Abstract
There is growing laboratory and clinical evidence implicating the meibomian glands of the eyelid as playing a critical role in the pathogenesis of various ocular surface disorders such as chronic blepharitis and dry eye. Meibomian glands produce a lipid material whose synthesis is dependent on factors such as stem cells, neurological stimulants and hormones. This lipid material is fluid, spreads easily, is a surfactant as well as an aqueous barrier, and must remain functional after a blink. Before delivery it can be modified by factors such as hormone abnormalities and even after delivery it may be modified by lipases produced by ocular bacteria.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 361-365 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Experimental Eye Research |
Volume | 78 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2004 |
Keywords
- Chronic blepharitis
- Dry eye
- Lipids
- Meibomian gland
- Tear film
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience