One hundred and fifteen patients with chronic blepharitis were compared with 47 normal controls. Six clinically distinct groups of blepharitis were observed: staphylococcal; seborrhoeic, alone, with associated staphylococcal superinfection, meibomian seborrhoea, or secondary inflammation of the meibomian glands; and meibomian keratoconjunctivitis (MKC). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in app...

The meibomian and sebaceous glands secrete lipids to prevent desiccation of the ocular surface and skin, respectively. Precisely how these holocrine tissues regenerate is not well understood. To address this, we characterized keratin 5(+) (K5) label-retaining cells (LRCs) and the lineage tracing of keratin 14 (K14) progenitors in mouse meibomian glands. Using the tet-off H2B-GFP/K5tTA mouse, H2...

A study of a syndrome characterised by deficient or inadequate Meibomian gland secretions, minimal or transient symptoms suggestive of ocular dryness, fluorescein staining of the cornea (often detected only after delayed observation or sequential instillation of stain), and contact lens intolerance is described. Clinical and cytological studies indicate that the syndrome is due to obstruction o...

The usefulness of transillumination and biomicroscopy of the lid margin in assessing meibomian gland dysfunction was studied in a rabbit model. Transillumination of rabbit lids treated with topical epinephrine for 2 to 3 months revealed plugging of the meibomian gland orifice. Plugging appeared to be correlated histopathologically with increased thickness and hyperkeratinization of the ductal e...

PURPOSE To evaluate the sustained effect (up to 1 year) of a single, 12-minute vectored thermal pulsation (VTP) treatment in improving meibomian gland function and dry eye symptoms in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. METHODS The prospective, multicenter, open-label clinical trial included 200 subjects (400 eyes) who were randomized to a single VTP treatment (...

There are rare occasions in a field of science when significant advances occur in leaps and bounds, rather than in small, deliberate steps. This moment is imminent in the field of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)—and therefore in dry eye disease. The goals of the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction were twofold: first, to develop a consensus understanding of the meibomian gla...

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the most frequent cause of evaporative dry eye, yet its underlying pathophysiology is unknown. To gain insight into this pathophysiology, we characterized the time dependent tear film and ocular surface changes occurring in X-linked anhidrotic-hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia mice (Tabby), which are absence of meibomian gland. These mice sequentially develo...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of prenatal administration of retinoic acid (RA) on the development of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase (NADPH-d) positive structures in the rat Meibomian glands. One mg/kg of RA was applied to pregnant Wistar rats intraperitonaelly during the gestational period in each of the 12th-14th embryonic days (totally 3 mg/kg). Section...

We have established a serum-free clonal culture system to study the growth and differentiation of individual progenitor epithelial cells of the meibomian gland independent of other cell types and undefined serum factors. Single meibomian gland epithelial cells were obtained by subjecting whole meibomian glands to a brief EDTA treatment, needle aspiration, and nylon mesh filtration. The cells ha...

PURPOSE A striking characteristic of the human meibomian gland is its rich sensory, sympathetic, and parasympathetic innervation, yet the functional relevance of these nerve fibers remains unknown. Acting on the hypothesis that neurotransmitters are released in the vicinity of the gland, act on glandular receptors, and influence the production, secretion, and/or delivery of meibomian gland secr...