Is Sjögren's Syndrome Associated With Meibomian Gland Dysfunction ?

assessment of the quality of meibomian gland secretions, according to a published classification system (21). In brief, the grading scheme was "0" for clear excreta with small particles, "1" for opaque excreta with normal viscosity, "2" for opaque excreta with increased viscosity, and "3" for secreta that retained shape after digital expression

The OSDI questionnaire is used to quantify the dry eye symptoms. Subjects will be asked questions regarding the dry eye symptoms that they had experienced; the OSDI questions is drawn from 3 different subscales: ocular symptoms, vision-related functions, and environmental triggers. Each answer is scored on a 4-point scale from zero (indicating no problems) to four (indicating a significant problem). Responses to all of the questions are combined to generate a composite OSDI score that ranges from 0 to 100, with higher OSDI scores indicating more severe symptoms. Symptoms of dry eye, such as dryness, burning, foreign body sensation, stabbing pain, photophobia, and visual fluctuations, are also noted

Four IR diodes were set on the Keratograph 5 (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and arranged in two pairs, located one above the other. The red ring illumination used for corneal topography was deactivated; this ensured a dark background for the examination. An illuminated ring pattern was then projected onto the cornea. At the start of the recording, the subject will be asked to blink his or her eyes three times and then to keep them open as long as possible. Irregularities in the reflected image will be observed closely. Special attention will be given to distortions and gaps in individual rings and the time such deviations from the original ring pattern took to occur. The examination will be recorded on video.

Upper, lower, nasal, temporal and central quadrants were used. Superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK) in the cornea was scored from 0 to 3 in each quadrant: 0, no staining in the cornea; 1, <5 punctuate stains; 2, >5 punctuate stains but <10; and 3, >10 or filamentous staining detected. The total number was obtained by adding the scores of the four quadrants for each eye (0-15).

The Schirmer test without anesthesia (S1T) for tear secretion function will be performed by inserting a 30-mm Schirmer tear test strip (Jingming, Tianjing, China) into the inferior fornix at the junction of the middle and lateral thirds of the lower eyelid margin. Schirmer test strips will remain in place for 5 minutes with the eyes closed. The extent of wetting will be subsequently measured according to the scale provided by the manufacturer. Potential scores ranged from 0 to 30 mm, with lower scores indicating greater tear production abnormalities.

The subject will be asked to blink her eyes once ,then the image of tear meniscus height will be captured by a Keratograph 5 (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany).After that tear meniscus height will be measured at the centre of the lower lid margin. This performance will be taken three times and the average value will be recorded.

) rose bengal staining (graded on a 0-3 scale) of the conjunctiva (six nasal and temporal areas) and the whole cornea