To Evaluate the Efficacy of 3% Diquafosol Sodium in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate MGD in Different Treatment Pattern

MGD is a chronic, diffuse abnormality of the meibomian glands, commonly characterized by terminal duct obstruction and/or qualitative/quantitative changes in the glandular secretion. It may result in alteration of the tear film, symptoms of eye irritation, clinically apparent inflammation, and ocular surface disease. The meibomian glands, found in the upper and lower eyelids, excrete lipids onto the ocular surface that forms the outermost layer of the tear film, lubricating the ocular surface during blinking and protecting against tear evaporation.1 2 Through dysfunction of the meibomian glands, reduced lipid secretion may contribute to tear film instability and entry into the vicious circle of dry eye disease. The prevalence of MGD is higher in Asian populations, ranging from 46% to 70%. The management and treatment subcommittee of the International Workshop on MGD proposed a treatment algorithm in which treatment is added depending on the severity of MGD. The sequence of treatment addition is eyelid hygiene, eyelid warming and massage, artificial lubricants, topical azithromycin, topical emollient lubricant, oral tetracycline derivatives, lubricant ointment, and anti-inflammatory therapy. Topical diquafosol solution has been used to treat dry eye because it increases fluid secretion from conjunctival epithelial cells and mucin secretion from conjunctival goblet cells via the P2Y2 receptor. Because P2Y2 receptor expression is observed in sebaceous cells and ductal cells in the meibomian gland, diquafosol is expected to have some effects on meibomian glands. it has been reported that use 3% diquafosol ophthalmic solution in patients with obstructive MGD for more than 4 months. Ocular symptoms, lid margin abnormalities, the superficial punctate keratopathy score, and the meibum grade were decreased, while the tear breakup time, tear film meniscus area, and meibomian gland area were increased. These results suggest that topical diquafosol therapy is effective for patients with obstructive MGD. However, so far, no studies have reported the effect of DQS combined with eyelid hot compress and eyelid gland massage for MGD.