Table 3.

Baseline and 6-month confocal and impression cytology parameters.

	Time point	GCD	LDCD	MGD	MGI	SCNI	HLA-DR
Surgical group	Baseline	33.12 ± 17.20**	64.71 ± 10.60**	157.24 ± 18.00**,II	2.29 ± 0.33	2.64 ± 0.31**	41.21 ± 7.15**
	6th month	84.97 ± 38.58*,‡	35.85 ± 10.82†,§	150.57 ± 15.89	1.74 ± 0.28†,‡	1.71 ± 0.21†‡	22.34 ± 6.72*,‡
Medical group	Baseline	36.49 ± 11.37II	67.05 ± 12.79II	159.89 ± 12.50II	2.32 ± 0.29II	2.57 ± 0.34II	39.08 ± 0.83II
	6th month	37.63 ± 6.38	68.90 ± 9.30	161.46 ± 9.17	2.28 ± 0.29	2.44 ± 0.18	41.99 ± 0.75

GCD = goblet cell density (mean ± SD; cells/mm²).

LDCD = limbal dendritic cell density (mean ± SD; cells/mm²).

MGD = Meibomian gland density (acinar units/mm²).

MGI = Meibomian gland inhomogeneity.

SCNI = Sub-basal corneal nerve inhomogeneity.

HLA-DR = %.

^*p < 0.001 vs baseline.

^†p < 0.01 vs baseline.

^‡p < 0.001 vs Medical group (baseline and 6^th month).

^§p < 0.01 vs Medical group (baseline and 6^th month).

^**p = ns vs Medical group.

^IIp = ns vs 6^th month.