Human tear film lipids. I. Composition of the principal non-polar component.

Conflict in the literature as to the identity of the principal neutral component of human Meibomian secretion has been resolved by confirming the identification of this component as mixed waxes and cholesterol esters. In addition, over 90% of the alcohols and fatty acids in this component have been identified by vapor-phase chromatography. Considerable amounts of branched-chain fatty acids and branched-chain aliphatic alcohols were present in this principal component. The composition of this fraction is compared with the reported composition of the corresponding fraction originating in the sebaceous gland.