Demonstration of the Molecular Mechanism of Meibomian Lipids on the Determination of Dynamic Characteristics of the Tear Film Lipid Layer

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462728
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Ophthalmology
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Yokoi Norihiko 京都府立医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (60191491)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 涙液油層 / 涙液液層 / 涙液層破壊 / ドライアイ / 界面化学 / 国際情報交換 / トポグラフィー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In collaboration with Dr. Georgi Georgiev of Sofia University, Sofia, Bulgaria, we investigated the viscoelastic property of meibomian lipids. Our results showed that the elastic property of meibomian lipids is predominant in healthy meibum, while the viscous property of those lipids is predominant in diseased meibum. These novel findings suggest that we need to rethink the traditional idea that the tear film lipid layer has the function of preventing the evaporation of aqueous tears from the tear film. In addition, our findings revealed that the lower saccade of the eye facilitates tear film breakup and that there are five different types of tear film breakup pattern. Thus, we developed a topographical analysis system that can quantitatively assess the five different types of tear film breakup.

Free Research Field

眼科学