Abstract
The spreading behaviour of the Meibomian lipids is important for the integrity of the whole tear film. This paper presents the application of Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) for the observation of the spreading process in vitro. Meibomian gland secretions were studied in a Langmuir trough. The secretion was characterized by an extremely rapid continuous spreading, suggesting that enough material would be available to recover the superficial lipid layer of the tears between the blinks of the eye. This new technique provides important information on how the normal tear film works and how tear substitutes might act.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- MGS:
-
Meibomian gland secretion
- BAM:
-
Brewster angle microscopy
References
Koby, F. Microscopie de l'oeil vivant. Masson et Cie, 1924; 45–58, 85–89.
Meesmann A. Die Mikroskopie des lebenden Auges an der Gullstr'andschen Spaltlampe mit Atlas typischer Befunde. Urban und Scharzenberg, 1927.
Vogt A. Lehrbuch und Atlas der Spaltlampen-mikroskopie des lebenden Auges. Springer Verlag, 1930, 27–35.
Hamano H, Hori M, Kawabe H, Umeno M, Mitsunaga S, Ohnishi Y, Koma I. Clinical applications of the bio differential interference microscope. Contact Lens 1980; 6: 229–35.
Lang W. Differential — Interferenzkontrast-Mikroskopie nach Nomarski. C. Zeiss, Oberkochen.
Kilp H, Schmid E, Vogel A. TrÄnenfilmuntersuchungen im Spiegelbezirk. Klin. Mbl. Augenheilk. 1982; 180: 49–52.
Ergenzinger J. Untersuchung der Lipidfraktion des prÄkornealen TrÄnenfilms mit der Interferenz Kontrast Methode. Dissertation, Heidelberg 1984.
Guillon JP. Tear film structure and contact lenses. In: Holly FJ. The preocular tear film in health, disease and contact lens wear. Lubbock 1986; 914–39.
Norn MS. Semiquantitative interference study of fatty layer of pre-corneal film. Acta Ophthalmol 1979; 52: 766–74.
Opel H, Ris W. Der TrÄnenfilm und seine Interferenzmuster. Contactologia 1990; 12: 181–6.
Hönig D, Möbius D. Brewster angle microscopy of LB films on solid Substrates. Chem Phys Lett 1992; 195: 50–2.
Hönig D, Overbeck G, Möbius D. Morphology of pentadecanioc acid monolayers at the air-water interface studied by BAM. Adv Mater 1992; 4: 419–24.
Kühn H, Möbius D, Bücher H. Spectroscopy of monolayer assemblies. In: Weissberger A, Rossiter B (eds) Physical methods of chemistry. Wiley and Sons. 1972; 577–702.
Hönig D, Möbius D. Reflectometry at the Brewster angle and Brewster angle microscopy at the air-water interface. Thin Solid Films 1992; 210/211: 64–8.
Siegel S, Hönig D, Vollhardt D, Möbius D. Direct observation of three-dimensional transformation of insoluble monolayers. J Phys Chem 1992; 96: 8157–60.
Hönig D, Möbius D. Direct visualization of monolayers at the air-water interface by Brewster Angle Microscopy. J Phys Chem 1991; 95: 4590–2.
Vogel V, Möbius D. Local surface potentials and electric dipole moments of lipid monolayers: contributions of the water/lipid and the lipid/air interfaces. J Colloid Interface Sci 1988; 126: 408–20.
Adam NK. The physics and chemistry of surfaces. Oxford University Press 1949: 209–31.
Davies JT, Rideal EK. Interfacial phenomena. Academic Press New York 1963: 1–30.
Holly FJ. On the wetting and drying of epithelial surfaces. In: Padday J (ed) Wetting, spreading and adhesion. Academic Press London 1978: 439–50.
Tiffany J. Marsden RG. The influence of composition on physical properties of Meibomian secretion. In: Holly FJ. The preocular tear film in health, disease and contact lens wear. Lubbock 1986: 597–608.
Holly FJ. Surface chemistry of tear film component analogs. J Colloid Interface Sci 1974; 49: 221–31.
Kaercher J, Möbius D, Jaeger W. Schichtdickenbestimmung des Sekrets Meibomscher Drüsen unterin vitro Bedingungen. Fortschr Ophthalmol 1986; 83: 90–4.
McDonald JE. Surface phenomena of the tear film. Am J Ophthalmol 1969; 67: 56–64.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaercher, T., Hönig, D. & Möbius, D. Brewster angle microscopy. Int Ophthalmol 17, 341–348 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915741
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915741