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Benjamin D. Sullivan, MS; James E. Evans; M. Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH; David A. Sullivan, PhD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124:1286-1292.

Objective  To determine whether aging is associated with significant alterations in the polar and neutral lipid profiles in human meibomian gland secretions.

Methods  Meibomian gland secretions were collected from both eyes of younger and older men and women. Samples were processed for high-performance liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry and for the analysis of associated spectra of fragment ions. Subjects also underwent slitlamp evaluations of the eyelid.

Results  Aging is associated with numerous significant alterations in the lipid profiles of human meibomian gland secretions. Analysis of polar and neutral lipid patterns identified ions that were significantly different in secretions of younger vs older men and women, as well as ions that varied significantly only between men and women. Correlation coefficients within, but not between, groups were high. Aging was accompanied by increased opacity of meibomian gland secretions and by eyelid and eyelid margin changes.

Conclusion  Aging is associated with significant sex-related alterations in the polar and neutral lipid profiles of human meibomian gland secretions.

Clinical Relevance  The observed changes may contribute to the age-related increase in the prevalence of dry eye syndromes.

Author Affiliations: Schepens Eye Research Institute (Mr Sullivan and Drs Dana and Sullivan) and Department of Ophthalmology (Drs Dana and Sullivan), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (Mr Evans).

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