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Objective Metrics of Ocular Surface Disease in Contact Lens Wearers: Meibography

  • Contact lens discomfort (P. Asbell, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Dry eye symptoms are very prevalent in contact lens wearers and are most commonly attributed to evaporative dry eye (EDE) due to alterations in the quality of the pre-lens tear film lipids. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), the most common cause of EDE, may result in contact lens-associated dry eye and ultimately to intolerance to contact lens wear. Thus, a thorough assessment of meibomian glands and the eyelid margin prior to and during contact lens wear may ensure continuous contact lens tolerance and the maintenance of a healthy ocular surface. Since meibomian glands are not overtly visible on slit-lamp biomicroscopy, imaging methods such as infrared meibography could play an important role in the evaluation of meibomian gland health. This review discusses the most pertinent advances in infrared meibography and its application to contact lens wearers, with a focus on the utility of quantitative imaging methods in the evaluation of meibomian glands.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Rodrigo Muller at the Ocular Surface Imaging Center (Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA) for his assistance with the acquisition of images using RTVue-100.

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The authors of this paper all declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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  1. Ocular Surface Imaging Center, Corneal & Refractive Surgery Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Yureeda Qazi & Pedram Hamrah

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  1. Yureeda Qazi
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  2. Pedram Hamrah
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Correspondence to Pedram Hamrah.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Contact Lens Discomfort.

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Qazi, Y., Hamrah, P. Objective Metrics of Ocular Surface Disease in Contact Lens Wearers: Meibography. Curr Ophthalmol Rep 3, 122–131 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40135-015-0069-5

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