The positive correlation between the LLT and expressible meibomian glands found in this study suggests a higher probability of MGD in patients with a low LLT. This automated assessment of the LLT might be a suitable screening test for detecting MGD. However, further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and to identify potential confounders.

No abstract

The OSDI and SPEED questionnaires are both suitable for detecting the symptoms of dry eye; however the results of the questionnaires cannot be used interchangeably. While the SPEED levels seemed to correlate more with the parameters of evaporative dry eye, the OSDI values were more correlated with parameters of aqueous tear-deficient dry eye. However, a distinction between evaporative and aqueous tear-deficient dry eye is not possible based only on the results of the questionnaires.

Our data showed that the lipid layer thickness as measured with the Lipiview® interferometer appears to be a relatively constant parameter over time. In addition, the expression of the Meibomian glands could be identified as a potential confounding factor. In this study we included only healthy subjects without known sicca syndrome. For the future our findings need to be validated in dry eye patients.