Analysis of structure and function of meibomian glands in healthy population at different ages

Abstract

Objective: To observe the structure and function of meibomian glands in normal population at different ages. Methods: From October 2011 to August 2012, meibomian gland information was collected in healthy volunteers without any symptoms of ocular discomfort, aged more than 5 years. The people were grouped by every 10 years of age. The meibomian gland opening, secretion state and characteristics and Max's line were observed by slit lamp microscopic examination, and the meibomian gland dropouts were examined by noncontact infrared meibomian gland microscopy. The changes of meibomian glands were scored from 0 to 3, 0 for a normal state, 1 for mild abnormality, 2 for moderate abnormality and 3 for severe abnormality. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the meibomian scores between male and female, and between left and right eyes. The correlation of these scores and the age of volunteers was analyzed by the Spearman test. Results: Among all the 100 volunteers, there were 47 males and 53 females, aged from 5 to 83 years (mean, 40.9±22.9). The meibomian gland dropouts were gradually increasing with age, significantly faster after 40 years old (scores for each age group were 2(1), 2(1), 2(1), 2(1), 3(2), 3.5(1.75), 4(3), 6(2). Meibomian gland opening, secretion traits and secretor status gradually became poorer with age, and changes were dramatically fast in the group of 40-49 years of age [scores of this group were 3(1.5), 3(3) and 2(2)], but slowed down after age of 50 years. Moreover, the Max's line position moved to the front gradually with age, with a marked change in the group of 40-49 years of age [scores for each age group were 0(1), 1(1), 2(2), 2(2), 3(2), 2(2), 3(2)], 4 gland changes showed a significantly positive relation to age(r=0.729, 0.635, 0.669, 0.639, 0.470. P<0.01), but not to gender and eye dominance (P>0.05). Conclusions: Meibomian gland opening and meibomian gland secretion become worse with age. The age of 50 years old is the key period for the meibomian gland changes. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 528-533).