The casual level of meibomian lipids in humans.
Using a modified skin surface lipid measuring instrument, the Meibometer, the amounts of meibomian lipid on the lid margins (the casual levels) of 421 subjects aged 1 to 94 years were measured. The lowest levels were found in children younger than 14 years (means +/- S.E.: males = 1.48 +/- 0.17, females = 1.53 +/- 0.17 micrograms lipid/mm2 lid margin surface) and rose with age, the highest levels being found in males aged 60-69 years (mean +/- S.E. = 3.26 +/- 0.18 micrograms lipid/mm2 lid margin surface). Male levels were higher than females in the 20-29 years age group but male and female levels became indistinguishable above the age of 50. These age- and sex-related changes differed markedly from those seen in skin surface lipid levels. The age-related changes in the casual levels of lid lipids remain unexplained although an endocrinological mechanism modified by morphological factors is considered.
Chew
C K
CK
Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, UK.
Hykin
P G
PG
Jansweijer
C
C
Dikstein
S
S
Tiffany
J M
JM
Bron
A J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005143:Eyelids / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000737:chemistry*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000295:instrumentation; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry
D008055:Lipids