Meibomian Gland Atrophy Linked With Collarette Presence

Eyes with collarettes are more likely to have more meibomian gland atrophy compared with eyes that do not have it, according to a poster presented at the American Academy of Optometry 2022 annual meeting, held in San Diego, CA from October 26 to 29.

Cecelia Koetting, OD and Elizabeth Yeu, MD, led a retrospective record review of 73 patients (eyes, 73) who presented for cataract surgery. Researchers examined eyes for collarettes and telangiectasia and graded them from 0 (none) to 4 (≥75%) for meibomian gland atrophy.

Eyes with collarettes had more meibomian gland atrophy compared with eyes without collarettes (mean score: 2.03 vs 1.55; P =.047). The presence of more than 10 collarettes was associated with telangiectasia (P <.001) and meibomian gland atrophy (P =.011).

“Meibomian gland architecture is likely to be more severely affected in patients with Demodex blepharitis,” according to the poster presenters. “This retrospective study found that changes in meibomian gland (MG) architecture that often precede changes in meibomian gland function are correlated with collarettes, the pathognomonic sign of  Demodex blepharitis.”