Meibomian gland alteration in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Purpose: To investigate meibomian gland (MG) alteration in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: This study included 23 SLE patients evaluated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and 21 healthy controls (HCs). All the subjects were evaluated with Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, and the eyes were performed examinations of tear meniscus height (TMH), non-invasive keratographic tear film break-up time (NIKBUT), Schirmer I Test, MG eyelid score, meibography score, and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) on the meibomian gland.