Evaluation of dry eye and Meibomian gland dysfunction in female androgenetic alopecia patients.

Purpose: To evaluate dry eye tests and Meibomian gland functions in female androgenetic alopecia patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty left eyes of 20 female androgenetic alopecia patients (Group 1) and 20 left eyes of 20 healthy female volunteers (Group 2) were enrolled in the study. The presence of dry eye was evaluated with Schirmer 1 test, invasive tear film break-up time (T-BUT), Oxford scale scoring and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score assessments. Evaluation of upper and lower eyelid Meibomian glands was performed using infrared filter of a slit-lamp biomicroscope, and the drop out ratio was scored for each eyelid.

Results: The mean ages of Group 1 and Group 2 were 48.3 ± 6.6 (range, 38-58) and 49.8 ± 5.4 (range, 38-59) years, respectively (P = 0.437). Mean T-BUT was statistically significantly lower in Group 1 (P = 0.013); mean OSDI score was significantly higher in Group 1 (P = 0.049). Mean Schirmer 1 score was lower and mean Oxford score was higher in Group 1, but the differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.291, P = 0.088, respectively). In addition, upper, lower and total meiboscores were significantly higher in Group 1 (P = 0.007, P = 0.003, P = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusion: Alterations in sex hormones play a role in the pathogenesis of both female androgenetic alopecia and Meibomian gland dysfunction. Significant differences were detected in the results of dry eye tests and Meibomian gland dropout ratios between subjects with female androgenetic alopecia and healthy control subjects. For this reason, female androgenetic alopecia patients should be examined for dry eye and Meibomian gland dysfunction and should be treated to prevent serious consequences.