Background: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) may result in alteration of the tear film and cause the evaporative dry eye.
Objective: To assess the correlation between tear film breakup time (TBUT) and severity of meibomian gland dysfunction. Design: Cross-sectional study.
Material and Method: Patients who came to outpatient department of ophthalmology at Thammasat Hospital for annually eye check-up with age in range of 20 to 70 years-old were enrolled in the present study. Severity of MGD was assessed with both meibomian gland dysfunction questionnaire and examination, including meibomian gland evaluation and fluorescein corneal staining. TBUT was recorded to evaluate evaporative dry eye syndrome. The prevalence of MGD, correlation of ocular surface symptoms and signs of MGD, and correlation of TBUT and severity of MGD was assessed.
Results: Totally 519 eyes of 260 patients, 56 (21.54%) were male and 204 (78.46%) were female. Mean age was 44.37+12.16 years. 212 eyes (40.85%) had at least one ocular surface symptoms of MGD, which burning was the most common one. TBUT abnormality was found in 439 eyes (84.59%). 444 eyes (85.55%) were found to have signs of MGD by examination. TBUT significantly correlated with severity of MGD (r = 0.126, p = 0.0041). MGD also significantly associated with age (t = +0.21, p<0.0001), male sex (r = -0.13, p = 0.0026), conjunctival injection (p = 0.0008), and corneal fluorescein staining (p = 0.0004).
Conclusion: TBUT significantly correlated with severity of MGD. Moreover, association was also found between MGD and older age, male sex, conjunctival injection, and corneal fluorescein staining.

Keywords: Dry eye, Meibomian gland dysfunction, Tear film breakup time, Fluorescein staining