Morphologic and volumetric studies of the meibomian glands in elderly human eyelids.
OBJECTIVE
To study the microscopic structure of postmortem human Meibomian glands (MGs) in the elderly.


METHODS
Human MG samples from left lower eyelids were obtained at autopsy from 5 men and 4 women with a mean age of 63.1 +/- 7.67 years. The tissues were fixed and embedded in paraffin. Serial transverse sections 5 mum thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), van Gieson, and Masson blue stains. Computer-assisted 3-dimensional reconstructions of MGs were performed, and morphologic and volumetric data were analyzed.


RESULTS
The average length of human MGs in the nasal, central, and temporal areas was 1.551 +/- 0.43, 1.654 +/- 0.47, and 1.594 +/- 0.57 mm, respectively. The average surface area of the glands in the nasal, central, and temporal areas was 0.029 +/- 0.03, 0.033 +/- 0.01, and 0.056 +/- 0.03 mm, respectively. The average volume of glands in the nasal, central, and temporal areas was 0.054 +/- 00.4, 0.056 +/- 0.03, and 0.053 +/- 0.03 mm, respectively. A circular, floral arrangement of acini, surrounding the terminal duct just deep to the skin, is probably responsible for the circular arrangement seen clinically around each healthy orifice. We confirmed that most glands are embedded within a cylindrical, connective tissue matrix.


CONCLUSIONS
We report the dimensions of normal Meibomian acini in an older population. Some structural features observed may explain normal physiologic landmarks or contribute to glandular pathophysiology.
Kozak
Igor
I
University of California San Diego, Shiley Eye Center, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. ikozak@eyecenter.ucsd.edu
Bron
Anthony J
AJ
Kucharova
Karolina
K
Kluchova
Darina
D
Marsala
Martin
M
Heichel
Chris W
CW
Tiffany
John M
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005143:Eyelids / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged