Language
English
Publication Date
5-1-2025
Journal
Progress in Retinal and Eye Research
DOI
10.1016/j.preteyeres.2025.101362
PMID
40334739
PMCID
PMC12483061
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
10-1-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Abstract
Over the last 20 years, research into the Meibomian glands of the eyelids has increased exponentially and is now widely recognized as a field of research. It is all the more astonishing that knowledge about another type of gland in the eyelids, the Moll glands or ciliary glands, has almost stagnated and there has been little to almost no progress, even though this type of gland as a whole takes up a relatively large volume in the upper and lower eyelids. There is not much information about the namesake Moll or the function of the glands although these are listed in nearly every textbook of anatomy, histology and ophthalmology. For this reason, we set out to compile the existing knowledge about the Moll glands of the eyelids in order to create a basis for follow-up studies and to stimulate research into this type of gland. In our literature research, we went back to the middle of the 19th century and made contact with a descendant of the Moll family and illustrate their relevance for the present. The structure of the secretory part of the Moll glands is very well described, a number of secretory products are known, but the current state of research allows only very rough speculations about their function. The overview provides numerous interesting insights, which, however, raise more questions than they provide answers.
Keywords
Humans, Meibomian Glands, Homeostasis, History, 19th Century, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Animals, Tears, History, 18th Century, Jacob Anthonie Moll, Moll glands, Ciliary glands, Glandulae ciliares conjunctivales, Sweat gland, Apocrine gland, Ocular surface, Lid margin, Tear film
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Stopfer, Michael; Zahn, Ingrid; Jüngert, Katharina; et al., "Glands of Moll: History, Current Knowledge and Their Role in Ocular Surface Homeostasis and Disease" (2025). Faculty and Staff Publications. 5521.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/5521