{\textpm}110.1 cells/mm(2); untreated MGD EIC=522.6{\textpm}104.7 cells/mm(2), P=0.69; responsive MGD EIC=194.9{\textpm}119.4 cells/mm(2), P\&lt;0.01; normals EIC=123.7{\textpm}19.2 cells/mm(2), P\&lt; 0.001), but not the cornea (refractory MGD DC=60.9{\textpm}28.3 cells/mm(2); normals DC=25.9{\textpm}6.3 cells/mm(2); P=0.43). EIC did not correlate with TBUT (Rs=-0.26, P=0.33). OSDI scores correlated with both EIC (Rs=0.76, P\&lt;0.001) and TBUT (Rs=-0.69, P\&lt;0.01) but not SIC. Intraglandular immune cells were also seen.ConclusionMGD-associated refractory symptoms and the symptom-sign disparity may be explained by clinically non-apparent, active inflammation of the palpebral conjunctiva as detected by IVCM. These patients may benefit from anti-inflammatory therapy.},
	issn = {1476-5454},
	doi = {10.1038/eye.2015.103},
	author = {Qazi, Y and Kheirkhah, A and Blackie, C and Cruzat, A and Trinidad, M and Williams, C. and Korb, D R and Hamrah, P}
}
