The Efficacy Between Conventional Lid Hygiene and Additional Thermal Pulsatile System in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Patients Treated with Long-Term Anti-Glaucoma Medications in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline Characteristic Data of Study and Control Groups

Characteristics	Study (n = 26)	Control (n = 22)	p-value
Gender			0.141
Female	11 (42.3%)	14 (63.6%)
Male	15 (57.7%)	8 (36.4%)
Age (years)	66.5 ± 10.77	70.23 ± 8.09	0.189
Underlying Disease
Diabetic mellitus	8 (30.8%)	9 (40.9%)	0.464
Hypertension	16 (61.5%)	14 (63.6%)	0.881
Dyslipidemia	12 (46.2%)	10 (45.5%)	0.961
Chronic kidney disease	1 (3.8%)	1 (4.5%)	0.904
Lacunar infarction	0 (0%)	2 (9.1%)	0.116
Others	8 (30.8%)	6 (27.3%)	0.791
Type of Glaucoma
POAG	14 (53.8%)	14 (63.6%)	0.565
PACG	2 (7.7%)	4 (18.2%)	0.392
NTG	9 (34.6%)	3 (13.6%)	0.18
Others	1 (3.8%)	1 (4.5%)	1
Type of Glaucoma Medication
BB	9 (34.6%)	5 (22.7%)	0.526
AA	5 (19.2%)	5 (22.7%)	1
PGA	13 (50%)	14 (63.6%)	0.393
CAI	1 (3.8%)	1 (4.5%)	1
Fixed combination	7 (26.9%)	5 (22.7%)	1
Number of Medications
1	18 (69.2%)	16 (72.7%)	1
2	5 (19.2%)	5 (22.7%)	1
3	3 (11.5%)	1 (4.5%)	0.614
Number of drops/day	2.12 ± 1.34	2 ± 1.15	0.753
Duration of medication (month)	40.27 ± 23.42	56.91 ± 49.86	0.162
IOP (mmHg)	12.46 ± 3.66	12.55 ± 2.39	0.927
MGE score	21.54 ± 5.78	22.5 ± 5.93	0.573
OSDI score	23.74 ± 11.83	26.83 ± 18.21	0.484
TBUT score	5.36 ± 3.72	5.98 ± 5.36	0.636
Schirmer test score	6.85 ± 3.41	9.18 ± 4.88	0.058
Corneal staining score	1.27 ± 0.83	1 ± 0.62	0.204
Meibography score	3.65 ± 1.41	3.77 ± 1.57	0.784
LLT (nanometer)	65.23 ± 23.06	59.27 ± 20.23	0.351

Abbreviations: IOP, intraocular pressure; MGE, meibomian gland expression; OSDI, Ocular Surface Disease Index; TBUT, tear break-up time; LLT, lipid layer thickness; POAG, primary open-angle glaucoma; PACG, primary angle closure glaucoma; NTG, normal-tension glaucoma; BB, beta blocker; AA, alpha agonist; PGA, prostaglandin analog; CAI, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

Figure 1 Mean meibomian gland expression score with standard error at baseline, 1^st week, 1^st month, 3^rd month, and 6^th month.

Figure 2 Mean subjective symptoms (OSDI) score with standard error at baseline, 1^st week, 1^st month, 3^rd month, and 6^th month.

Figure 3 Mean tear break-up time (TBUT) with standard error at baseline, 1^st week, 1^st month, 3^rd month, and 6^th month.

Figure 4 Mean Schirmer test score with standard error at baseline, 1^st week, 1^st month, 3^rd month, and 6^th month.

Figure 5 Mean lipid layer thickness (LLT) with standard error at baseline, 1^st week, 1^st month, 3^rd month, and 6^th month.

Figure 6 Mean corneal staining score with standard error at baseline, 1^st week, 1^st month, 3^rd month, and 6^th month.

Figure 7 Mean meibography score with standard error at baseline, 1^st week, 1^st month, 3^rd month, and 6^th month.