Clinical Optometry
The Meibomian Gland Composite Score (MGCS): A Novel Grading System Integrating Existing Scales for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
By Kaleb S. Abbott, Anna A. Tichenor, Stephanie Martich and 1 others.
Abstract
Purpose
To introduce and evaluate the clinical performance of the Meibomian Gland Composite Score (MGCS), a novel, standardized, video- and pictorial-based grading system designed to provide a linear, gland-specific assessment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) severity.
Methods
The MGCS evaluates meibum quality on a 0 to 4 scale based on texture and expressibility across the central 8 upper eyelid glands (score 0– 32) and central 5 lower eyelid glands (score 0– 20). To evaluate clinical performance, two independent providers performed a retrospective chart review of 53 patients (mean age 60.9 ± 16.4 years; 75.5% female). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated using tear breakup time (TBUT ≤ 5 seconds) as the reference standard for evaporative dry eye disease (DED) to determine optimal diagnostic cut points.