J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2015 Jan;56(1):13-18. 10.3341/jkos.2015.56.1.13.

Changes of the Meibomian Gland According to Age in the Normal Korean Population

• Kim JH
• Ro JW
• Yi K
• Choi DG
• Kim HK
• Hyon JY
• Wee WR
• Shin YJ

• KMID: 2216148
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2015.56.1.13

Abstract

PURPOSE
To examine the changes in meibomian glands associated with aging in a normal Korean population and to estimate the differences between the upper and lower eyelid in each age group.
METHODS
We performed meibography on adult subjects using an infrared charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Each eyelid was scored based on the loss of meibomian glands, and the meiboscores of the upper and lower eyelids were summed to obtain a score for each eye. Meiboscores were evaluated according to age, sex, and upper and lower eyelid meiboscores in each age group.
RESULTS
One hundred seventeen eyes of 117 people were enrolled in this study. The study subjects had an average age of 50.4 +/- 19.1 years (range, 20-92; male, 56; female, 61). There was a significant positive correlation between age and total meiboscore, upper and lower eyelid meiboscore (r = 0.578, p < 0.001; r = 0.550, p < 0.001; r = 0.524, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the meiboscores of the upper and lower eyelids in any age group, though meiboscores were significantly higher since 40 year-old group than 20 year-old group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Based on noncontact meibography in normal adult eyes, the authors concluded that prevalence of changes in the meibomian glands was about 60% and changes in meibomian glands increase with age.

Keyword

Meibomian gland; Meibomography; Meiboscore

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aging
Eyelids
Female
Humans
Male
Meibomian Glands*
Prevalence

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Photos demonstrating representative cases of each meibography grade. Meibomian glands was scored using meiboscore: (A) Grade 0, no meibomian gland dropout. (B) Grade 1, meibomian gland dropout <1/3 of total meibomian glands. (C) Grade 2, meibomian gland dropout in more than 1/3 and less than 2/3 of the total meibomian glands. (D) Grade 3, meibomian gland dropout >2/3 of the total meibomian glands. Arrows indicate meibomian dropout. Meiboscores for the upper and lower eyelids were summed to obtain a score for each eye.

• 

  Figure 2. Distribution and change of total meiboscore. There was a significant positive correlation between age and total meiboscore (r = 0.578; p < 0.001, Spearman’s correlation analysis).

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  Figure 3. The graph showing meiboscore changes according to age. There were significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001, Kruskall-Wallis test). After 40 years of age, meiboscores were significantly higher than the 20 to 29 year-old group (30-39, p = 0.276; 40-49, p < 0.001; 50-59, p < 0.001; 60-69, p < 0.001; 70-, p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney * p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test between 20-29 U-test). year-old group and another age groups.

• 

  Figure 4. The average meiboscore stratified by age groups or location in each age groups. There was no significant differences of meiboscore between the upper and lower eyelid in each age groups (p = 0.716, 0.718, 0.507, 0.549, 0.688 and 0.383, respectively, Mann-Whitney U-test).

Reference

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