Bacterial lipases and chronic blepharitis

Eyelids and conjunctivae of 36 normal individuals and 60 patients from six clinical groups of chronic blepharitis were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The most common species isolated were coagulase-negative staphylococci (C-NS) and Propionibacterium acnes. All strains of these species, and all Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated were tested for the ability to break down triglycerides, cholesterol esters, and fatty waxes. Each strain was incubated independently with appropriate substrates in nutrient media. Each medium was then extracted and assayed for the presence of substrate hydrolysis products by thin-layer chromatography. The percentage of strains capable of hydrolyzing a particular substrate was determined for each individual. S. aureus was a consistent and strong lipase producer, able to hydrolyze all three substrates. P. acnes was able to hydrolyze triolein and behenyl oleate but not cholesteryl oleate. No differences were observed among groups for P. acnes or S. aureus. C-NS showed a high degree of strain variability. Eighty-three percent of C-NS strains could hydrolyze triolein, 82% behenyl oleate, and 40% cholesteryl oleate. Significant group differences were seen in the percentage of lipase positive C-NS strains isolated per individual. Patients in the mixed staphylococcal/seborrheic, meibomian seborrheic, secondary meibomitis, and the meibomian keratoconjunctivitis (MKC) groups harbored significantly more C-NS strains capable of hydrolyzing cholesteryl oleate than did normal individuals. Patients in the meibomian seborrheic, secondary meibomitis, and MKC groups harbored significantly more C-NS strains capable of hydrolyzing behenyl oleate than did normals. No group differences were seen among groups with triolein hydrolyzing C-NS strains.     

Lid flora in blepharitis

The microbiologic evaluations of 332 consecutive patients with the primary diagnosis of chronic blepharitis were reviewed and compared to those of 160 control patients. The most commonly isolated organisms from lids with blepharitis were Staphylococcus epidermidis (95.8%), Propronibacterium acnes (92.8%), Corynebacterium sp. (76.8%), Acinetobacter sp. (11.4%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10.5%). Compared to controls, S. epidermidis (p less than 0.01), P. acnes (p less than 0.02), and Corynebacterium sp. (p less than 0.001) were present significantly more often. S. aureus and the isolation of more than one microbial species were not more common in blepharitis patients. Quantitatively, heavy growth, by total and individual species, was significantly more common in blepharitis patients (total, p less than 0.001; S. epidermidis, p less than 0.001, P. acnes, p less than 0.001). These data demonstrate that patients with blepharitis are more likely to have normal skin bacteria on their lids and in greater quantities than nonblepharitis patients.     

In vivo confocal microscopy in blepharitis

BACKGROUND: Dysfunction of the meibomian glands with inflammation and obstruction has been suggested to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of chronic blepharitis. Few objective tests are, however, available to examine the meibomian glands directly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with anterior blepharitis, meibomitis, meibomian gland dysfunction or severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca associated with blepharitis as well as 10 patients with normal lid margins were examined with the HRTII/RCM in vivo confocal microscope. Scans of the tear film, the tarsal conjunctiva, the hair follicles and the meibomian glands were analysed by a masked observer. RESULTS: Patients with normal lid margins exhibited a minimal round cell infiltrate in the tarsal conjunctival epithelium and largely normal ducts of the meibomian glands lined with a multilayered epithelium as well as normal gland acini. In patients with anterior blepharitis, blepharitis associated with autoimmune peripheral ulcerative keratitis and blepharitis in the context of severe dry eye, confocal microscopy disclosed normal meibomian glands. In 12 patients with blepharitis/meibomitis or meibomian gland dysfunction, profound pathology was visible with dilatation and obstruction of the meibomian gland ducts. In 15 of 19 patients with blepharitis/meibomitis, but not in meibomian gland dysfunction, an intense inflammation was observed in the tarsal conjunctival epithelium and stroma. In one patient, demodex folliculorum was evident in vivo. In patients with normal lid margins as well as in patients with blepharitis, hair follicles appeared within normal limits. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo confocal microscopy allowed the examination of the tear film, the tarsal conjunctiva, the lid margin including the lash follicles and the meibomian glands. In patients with meibomian gland disease pathological changes could be visualised and documented objectively. The presence of an inflammatory infiltrate permitted us to differentiate between meibomitis and meibomian gland dysfunction. Changes of the lash follicles do not seem to play an important role in blepharitis. Thus, in vivo confocal microscopy represents an objective technique in the classification and follow-up of patients with blepharitis.     

单纯使用次氯酸眼部清洁湿巾对睑缘炎的短期临床疗效

目的：评价单纯使用次氯酸眼部清洁湿巾清洁睑缘1wk后对睑缘炎的治疗效果。

方法：前瞻性病例对照研究。选取2020-03/08就诊于我院眼科门诊的睑缘炎患者48例48眼,根据临床诊断进行分组,其中葡萄球菌性睑缘炎组患者16例,脂溢性睑缘炎组患者22例,睑板腺功能障碍性睑缘炎组患者10例。单纯给予次氯酸眼部清洁湿巾清洁睑缘1wk,收集治疗前后眼表及睑板腺相关参数。

结果： 与治疗前相比,治疗1wk后本研究纳入患者整体眼表疾病指数评分(OSDI)、结膜充血程度及睑缘充血程度评分均显著下降(P<0.001),其中三组患者OSDI评分均显著下降,脂溢性睑缘炎组患者泪膜破裂时间(TBUT)显著增加,结膜充血程度显著降低,且葡萄球菌性睑缘炎组和脂溢性睑缘炎组患者睑缘充血程度评分均显著下降(P<0.05)。

结论：单纯使用次氯酸眼部清洁湿巾清洁睑缘1wk对不同类型睑缘炎有较好疗效,可改善睑缘炎眼部症状,降低葡萄球菌性睑缘炎及脂溢性睑缘炎睑缘充血,改善脂溢性睑缘炎结膜充血程度,提高泪膜稳定性。     

Role of cell-mediated immunity to staphylococci in blepharitis

We studied cell-mediated immunity to staphylococcal antigens in 116 patients with chronic blepharitis and eight normal subjects. Antibodies in tears and blood were measured. Enhanced cell-mediated immunity to Staphylococcus aureus was demonstrated in 46 of 116 patients (40%) in the absence of antibodies to teichoic acid but not among normal subjects. Symptoms of grittiness and morning stickiness were more frequent among patients without enhanced responses. Folliculitis occurred more commonly among patients with enhanced immunity. Marginal keratitis occurred equally among patients with and without enhanced systemic immunity, but patients with enhanced response more commonly required topical corticosteroid therapy. Desensitization to staphylococcal antigens could be investigated as a potential therapeutic approach in selected patients.     

Comparison of potential pathogenic traits of staphylococci that may contribute to corneal ulceration and inflammation.

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus are two of the commonest bacteria isolated from corneal ulcers. The aim of the current investigation was to determine the frequency of potentially pathogenic traits in the two staphylococcal species. Strains of both species, some isolated from eyes during active corneal inflammation, were screened for their ability to degrade a variety of proteins and hyaluronic acid and the production of cytotoxins. S. aureus produced more tissue-destructive enzymes than the S. epidermidis. S. aureus strains more commonly synthesized the cytotoxin, alpha-toxin. The production of elastase was more common among S. aureus strains isolated from ulcerative events. The production of alpha-toxin was inversely correlated with isolation from keratitis. This study has demonstrated that S. aureus is better equipped with a range of potentially damaging enzymes and toxins than S. epidermidis and that S. aureus elastase may be involved in the production of corneal ulcers.     

Utility of meibography in the evaluation of meibomian glands morphology in normal and diseased eyelids

PurposeTo study the utility of meibography for the morphology of meibomian glands in normal eyelids and in various eyelid diseases.DesignA cross-sectional study.MethodsA newly designed transilluminator, fitting both the upper along with lower eyelids, and an infrared camera were used to obtain video clips of the meibomian glands for 60 asymptomatic subjects with normal eyelid margin. Parameters studied included, ocular surface, Schirmer test, and tear breakup time (TBUT). The meibomian glands of patients with meibomian glands’ abnormality secondary to infectious, inflammatory, malignant, congenital, or post-radiation therapy disease related etiologies were compared with normal patients. Still pictures were extracted from the video clips to evaluate the meibomian glands for gland dropout and gross morphological changes.ResultsIn normal subjects, meibomian glands appeared to be thinner and longer in the upper eye lids than in the lower eye lids. Gland dropout occured with increased age, more in the lower eye lid and in females. Excessive gland drop out (> 75%) was seen in patients with history of trachoma, Stevens Johnson syndrome, severe blepharitis, and post-radiation for orbital tumors. Variable gland drop out was noticed in patients with floppy eyelid syndrome, and blepharitis. In patients with congenital distichiasis, partial or complete gland drop out at the part of the eyelid margins affected by distichiasis was noticed.ConclusionsThe newly designed transilluminator permitted the examination of both upper and lower eye lid meibomian glands with minimal discomfort. Evaluating the anatomical changes involving meibomian glands with meibography may help increase our understanding of the meibomian gland-related diseases, monitor the effects of treatment, and provide helpful information for patient education.     

Coagulase-negative Staphylococci in Conjunctivitis and Blepharitis

Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (C-NS) are regarded asnormal flora of the lids and conjunctiva.The ability of these organisms tocause conjunctivitis and blepharitis can be overlooked or disregarded.Toelucidate the role of individual C-NS species in these eye diseases wecompared Staphylococcus sp.isolated from the conjunctiva and lids of 50healthy volunteers with 248 strains of Staphylococcus isolated frompatients with staphylococcal conjunctivitis or blepharitis.S.epidermidiswas the most frequent species isolated from the conjunctiva and lids ofboth groups.S.aureus was isolated only from infected patients.Noindividual C-NS species was found to be significantly associated with eyedisease,but the colony count of C-NS after isolation was a useful indicatorof conjunctivitis and blepharitis.The ability of Staphylococcus to fermentmannitol or mannose was associated with isolates only from infectedpatients.Eye Science 1993:9:129-135.     

Classification of chronic blepharitis

Since last thoroughly evaluated over three decades ago, the clinical spectrum of chronic blepharitis has changed. The relative prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus alone or in combination with seborrheic blepharitis has decreased. The relative prevalence has increased of seborrheic blepharitis with or without associated excess meibomian secretions (meibomian seborrhea) or inflammation (meibomitis). Primary meibomitis appears not to be a primarily infectious entity but to represent a facet of generalized sebaceous gland dysfunction and to be found in association with seborrheic dermatitis or acne rosacea. The keratoconjunctivitis found in association with primary meibomitis may be contributed to by the production of bacterial lypolytic exoenzymes that split neutral lipids, resulting in an increased level of free fatty acids in the tears. A frequent finding of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in this patient population, especially the S. aureus group (50%), is of note. Of particular importance is that these entities be recognized as chronic diseases requiring control and ones for which there is no "cure."     

慢性睑缘炎与蒸发过强性干眼症的临床观察

目的探讨慢性睑缘炎与蒸发过强性干眼的关系。方法选择2002年11月至2003年4月北京同仁眼科中心门诊诊断为慢性睑缘炎患者4l例（82只眼）,其中男性22例、女性19例,观察其外眼情况,进行泪液分泌试验（SchirmerⅠtest,ST）、泪膜破裂时间（BUT）检测、泪液镜分析以及睑板腺分泌物的细菌学和药敏试验。选择同期门诊青光眼、白内障、准分子激光原位角膜磨镶术术前检查的患者30例（60只眼）设为对照组,其中男性16例、女性14例,对其睑板腺分泌物进行细菌培养和药敏试验,并且对比两组细菌种类和药敏情况。结果41例（82只眼）慢性睑缘炎患者中,30只眼（36.6％）ST〈10mm,56只眼（68．3％）BUT〈10s,46只眼（56．1％）泪液镜分级3级以上。两组睑板腺分泌物中培养出表皮葡萄球菌、金黄色葡萄球菌及棒状杆菌。两组细菌阳性率和金黄色葡萄球菌阳性率比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。两组表皮葡萄球菌和棒状杆菌药物敏感性比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论慢性睑缘炎是导致蒸发过强性干眼的重要病因之一。     

Meibomian keratoconjunctivitis.

We evaluated, dermatologically and ophthalmologically, 26 patients who had chronic blepharitis (meibomitis); we also investigated 26 age- and sex-matched controls. All of the blepharitic patients had an abnormality of sebaceous gland function ranging from seborrhea sicca to seborrheic dermatitis or acne rosacea, suggesting a generalized sebaceous gland dysfunction that included the meibomian glands. Sebaceous gland abnormalities most frequently involved the cool areas of the face or scalp. Stagnation of the meibomian glands presumably caused a defect in the tear lipid layer; this resulted in an unstable tear film that produced superficial punctate keratopathy. The break-up time was much lower in these patients than in controls. The break-up time returned to normal or super-normal levels when fresh meibomian secretions were expressed into the tear film. The superficial punctate keratopathy had the characteristics of those seen in conditions with a known unstable tear film and not of those experimentally produced by staphylococcus toxin.     

Meibomian gland dysfunction in chronic blepharitis

We examined 57 patients with symptoms of chronic blepharitis using meibomian gland expression, meibography, tear osmolarity, and the Schirmer's test. We also performed meibography on 20 normal patients free of chronic blepharitis. We found that 42 blepharitis patients (74%) had evidence of meibomian gland loss, whereas only four of 20 normal patients (20%) had any gland dropout. We performed cluster analysis on the data from the patients with blepharitis and found that these patients tended to fall into distinct groups with clinically relevant characteristics. We also found that tear osmolarity correlated positively with gland dropout (+0.413) and negatively with excreta volume (-0.499). This study demonstrates that an objective analysis of meibomian gland function may be used to assess chronic blepharitis and define subsets of blepharitis with measurable differences. It also supports the significance of meibomian gland dysfunction on tear osmolarity and the evaporative state of the eye.     

Analysis of the free fatty acid component of meibomian secretions in chronic blepharitis

Meibomian secretions were collected from 43 patients with chronic blepharitis and 8 normal controls. Patients were divided into six clinically distinct groups of chronic blepharitis. Individual secretions were weighed and separated into specific lipid classes by thin-layer chromatography. The free fatty acid (FFA) fraction was recovered, methylated, and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Quantitation was achieved through the use of an internal standard, and qualitative analyses were aided by the use of commercial external standards. Carbon numbers were expressed in terms of their equivalent chain lengths (E.C.L.). For statistical comparisons, specific acid weights were expressed as nanograms per milligram of secretion. Data from individual subjects were tabulated by group and analyzed by a nonparametric analysis of variance. The FFA portion made up from 0.21% to 1.3% of the total meibomian secretion. Acids ranged in length from 12 to 29 carbon atoms. Iso-branched and anteisobranched carbon chains made up approximately 33% of the FFA fraction. E.C.L.'s corresponding to C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1 together made up a major portion of the total FFA fraction (mean = 49%). When compared to normals, a significantly decreased amount of C12:0 was seen in the mixed seborrheic/staphylococcal group and the meibomian seborrhea group. A significantly decreased amount of anteiso-branched C15:0 was seen in the mixed seborrheic/staphylococcal group. Significantly decreased amounts of anteiso-branched C23:0 were seen in all of the seborrheic blepharitides. A significantly increased amount of isobranched C22:0 was seen in the meibomian keratoconjunctivitis group. No significant differences were seen in the staphylococcal group.     

Effects of minocycline on the ocular flora of patients with acne rosacea or seborrheic blepharitis

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of minocycline on the ocular flora in patients with acne rosacea or blepharitis. METHODS: A total of ten patients were enrolled in this prospective study, with six patients diagnosed with acne rosacea with concomitant meibomianitis, two patients with acne rosacea without concomitant ocular involvement, and two patients with seborrheic blepharitis. The eyelids and conjunctiva of both eyes were cultured before the initiation of systemic minocycline therapy, after 3 months of active therapy, and 3 months after the discontinuation of therapy. Isolated bacteria were identified and quantified, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined. RESULTS: The colony-forming units (CFU) isolated from the eyelids significantly decreased after a 3-month treatment with minocycline (P = 0.0013). The CFU significantly increased to approach that of the baseline with the discontinuation of minocycline (P = 0.0275). The most common isolated bacteria, including coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Propionibacterium acne (P. acne), except for corynebacterium, had a significant decrease in bacterial count with minocycline therapy compared with baseline (P < 0.05). There was a trend in the decrease of bacterial CFU isolated from the conjunctiva with minocycline therapy, although this was not statistically significant (P = 0.1955). Four of the ten patients carried tetracycline-resistant CNS strains, but none of the S. aureus or P. acne isolated at baseline was resistant to tetracycline. All six patients with acne rosacea and concomitant meibomianitis had marked clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: Minocycline effectively decreased eyelid bacterial flora in patients with acne rosacea or blepharitis. One of the mechanisms of newer generation tetracycline analogues may be a decrease or elimination of bacterial flora from the eyelids.     

The role of tetracycline in chronic blepharitis. Inhibition of lipase production in staphylococci

Tetracycline administered in low doses can be effective in the long-term management of patients with meibomian keratoconjunctivitis (MKC). However, the mechanism of action does not appear to be a reduction of bacteria. Seventy-five percent of the ocular staphylococci in such patients are resistant to tetracycline. An alternative mechanism of action could be the inhibition of production of extracellular enzymes by the ocular flora. Inhibition of lipase production could result in lowered levels of toxic hydrolysis products (free fatty acids), which may exacerbate the disease process. The authors tested this hypothesis by examining the differential effect of tetracycline on growth and lipase production in a tetracycline-resistant and tetracycline-sensitive strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus isolated from patients with MKC and Staphylococcal blepharitis. Tetracycline caused significant decreases in the production of lipase in the sensitive and resistant strains of S. epidermidis without concominant decreases in growth. In contrast, S. aureus strains showed parallel decreases in both lipase production and inhibition of growth. The authors propose that the sensitivity of lipase production to tetracycline, in tetracycline-resistant S. epidermidis, may partially explain the clinical improvement observed in MKC patients.     

睑缘炎患者睑板腺形态变化及其与干眼的关系

背景 睑缘炎是一种常见的眼表疾病,常累及睑板腺体,而睑板腺体所分泌的脂质是泪膜的重要组成成分之一.泪膜稳定性的破坏可导致干眼相关症状,可以说睑缘炎是干眼发病的因素之一,但二者之间的关系有待进一步研究. 目的 使用非接触式红外线睑板腺观察仪观察睑缘炎患者睑板腺腺体的形态,并与干眼相关检查进行相关性分析. 方法 采用病例观察的设计方法对睑缘炎患者睑板腺形态改变与干眼症的关系进行研究.选取2010年9月至2011年4月于河南省眼科研究所眼科门诊依据PPP标准诊断为睑缘炎的患者83例83眼,取得患者的知情同意后,在裂隙灯下行眼前节检查睑缘畸形评分、泪液分泌( Schirmer Ⅰ)试验、泪膜破裂时间(BUT)、角膜荧光素染色评分及结膜充血评分,采用泪膜干涉仪行泪膜形态分级,采用非接触式红外线睑板腺摄像仪行睑板腺腺体缺失分级,对睑缘炎睑板腺腺体缺失分级与上述检查结果的关系进行评估.结果 不同年龄组不同性别间睑缘炎的频数分布差异无统计学意义(x2=2.69,P=0.75).睑缘炎患者的睑板腺腺体缺失分级与年龄星弱的正相关(r=0.58,P=0.00),但与性别无明显相关性(r=-0.09,P=0.99);患者睑板腺体缺失与睑缘畸形评分及结膜充血评分均呈弱的正相关(r=0.64,P=0.00;r=0.50,P=0.00);与泪膜影像分级及角膜染色评分均呈弱的正相关(r=0.23,P=0.04;r=0.50,P=0.00),与BUT呈弱的负相关(r=-0.32,P=0.00),但与Schirmer Ⅰ试验结果无明显相关性(r=-0.05,P=0.69).不同年龄组男性和女性的睑板腺缺失分级评分差异无统计学意义(Z=-0.09,P=0.93).结论 睑缘炎可引起蒸发过强型干眼,且患者的睑板腺体随年龄的增长缺失程度加重.非接触式红外线睑板腺观察仪作为一种有效、快速、无刺激地观察睑板腺体形态的仪器,可作为一项常规检查来辅助诊断睑缘炎.     

A high incidence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in the external eyes of patients with atopic dermatitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency distribution of bacteria on the external surface of eyes of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and to investigate the relationship between the frequency of bacterial colonization and the grade of atopy or ocular diseases associated with AD. DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six AD patients (mean age, 24.5 years) and 16 nonatopic, age-matched control participants (mean age, 25.5 years). INTERVENTION: The eyelid margins and conjunctival sacs were scraped with sterile swabs. These samples were inoculated into aerobic and anaerobic culture media. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency distribution of bacteria isolated from the eyelid margins and conjunctival sacs. RESULTS: Bacteria isolated from AD patients were: Staphylococcus aureus in 21 of 36 patients (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in two patients); Staphylococcus epidermidis in two patients (including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in one patient); other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in six patients;alpha-streptococcus in three patients; Corynebacterium species in three patients; Neisseria species in two patients; and Propionibacterium acnes in one patient. From the nonatopic control participants, we isolated S. aureus in one patient, S. epidermidis in two patients and alpha-streptococcus in one patient. S. aureus was isolated from 67% of the AD patients, and any type of bacteria was isolated from 86% of the patients. These rates were significantly higher than those of nonatopic control participants (6% S. aureus and 25% any bacteria). There was no significant relationship between the frequency distribution of bacteria and the grade of atopy or associated ocular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of bacterial colonization, especially S. aureus, were found in the conjunctival sacs and eyelid margins of AD patients. In case management of AD patients, this unique distribution of bacteria must be carefully considered.     

Meibomianitis: polar lipid abnormalities

PURPOSE: To determine abnormal meibomian gland secretion polar lipids from meibomianitis patients and to determine the significance of these lipid differences. METHODS: Meibomian gland secretions were collected from controls and patients with chronic blepharitis. These meibomian gland lipids (meibum) were first separated by thin-layer chromatography. Polar lipids were then separated utilizing high-pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Individual peaks were identified by comparison to standards and retention time. RESULTS: A polar lipid with an HPLC retention time longer than either phosphatidylcholine or sphingomyelin and shorter than phosphatidylethanolamine was significantly greater in the meibomianitis group (P<0.05) compared with other chronic blepharitis groups and normals. This polar lipid's retention time was similar to that of dimethylphosphatidylcholine or possibly lysophosphatidylcholine. Additionally, meibomianitis polar lipids' normal fatty acids were highly unsaturated and differed from those of other groups, none of which were unsaturated. CONCLUSION: Many of the most significant differences in meibomianitis meibum composition occur in the polar lipids rather than the nonpolar lipids. Further investigations will determine the true significance of these findings.     

眼表综合分析仪在儿童早期前睑缘炎临床分析中的应用

目的利用眼表综合分析仪对儿童早期前睑缘炎患者的眼表情况进行观察,分析其临床特点。方法描述性研究。选取2015年7月至2016年5月就诊于山西省眼科医院门诊,经裂隙灯显微镜检查确诊为早期前睑缘炎的儿童患者40例（80眼）,年龄4~14岁。对患儿睑缘炎体征进行评分,利用眼表综合分析仪检查其泪膜破裂时间（BUT）、泪河高度,并进行眼表充血、睑板腺缺失及角膜荧光素钠染色评分,对所得数据进行Spearman秩相关分析。结果80眼中,58眼（72%）BUT缩短;50眼（62%）泪河高度下降;15眼（19%）发生角膜上皮点状缺损;25眼（31%）睑板腺缺失范围＞1/3。睑缘炎体征评分与BUT、泪河高度、角膜荧光染色评分及睑板腺缺失评分不相关;睑板腺缺失评分与BUT呈负相关（r=-0.253,P=0.024）,与角膜荧光染色评分呈正相关（r=0.563,P＜0.001）。结论儿童早期前睑缘炎患者泪膜稳定性下降,同时合并睑板腺缺失的患者易继发干眼。     

Microbial and immunological investigations of chronic non-ulcerative blepharitis and meibomianitis.

Concentrations of tear lysozyme, lactoferrin, ceruloplasmin, IgG, and IgA have been measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with chronic non-ulcerative blepharitis and meibomianitis at the same time as the lid and conjunctivae were cultured for bacteria and fungi by a semiquantitative method. A group of normal controls aged 20 to 80 were similarly sampled, when strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis from their eyes and the patients' eyes were biotyped according to Baird-Parker's scheme. 5% of blepharitis cases had increased numbers of Staph. aureus present on the lids, compared with only a scanty growth obtained from 5% of normals. 7% of blepharitis cases had increased numbers of Staph. epidermidis type VI (coagulase-negative, mannitol-fermenting) present compared with a scanty growth obtained from 6% of normals. Isolation rates of other types of Staph. epidermidis did not differ from those in normals; no types were associated with meibomianitis. Tear protein profiles were normal in most patients, and there was no increase in tear IgA or IgG, which is expected with chronic infection. Overall our evidence suggests that in 88% of cases these lid conditions have an inflammatory aetiology not associated with infection. Staphylococcal isolates often found in the eye usually represent a normal commensal rather than pathogenic flora.