Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is the most common cause of Dry Eye Syndrome
What are meibomian glands ?
Meibomian Glands are oil producing glands in the upper and lower eye lids.
Typically, there are 30 – 40 glands in the upper lid and 20-30 glands in the lower lid.
What do meibomian glands do ?
These glands produce natural lipid (an oil), called Meibum, which is secreted through openings along the lid margin. It forms a thin Lipid Layer, over the surface of the eye.
The function of the Lipid Layer is to reduce evaporation of the watery, Aqueous Layer, of the tears.
WHAT Happens In Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) ?
Meibomian Glands become inflamed. This condition is termed Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
MGD can happen at any age, but is more common from middle age onwards.
In MGD usually there is:
- A reduction in the QUANTITY of oil produced
- A reduction in the QUALITY of oil produced
When the oil quantity and quality is compromised, tears evaporate away too quickly, giving rise to symptoms such as gritty, sandy, scratchy, sore, red, burning,watering eyes. Vision too can fluctuate and be unstable.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction causes Evaporative Dry Eye
MGD is non-curable, but the good news is that it can usually be managed.
The aim is to improve the quality and quantity of the expressed oil
To Improve Oil Quality
Take regular supplements of a high strength and high quality Omega 3 Fish Oil.
This works from within to reduce inflammation in the oil glands, building better quality oil.
To Improve Oil Quantity
Undertake Daily Eye Lid Warming
Inflammation in the glands results in the oil becoming thicker and clogging the openings on the lid margin, resulting in less oil being expressed out onto the surface of the eye.
This works from within to reduce inflammation in the oil glands, building better quality oil.
Regularly warming the eye lids melts the oil and allows more to be expressed.
For effective warming the heat must be sustained for approximately 10 minutes and be of a high enough temperature for the heat to penetrate through the layers of the skin into the glands themselves.
Hot flannels are ineffective as they don’t retain heat and go cold very quickly.
Undertake Daily Lid Cleaning
Improving the quality and quantity of the natural Meibum helps greatly, but most people will still need to supplement with lubricating eye drops.
This will allow more oil to be expressed.
Lubricating Eye Drops for MGD Associated Evaporative Dry Eye
Improving the quality and quantity of the natural Meibum helps greatly, but most people will still need to supplement with lubricating eye drops
Lubricating Eye Drops that contain Lipids are recommended for Evaporative Dry Eye
