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

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.