Meibomian gland dysfunction

The Meibomian glands are found inside the eyelids and produce a lipid called Meibum, which is an essential component of the tear film and prevents the tear from evaporating too quickly from the ocular surface.

 

In meibomian gland dysfunction, the glands become blocked or engorged, so they do not secrete enough lipid to the tear film and therefore the tear evaporates very quickly from the ocular surface.

 

Meibomian gland dysfunction can be associated with dry eye syndrome, which is a complex, chronic, multifactorial disease that affects the ocular surface causing discomfort such as dry eyes, grit feeling and fluctuations in vision; as well as blepharitis.

 

The typical recommended treatment for meibomian gland dysfunction consisted of applying hot compresses and massaging the eyelids, however it may not be sufficient to treat the problem and restore normal gland function.

 

There are emerging treatments for Meibomian gland dysfunction, one of which involves applying a device to the external surface of the eyelids that distributes a constant level of heat. The heat emitted is absorbed by the tissue, causing the hardened lipids of the Meibomian glands to disintegrate. During treatment, a debridement of the palpebral margin is first performed, in order to remove keratin and debris that adhere to the palpebral margin and can plug the gland orifice. Subsequently, the heat device is applied for 10 minutes and, finally, external pressure is applied to the eyelid margin to produce the meibum expression. 

 

In general, patients who undergo this type of treatment report a statistically significant improvement in dry eye symptoms. Feel free to make an appointment today if you have any of the following symptoms: red eye, grit feeling, dry eyes, fluctuations in vision, sensitivity to light, tearing, scales around the eyelashes; you may have meibomian gland dysfunction and benefit profoundly from the above treatment.