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To compare differences in clinical dry eye features and meibomian gland health status between dry eye patients from rural and urban populations in Ghana.

We examined 211 (rural=109, urban=102) participants with subjective dry eye symptoms. Tear film break -up time (TBUT), Schirmer’s test and ocular surface staining (OSS) were assessed. Symptoms were evaluated using the SPEED II questionnaire. Meibomian glands (MG) in the right eye upper (UL) and lower lids (LL) were imaged using a custom meibographer. MG area was determined by intensity threshold segmentation using Image J software. MG loss (MGL) was also graded based on Pult’s grading scheme. Mann–Whitney, Spearman correlation, chi-square and odds analyses were performed; p<0.05 was considered significant.

Rural participants showed greater SPEED scores, reduced TBUT, and lower Schirmer scores, p <0.05 …