Evaluation of Establishing Rabbit Dry Eye Model by Cauterizing the Meibomian Gland Orifices

Objective To evaluate the characteristic of rabbit's dry eye model by cauterizing the meibomian gland orifices and search new rabbit's dry eye model. Methods Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were experimented.The meibomian gland orifices of one eye of every rabbit were cauterized,the other eye was used as control.Eyelid swelling,lid margin hyperemia,lid margin eschar,meibomian gland orifices,rose bengal stain,fluorescence stain,ferning test and SchirmerⅠtest(after anesthesia)were performed before operation and 1,2,4,7,14,21,28,35,42 days after operation(SchirmerⅠtest was not carried out at 1,2 days after operating).Conjunctival impression cytology test was done at 14,28 and 42 days before and after operation.At the 45th day,eyelid,conjunctiva,and cornea tissues biopsy was carried out under optical microscope.Results At the first day after operating,all cauterized eyes presented eyelid swelling,lid margin hyperemia,and eschar at the cautery site,which was reduced in 7 to 9 days.All meibomian gland orifices were closed all along.By the 4th week,abnormal rose bengal stain and fluorescence stain could be found in the experiment group(P0.05).By the sixth week,Ⅲ,Ⅳ grade fern increased in the experiment group,and the conjunctival goblet cell density was lower than the control group.Under optical microscope examination,some meibomian gland ducts was dilated in the experiment group.Conclusion Rabbit dry eye model by cauterizing the meibomian gland orifices is simple and practical.