Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Dermatological Perspective on Pathogenesis and Treatment Outlook

Abstract

Preeya K Gupta,1 Laura M Periman,2 Edward Lain,3 Eric Donnenfeld,4 John Hovanesian,5 Terry Kim,6 William Trattler,7 Elizabeth Yeu,8 Edward Holland9 1Triangle Eye Consultants, Durham, NC, USA; 2Periman Eye Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; 3Sanova Dermatology, Pflugerville, TX, USA; 4Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Garden City, NJ, USA; 5Harvard Eye Associates, Laguna Hills, CA, USA; 6Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC, USA; 7Center for Excellence in Eye Care, Miami, FL, USA; 8Virginia Eye Consultants, Norfolk, VA, USA; 9Cincinnati Eye Institute, Edgewood, KY, USACorrespondence: Preeya K Gupta Email [email protected]: Meibomian glands are modified oil-producing glands that produce meibum and can become dysfunctional and negatively affect the lipid layer in the tear film, resulting in ocular surface diseases such as evaporative dry eye. Abnormal keratin production and aggregation at the meibomian gland orifice has been implicated in the pathogenesis of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Current treatments largely ignore the role of keratin proteins. This review paper synthesizes various publications on hyperkeratinization and its role in MGD pathogenesis and proposes a novel treatment strategy for MGD that involves the use of keratolytic agents commonly used in dermatological treatments.Keywords: meibomian gland disease, MGD, hyperkeratinization

Keywords

• meibomian gland disease
• mgd
• hyperkeratinization