title: Topical diquafosol for patients with obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of topical diquafosol in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) using tear film parameters and quantitatively analyse the meibomian gland morphology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 19 eyes of 10 patients diagnosed with obstructive MGD. All subjects were given 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution with instructions to use one drop four times a day. Ocular symptoms were scored from 0 to 14. Lid margin abnormalities were scored from 0 to 4. Changes in the meibomian glands were scored using non-contact meibography (meiboscore). Superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK) was scored from 0 to 3. Meibum was graded from 0 to 3. Tear film production was evaluated by Schirmer's test. Quantitative image analysis of the meibomian glands was performed using the original software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  10 patients completed more than 4 months of therapy. Ocular symptoms, lid margin abnormalities, SPK score and meibum grade were decreased. Break-up time and tear film meniscus were increased. Mean ratio of the meibomian gland area was significantly increased after treatment (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative image analysis was useful for evaluating the morphological changes of the meibomian glands. Topical diquafosol therapy was effective for patients with obstructive MGD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Itoh Clinic, Minami-ku, Saitama, Japan. ritoh@za2.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Koshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tokoro
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014500:Uracil Nucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011122:Polyphosphates; D014500:Uracil Nucleotides; C403315:diquafosol