To quantify the prevalence of asymptomatic meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) among adult populations, highlighting its significance in eye health.
Approach:
Key Findings:
The combined prevalence of asymptomatic MGD was 72.86% (95% CI: 19.33–96.78%) across eight studies with 3,637 participants.
Substantial heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 98.8%).
Sex distribution significantly contributed to between-study heterogeneity.
Interpretation:
Asymptomatic MGD is highly prevalent, indicating that symptom-based assessments may underestimate the burden of early MGD, which has significant implications for clinical practice.
Limitations:
High heterogeneity among studies may affect the reliability of the pooled prevalence estimate, potentially skewing the understanding of MGD prevalence.
Low certainty of evidence for the pooled prevalence estimate suggests caution in interpreting the findings.
Conclusion:
Early identification of asymptomatic MGD is crucial for preventive strategies against progression to symptomatic dry eye disease, emphasizing the need for further standardized and prospective studies.
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