AIM: To analyze the application value of ocular surface analyzer in meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD)of patients with diabetes mellitus(DM).

METHODS: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)admitted to Hebei Eye Hospital between May 2017 and May 2021 were selected. They were divided into three groups according to the course of disease, with 37 cases in short-term goup(DM course <5a), 31 cases in medium-term group(5a< DM course <10a)and 34 cases in long-term group(DM course ≥10a). Meanwhile, patients without diabetes mellitus(DM)were selected as the control group. The ocular surface disease index(OSDI), tear meniscus height(TMH), non-invasive first tear film break-up time(NIBUT), lipid layer thickness(LLT)and absence of meibomian gland were compared among the four groups.

RESULTS: Patients with different course of DM had significantly higher OSDI than the control group(all P<0.05), and their TMH, first NIBUT, and mean NIBUT were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05). With the progression of DM, the OSDI gradually increased, while TMH, first NIBUT and mean NIBUT decreased. The grades of LLT and absence of meibomian gland were different in the four groups(P<0.05). As DM progressed, patients with grade 1 LLT increased, while patients with grade 2 LLT decreased. Moreover, patients with grade 0 absence of meibomian gland decreased, while those with grade 1 increased.

CONCLUSION: Ocular surface analyzer is helpful for evaluating MGD in patients with DM. It can accurately and objectively evaluate the function and morphology of meibomian gland, which is beneficial to early diagnosis and subsequent treatment of MGD in patients with DM.