Catalyzes the reduction of saturated but not unsaturated C16 or C18 fatty acyl-CoA to fatty alcohols. A lower activity can be observed with shorter fatty acyl-CoA substrates (PubMed:15220348). It may play a role in the production of ether lipids/plasmalogens and wax monoesters which synthesis requires fatty alcohols as substrates (By similarity). a long-chain fatty acyl-CoA + 2 H(+) + 2 NADPH = a long-chain primary fatty alcohol + CoA + 2 NADP(+) 2 H(+) + hexadecanoyl-CoA + 2 NADPH = CoA + hexadecan-1-ol + 2 NADP(+) 2 H(+) + 2 NADPH + octadecanoyl-CoA = CoA + 2 NADP(+) + octadecan-1-ol Specifically expressed in the meibomian glands of the eyelid and the sebaceous glands of the skin. Also expressed in the brain where large quantities of ether lipids are synthesized. Belongs to the fatty acyl-CoA reductase family.