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Meibomian Secretions in Chronic Blepharitis

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Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes 2

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 438))

Abstract

Secretions of the eyelid meibomian glands form the outer layer of the ocular tear film. Two conditions are necessary for this lipid material (meibum) to be effective: first, it must be secreted in appropriate amounts, and, second, it must form an effective lipid layer over the hydrophilic aqueous-mucin layer of the tear film. The many functions of this lipid layer have been enumerated by others.1 The focus of this discussion will be the importance of meibum lipid composition and the ramifications of lipid abnormalities, as well as the relationship of ocular microflora to these differences. Thus, signs associated with chronic blepharitis, such as secretion consistency, inflammation, microbial infections, and dry eye syndrome (previously defined more narrowly only as keratoconjunctivitis sicca), will be discussed in terms of the specific lipid composition of meibomian gland secretions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA

    James P. McCulley & Ward E. Shine

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  1. James P. McCulley
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  2. Ward E. Shine
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    David A. Sullivan  & Darlene A. Dartt  & 

  2. Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Michele A. Meneray

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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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McCulley, J.P., Shine, W.E. (1998). Meibomian Secretions in Chronic Blepharitis. In: Sullivan, D.A., Dartt, D.A., Meneray, M.A. (eds) Lacrimal Gland, Tear Film, and Dry Eye Syndromes 2. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 438. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_45

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5359-5_45

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7445-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5359-5

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