Assessment of meibomian gland morphology by noncontact infrared meibography in Shih Tzu dogs with or without keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate meibomian gland (MG) morphology by noncontact infrared meibography in Shih Tzu dogs with or without keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). PROCEDURES: Fourteen eyes of 12 Shih Tzu dogs (mean age of 10.7 years, range of 7-13 years) presented to Yakumo Animal Hospital or Triangle Animal Eye Clinic from 2011 to 2017 with clinical signs and a Schirmer tear test (STT) result consistent with KCS (<10 mm/min) were examined. Twenty-eight eyes of 16 Shih Tzu dogs (mean age of 12.4 years, range of 8 to 15 years) with a STT > 15 mm/min served as healthy controls. Both groups of dogs underwent routine slitlamp biomicroscopy followed by noncontact infrared meibography of the upper eyelid with both desktop-type and mobile-type systems. Results Meibography revealed morphological abnormalities of MGs in 13 eyes of 11 dogs with KCS. The abnormalities included gland shortening in 64% and gland dropout in 64% of the 14 eyes in the KCS group. Morphological changes were also observed in MGs of 16 eyes of 10 dogs in the control group. These changes included shortening in 46% and dropout in 17.8% of the 28 eyes in the control group. Dropout was significantly more common in eyes with KCS than in control eyes (P < 0.01). Conclusions The frequency of MG abnormalities is increased in Shih Tzus with KCS compared with control animals. A reduced quality of the tear film associated with increased evaporation and reduced retention of tear fluid likely exacerbates the effects of a reduced tear volume in animals with aqueous deficiency.

[Modified meibography in malignant eyelid tumors of epithelial origin]. / Modifitsirovannaia meibografiia pri zlokachestvennykh novoobrazovaniiakh vek épitelial'nogo proiskhozhdeniia.

INTRODUCTION: Eyelid tumors can be diagnosed using various diagnostic techniques. However, capability of existing methods for determining the type and margins of the tumor at the preoperative stage remains insufficiently studied. PURPOSE: To improve the noncontact infrared meibography technique and determine its diagnostic capabilities for studying structural changes in meibomian glands in malignant eyelid tumors of epithelial origin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 49 people (66 eyelids), among which 21 (21 eyelids) with malignant eyelid tumors, 11 - with benign eyelid tumors (11 eyelids), and 17 (34 eyelids) comprised the control group. The mean age of patients was 64.8±1.56 years. Meibomian glands of the lower eyelids were photographed in infrared light. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the method. RESULTS: Modified meibography showed 100% sensitivity and 90% specificity in the differential diagnosis of malignant and benign eyelid tumors in 32 patients. Unlike other methods, the modified meibography technique can clarify the margins of tumor growth, which is considered when planning the resection volume. CONCLUSION: Modified meibography can indicate the margins of tumor invasion; it can be successfully used in the differential diagnostics of malignant eyelid tumors of epithelial origin and benign eyelid tumors.