title: In Vivo Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy of Human Meibomian Glands in Aging and Ocular Surface Diseases.
abstract: Meibomian glands (MGs) play a crucial role in the ocular surface homeostasis by providing lipids to the superficial tear film. Their dysfunction destabilizes the tear film leading to a progressive loss of the ocular surface equilibrium and increasing the risk for dry eye. In fact, nowadays, the meibomian gland dysfunction is one of the leading causes of dry eye. Over the past decades, MGs have been mainly studied by using meibography, which, however, cannot image the glandular structure at a cellular level. The diffusion of the in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) provided a new approach for the structural assessment of MGs permitting a major step in the noninvasive evaluation of these structures. LSCM is capable of showing MGs modifications during aging and in the most diffuse ocular surface diseases such as dry eye, allergy, and autoimmune conditions and in the drug-induced ocular surface disease. On the other hand, LSCM may help clinicians in monitoring the tissue response to therapy. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge about the role of in vivo LSCM in the assessment of MGs during aging and in the most diffuse ocular surface diseases.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Aging Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fasanella
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Aging Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1625-6305
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agnifili
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Aging Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brescia
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Clinic, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Staso
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Clinic, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciancaglini
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Medicine and Aging Science, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged