(from abstract). Chronic blepharitis, one of the most common conditions seen in the ophthalmologist's office, is difficult to treat effectively. It is an extremely complex condition that manifests several different and overlapping arrays of signs and symptoms (crusting of lid margin, itching and burning eyelids, lid inflammation, swelling, conjunctival inflammation, localized corneal damage). Evidence indicates that meibomian gland abnormalities are involved in several forms of this disease, principally through their lipid secretions. The basic premise is that biochemical changes of meibomian gland lipids cause many signs directly, while lipid composition itself predisposes secretions to other changes resulting from microbial activity or other factors. Using analytical techniques that allow us to analyze the meibomian secretions from individual patients, understand how chronic blepharitis disease signs are caused by changes in lipid composition, ascertain why the lipid modifications occur, develop new treatments which will reverse or mask the deleterious lipid modifications, define further the structural and physiological characteristics of the tear lipid layer, and define the role lipids (especially the polar lipid phase) play in keratoconjunctivitis.
Aim I tests specific hypotheses about the relations between lipid abnormalities in chronic blepharitis and specific mechanisms of action.
Aim 2 tests the hypothesis that the relative level of lipid unsaturation, cholesterol and polyol (e.g. sugar, cerebroside) content directly affects meiburn fluidity.
Aim 3 tests the hypothesis that infant meibum differs from adult in fatty acid and alcohol type or in polar lipids.
Aim 4 tests predictions from the hypothesis that the biophysical characteristics of meibum in the tear film are a direct result of the meibum chemical (lipid) composition. Methods include non-destructive HPLC as well as GC-MS to analyze patient meibum, and standard lipid mixtures based on the composition of patient meibum for physical measurements.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY012430-04
Application #
6616722
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Program Officer
Fisher, Richard S
Project Start
2000-08-01
Project End
2006-07-31
Budget Start
2003-08-01
Budget End
2006-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$273,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
Arciniega, Juan Carlos; Wojtowicz, Jadwiga Cristina; Mohamed, Engy Mostafa et al. (2011) Changes in the evaporation rate of tear film after digital expression of meibomian glands in patients with and without dry eye. Cornea 30:843-7
Wojtowicz, Jadwiga Cristina; Butovich, Igor; Uchiyama, Eduardo et al. (2011) Pilot, prospective, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial of an omega-3 supplement for dry eye. Cornea 30:308-14
Wojtowicz, Jadwiga C; Arciniega, Juan C; McCulley, James P et al. (2010) Effect of systane and optive on aqueous tear evaporation in patients with dry eye disease. Eye Contact Lens 36:358-60
Wojtowicz, Jadwiga C; McCulley, James P (2009) Assessment and impact of the time of day on aqueous tear evaporation in normal subjects. Eye Contact Lens 35:117-9
Uchiyama, Eduardo; Di Pascuale, Mario A; Butovich, Igor A et al. (2008) Impact on ocular surface evaporation of an artificial tear solution containing hydroxypropyl guar. Eye Contact Lens 34:331-4
Butovich, Igor A; Uchiyama, Eduardo; Di Pascuale, Mario A et al. (2007) Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of lipids present in human meibomian gland secretions. Lipids 42:765-76
Uchiyama, Eduardo; Aronowicz, Joel D; Butovich, Igor A et al. (2007) Increased evaporative rates in laboratory testing conditions simulating airplane cabin relative humidity: an important factor for dry eye syndrome. Eye Contact Lens 33:174-6
Uchiyama, Eduardo; Aronowicz, Joel D; Butovich, Igor A et al. (2007) Pattern of vital staining and its correlation with aqueous tear deficiency and meibomian gland dropout. Eye Contact Lens 33:177-9
Aronowicz, J D; Shine, W E; Oral, D et al. (2006) Short term oral minocycline treatment of meibomianitis. Br J Ophthalmol 90:856-60
McCulley, James P; Uchiyama, Eduardo; Aronowicz, Joel D et al. (2006) Impact of evaporation on aqueous tear loss. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 104:121-8

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