Abstract
In the last few decades, interest in the meibomian glands has grown with the recognition of various forms of posterior blepharitis and of the contribution of meibomian gland disease (MGD) to the evaporative form of dry eye.1 This paper reviews current knowledge of the structure and function of the meibomian glands.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Lemp MA. Report of the National Eye Institute/Industry Workshop on clinical trials in dry eyes. CLAD J. 1995; 21: 221–231.
Obata H, Horiuchi H, Miyata K, Tsuru T, Machinami R. [Histopathological study of the meibomian glands in 72 autopsy cases.] Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi.1994; 98: 765–771.
Wolff ‘s Anatomy of the Eye and Orbit. Bron AJ, Tripathi RC, Tripathi B. 8th ed. London: Chapman and Hall; 1997.
Jester JV, Nicolaides N, Smith RE. Meibomian gland dysfunction. I. Keratin protein expression in normal human and rabbit meibomian glands. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1989; 30: 927 - 935.
Sirigu P, Shen RL, Pinto da Silva P. Human meibomian glands: The ultrastructure of acinar cells as viewed by thin section and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1992; 33: 2284–2292.
Hykin PG, Bron AJ. Age-related morphological changes in lid margin and meibomian gland anatomy. Cornea. 1992; 11: 334–342.
Norn M. Meibomian orifices and Marx’s line studied by triple staining. Acta Ophthalmol. 1985; 63: 698–700.
Doane MG. Interaction of eyelids and tears in corneal wetting and the dynamics of the normal human eye-blink. Am J Ophthalmol. 1980; 89: 507–516.
McDonald JE. Surface phenomena of tear films. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1968; 66: 905–909.
Mancini MA, Majumdar D, Chatterjee B, Roy AK. oc„-Globulin in modified sebaceous glands with pheromonal functions: Localization of the protein and its mRNA in preputial, meibomian, and perianal glands. J Histochem Cytochem. 1989; 37: 149–157.
Montagna W, Parakkal PF. The Structure and Function of Skin. 3rd ed. New York: Academic Press; 1974, pp. 280–331.
Chung CW, Tigges M, Stone RA. Peptidergic innervation of the primate meibomian gland. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996; 37: 238–245.
Perra MT, Serra A, Sirigu P, Turno F. Histochemical demonstration of acetylcholinesterase activity in human meibomian glands. Eur J Histochem. 1996; 40: 39–44.
Seifert P, Spitznas M. Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural evaluation of the distribution of nervous tissue and neuropeptides in the meibomian gland. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1996; 234: 648–656.
Kirsch W, Horneber M, Tamm ER. Characterization of meibomian gland innvervation in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). Anat Embryol (Berl). 1996; 193: 365–375.
Neumann F, Eiger W. The effect of a new anti-androgenic steroid, 6-chloro-17-hydroxy-1,2-methylene pregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione acetate (cyproterone acetate) on the sebaceous glands of mice. J Invest Dermatol. 1966; 46: 561–564.
Strauss JS, Pochi PE. Assay of anti-androgens in man by the sebaceous gland response. Br J Dermatol. (Suppl 60) 1970; 82: 33–42.
Shuster S, Thody AJ. The control and measurement of sebum secretion. J Invest Dermatol. 1974; 62: 172–190.
Zaun H. Zur Hormoneller Beeinflussung der Talgsekretion. Fette Seifen Anstrichmittel. 1979; 81: 130–133.
Thody AJ, Shuster S. Control and function of sebaceous glands. Physiol Rev. 1989; 2: 383–416.
Perra MT, Lantini MS, Serra A, Cossu M, De Martini G, Sirigu P. Human meibomian glands: A histochemical study for androgen metabolic enzymes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1990; 31: 771–773.
Rocha EM, Toda I, Krenzer KL, Sullivan DA. Identification of androgen receptor protein in ocular tissues of the rat. ARVO Abstracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996; 37: S849.
Sullivan DA, Wickham LA, Toda I, Gao J. Identification of androgen, estrogen and progesterone receptor mRNAs in rat, rabbit and human ocular tissues. ARVO Abstracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995; 35: S651.
Chew CKS, Jansweijer C, Tiffany JM, Dikstein S, Bron AJ. An instrument for quantifying meibomian lipid on the lid margin: The Meibometer. Curr Eye Res. 1993;12:247–254.
Rocha FJ, Wickham LA, Pena JDO, et al. Influence of gender and the endocrine environment on the distribution of androgen receptors in the lacrimal gland. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1993; 46: 737–749.
Sullivan DA, Wickham LA, Krenzer KL, Rocha EM, Toda I. Aqueous tear deficiency in Sjögren’s syndrome: Possible causes and potential treatment. In: Pleyer U, Hartmann C, Sterry W, eds. Oculodermal Diseases–Immunology of Bullous Oculo-Muco-Cutaneous Disorders. Buren, The Netherlands: Aeolus Press, 1997: 95–152.
Mircheff AK, Warren DW, Wood RL. Hormonal support of lacrimal function, primary lacrimal deficiency, autoimmunity, and peripheral tolerance in the lacrimal gland. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 1996; 4: 1–28.
Shimazaki J, Tsubota K. Meibomian gland dysfunction in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome. American Academy of Ophthalmology, Annual Meeting, October 27–31, Chicago, 1996; 145.
Mamalis N, Harrison D, Hiura G, et al. Are “dry eyes” a sign of testosterone deficiency in women? (Abstract.) 10th International Congress of Endocrinology, 1996.
Nicolaides N. Skin lipids. II. Lipid class composition of samples from various species and anatomical sites. JAm Oil Chemists Soc. 1965; 42: 691–702.
Tiffany JM. Lipid films in water conservation of biological systems. Cell Biochem Funct. 1995; 13: 177–180.
Tiffany JM. Physiological functions of the meibomian glands. Prog Retinol Eye Res. 1995; 14: 47–74.
Nicolaides N. Recent findings on the chemical composition of the lipids of steer and human meibomian glands. In: Holly FJ, ed. The Preocular Tear Film: In Health, Disease and Contact Lens Wear. Lubbock, TX: Dry Eye Institute; 1986: 570–596.
Osgood JK, Dougherty JM, McCulley JP. The role of wax and sterol esters of meibomian secretions in chronic blepharitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1989; 30: 1958–1961.
Shine WE, McCulley JP. Meibomian gland secretion: Sterol ester differences associated with A canthamoeba keratitis. ARVO Abstracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1993; 34: S854.
Nicolaides N, Kaitaranta JK, Rawdah TN, Macy JI, Boswell FM III, Smith RE. Meibomian gland studies: Comparison of steer and human lipids. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1981; 20: 522–536.
Shine WE, McCulley JP. The role of cholesterol in chronic blepharitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1991; 32: 2272–2280.
Shine WE, McCulley JP. The role of cholesterol in chronic blepharitis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1991; 32: 2272–2280.
Shine WE, McCulley J P. Meibomian gland secretion polar lipids associated with chronic blepharitis disease groups. ARVO Abstracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996; 37: S849.
Andrews JS. The meibomian secretion. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1973; 13: 23–28.
Butcher EO, Coonin A. The physical propates of human seban. J Invest Dermatol. 1949; 12: 249–254.
Tiffany JM. The lipid secretion of the meibomian glands. Adv Lipid Res. 1987; 22: 1–62.
Tiffany JM. Individual variations in human meibomian lipid composition. Exp Eye Res. 1978; 27: 289–300.
Holly FJ, Lemp MA. Tear physiology and dry eyes. Sury Ophthalmol. 1977; 22: 69–87.
Greiner JV, Glonek T, Korb DR, Booth R, Leahy CG. Phospholipids in meibomian gland secretion. Ophthalmic Res. 1996; 28: 44–49.
Tiffany JM, Marsden RG. The influence of composition on physical properties of meibomian secretion. In: Holly FJ, ed. The Preocular Tear Film in Health, Disease and Contact Lens Wear. Lubbock, TX: Dry Eye Institute; 1986; 597–608.
Holly FJ. Formation and rupture of the tear film. Exp Eye Res. 1973; 15: 515–525.
Moore JC, Tiffany JM. Human ocular mucus: Chemical studies. Exp Eye Res. 1981; 33: 203–212.
Buschke A, Frankel A. Ueber die Funktion der Talgdrüsen and deren Beziehung zum Fettstoffwechsel. Berl klin Wochenschr. 1905; 24: 318–322.
Fraunfelder FT, LaBraico JM, Meyer SM. Adverse ocular reactions possibly associated with isotretinoin. Am J Ophthalmol. 1985; 100: 534–537.
Lambert RW, Smith RE. Effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid on the hamster meibomian gland. J Invest Dermatol. 1989; 92: 321–325.
Wolff E. The muco-cutaneous junction of the lid margin and the distribution of the tear fluid. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK. 1946; 66: 291–308.
Linton RG, Curnow DH, Riley WJ. The meibomian glands: An investigation into the secretion and some aspects of the physiology. Br J Ophthalmol. 1961; 45: 718–723.
McDonald JE, Brubaker S. Meniscus-induced thinning of tear films. Am J Ophthalmol. 1971; 72: 139–146.
Josephson JE. Appearance of the preocular tear film lipid layer. Am J Optom Physiol Optics. 1983; 60: 883–887.
Wolff E. Anatomy of the Eye and Orbit. 3rd ed. London: Lewis; 1948; 187–193.
Dryja TP. A possible function for value-like structures in meibomian gland ducts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1986; 27 (Supp): 196.
Chew CKS. Quantifying meibomian lipid on the human lid margin. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Oxford, Oxford, 1993.
Chew CKS, Hykin PG, Jansweijer C, Dikstein S, Tiffany JM, Bron M. The casual level of meibomian lipids in humans. Curr Eye Res. 1993; 12: 255–259.
Non’ MS. Eye ointments: application, elimination, and positive action. Ophthalmic Digest. 1977; 39: 1–6.
Korb DR, Baron DF, Herman JP, et al. Tear film lipid layer thickness as a function of blinking. Cornea. 1994; 13: 354–359.
Franck C. Fatty layer of the precorneal film in the “office eye syndrome.” Acta Ophthalmol.1991; 69: 737–743.
McCulley JP, Dougherty JM, Deneau DG. Classification of chronic blepharitis. Ophthalmology. 1982; 89: 1173–1180.
Bron AJ, Benjamin L, Snibson GR. Meibomian gland disease: Classification and grading of lid changes. Eye. 1991; 5: 395–411.
Mathers WD, Shields WJ, Sachdev MS, Petroll WM, Jester JV. Meibomian gland morphology and tear osmolarity changes with Acutane therapy. Cornea. 1991; 10: 286–290.
Robin JB, Jester JV, Nobe J, Nicolaides N, Smith RE. In vivo transillumination biomicroscopy and photography of meibomian gland dysfunction: A clinical study. Ophthalmology. 1985; 92: 1423–1426.
Cory CC, Hinks W, Burton JL, Shuster S. Meibomian gland secretion in the red eyes of rosacea. Br J Dermatol. 1973; 89: 25–27.
Norn M. Expressibility of meibomian secretion: Relation to age, lipid precorneal film, scales, foam, hair and pigmentation. Acta Ophthalmol. 1987; 65: 137–142.
Yokoi N, Takehisa K, Kinoshita S. Correlation of tear lipid layer interference patterns with the diagnosis and severity of dry eye. Am J Ophthalmol. 1996; 122: 818–824.
Norn MS. Semiquantitative interferences study of fatty layer of precorneal film. Acta Ophthalmol. 1979; 58: 766–774.
Norn MS. Lipid tests: tear film interference, in Lemp MA, Marquardt R, (eds): The Dry Eye: A Comprehensive Guide. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1992; pp 160–163.
Guillon W. Tear film photography and contact lens wear. JBrit Contact Lens Assoc. 1982; 5: 84–87.
Olsen T. Reflectometry of the precorneal film. Acta Ophthalmol. 1985; 63: 432–438.
Tsubota K, Nakamori K. Dry eyes and video display terminals. NEngI J Med. 1993; 328: 584.
Tiffany JM, Chew CKS, Bron AJ, Quinlan M. Availability of meibomian oil and thickness of the oil layer on the precorneal tear film. ARVO Abstracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1993; 34: S821.
Iwata S, Lemp MA, Holly FJ, Dohlman CH. Evaporation rate of water from the precorneal tear film and cornea in the rabbit. Invest Ophthalmol. 1969; 8: 613–619.
Mishima S, Maurice DM. The oily layer of tear film and evaporation from the corneal surface. Exp Eye Res. 1961; 1: 39–45.
Gilbard JP, Rossi SR, Heyda KG. Tear film and ocular surface changes after closure of the meibomian gland orifices in the rabbit. Ophthalmology. 1989; 96: 1180–1186.
Rolando M, Refojo MF, Kenyon KR. Increased tear evaporation in eyes with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Arch Ophthalmol. 1983; 101: 557–558.
Hamano H, Hori M, Mitsunaga S. Application of the evaporimeter to the ophthalmic field. J Jpn Contact Lens Soc. 1990; 22: 101–107.
Tomlinson A, Trees GR, Occhipinti JR. Tear production and evaporation in the normal eye. Ophthalmol Physiol Optics. 1991; 11: 41 17.
Tsubota K, Yamada M. Tear evaporation from the ocular surface. Invest Ophthalmol lis Sci. 1992; 33: 2942 - 2950.
Mathers WD, Binarao G, Petroll M. Ocular water evaporation and the dry eye: A new measuring device. Cornea. 1993; 12: 335–340.
Tsubota K. New approaches to dry-eye therapy. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1994; 34: 115–128.
McCulley JP, Sciallis GF. Meibomian keratoconjunctivitis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1977; 84: 788–793.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bron, A.J., Tiffany, J.M. (1998). The Meibomian Glands and Tear Film Lipids. In: Sullivan, D.A., Dartt, D.A., Meneray, M.A. (eds) Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes 2. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 438. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_40
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_40
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7445-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5359-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive