Meibomian gland dysfunction in floppy eyelid syndrome.

A 41-year-old obese man presented with bilateral ocular irritation and clinical findings consistent with floppy eyelid syndrome. Light- and electron-microscopic examination of tarsus removed at surgical correction revealed cystic degeneration and squamous metaplasia of the meibomian glands, along with abnormal keratinization and granuloma formation. These findings, not reported before in this syndrome, suggest that meibomian gland dysfunction with attendant qualitative abnormalities of the tear film, may be partly responsible for the keratoconjunctivitis seen in this syndrome.