To examine changes in meibomian glands by indirect meibography after incision and curettage of the chalazion, and to examine the relationship between meibomian gland drop out and meibomian gland dysfunction.

We performed a prospective study of 16 patients, <5 years of age, who underwent incision and curettage of the chalazion between March 2017 and June 2017. We performed indirect meibography before incision and curettage of the chalazion, and 1 week and 1 month after the procedure. Photographs of meibomian glands were rated according to their meiboscore, the break-up time (BUT) was measured, and Schirmer's test was performed.

Sixteen eyes of 16 patients were included in this study. Fifteen patients visited 1 week after incision and curettage of the chalazion, and eleven patients visited at 1 month after the procedure. The mean patient age was 32.9 ± 21.9 years. There were no significant changes in the meiboscore ( p = 0.092), BUT ( p = 0.068), and Schirmer's test results ( p = 0.972) after incision and curettage of the chalazion. In meibography, there were inflammatory changes and partial meibomian gland drop outs at the chalazion lesion before its incision and curettage. At 1 month after the procedure, only scarring remained in the chalazion lesion, and normal surrounding meibomian glands were found near the old lesions. When comparing meibography of the baseline with meibography at 1 month after incision and curettage of the chalazion, the normal area of the meibomian gland significantly increased ( p = 0.041).

In patients with chalazions, scarring was found after incision and curettage of the lesions, and surrounding meibomian glands were well preserved when determined by indirect meibography. There was no significant correlation between meibomian gland changes after incision and curettage of the chalazion and meibomian gland dysfunction.