AIM: To discuss the effect of corticosteroid on patients with meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD).

METHODS: Totally 45 patients(90 eyes)diagnosed with MGD were randomly divided into 3 groups. The control group only used the antibiotic eye drops and local physical therapy. The artificial tear group and the corticosteroid group added artificial tears and dexamethasone eye drops respectively. The symptom score, lid margin score, tear film break-up time(BUT), corneal fluorescein staining(CFS)and SchirmerⅠ test(SⅠt)were investigated and compared before and 1 week after treatment.

RESULTS: Before treatment, the data was compared among three groups; there was no statistical difference. In the control group, significant differences were noted in symptom score, lid margin score and CFS but not in BUT and SⅠt after treatment, while there were statistical differences between symptom score, BUT, CFS, SⅠt and lid margin score in both artificial tear group and corticosteroid group. Compared with the control group and the artificial tear group, the symptom score, BUT, CFS, SⅠt and lid margin score were significantly improved in the corticosteroid group after treatment which suggested that the therapy effect of the corticosteroid group was superior to that of the control group and the artificial tear group.

CONCLUSION:Corticosteroid can significantly improve the symptoms and signs for patients with MGD, and its effect is superior to that of antibiotic or/and artificial tear eye drops.