Dry eyes is a common eye condition that can be caused by various factors, including poor tear quality and quantity. One of the main contributors to poor tear quality is dysfunction of the meibomian glands, which are responsible for producing the oil layer of your tears. One of the critical parts of this layer of lipids is that it acts as a barrier for our tears so that they do not evaporate too easily. In this blog, we will be discussing in more detail the importance of heating and expressing your meibomian glands for dry eyes and the various treatments available.
What are Meibomian Glands?
Meibomian glands are small glands located on the eyelid margins responsible for producing the oil layer of your tears, which keeps your eyes lubricated and helps to prevent the evaporation of the water layer of your tears. These glands play a crucial role in maintaining healthy eyes, and dysfunction of these glands can lead to dry eyes.
What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)?
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common condition in which the meibomian glands, responsible for producing the oily component of the tears, become blocked and do not function properly. This leads to a range of uncomfortable symptoms.
Most patients who present with MGD complain of dry or gritty eyes that are worse in the morning and may become less noticeable throughout the day. They may also complain of red, inflamed eyes. Fortunately, MGD is fairly easy to diagnose, often requiring only a quick slit lamp exam of the meibomian gland pores using an infrared camera and instillation of fluorescein to determine the tear break-up time.
The Importance of Heating and Expressing Meibomian Glands for Dry Eyes
Meibomian gland dysfunction is a common cause of dry eyes, and one of the most effective ways to manage this condition is by applying heat to your eyelids. Heat helps to melt the hardened meibum in the glands, allowing it to flow more easily and exit the glands, improving the quality and quantity of meibum, and relieving dry eye symptoms. Additionally, massaging the eyelids after applying heat helps to express the meibum and further improve the flow of oil. While warm compresses can be effective in providing temporary relief, meibomian gland expression is a more comprehensive treatment that involves applying targeted pressure to unclog the glands and release the oil. This process can be performed by our eye doctor in-office, as well as maintenance routines done at home under the guidance of our eye doctor. Meibomian gland expression can be a highly effective treatment for MGD and associated dry eye symptoms, and may be recommended as part of a comprehensive dry eye management plan.
At-Home Regimen for Dry Eye
At-home remedies for dry eyes caused by meibomian gland dysfunction include warm compresses, which can be easily made at home or purchased from a store. Bruder masks or generic equivalents are the most effective type of warm compress and can be heated in the microwave for 15 seconds. Alternatively, gel pads and eye masks can be boiled in water. The compress should be applied to closed eyes for 8 to 10 minutes, followed by gentle massaging of the eyelids to express the meibum. Be careful to follow the exact instructions provided by our eye doctor or from the manufacturer in order to avoid over use.
Furthermore our eye doctor may provide additional at-home tasks to treat dry eye such as lid wipes, omega 3, and lipid formulated eye drops.
In-Office Treatments for Dry Eye
There are a range of in-office treatments to manage dry eyes caused by Meibomian gland dysfunction. One such treatment is the OCuSOFT® Thermal 1-Touch, which delivers targeted and localized heat therapy to the eyelids at a constant temperature of up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. After the therapy, our eye doctor will perform gland expression on both the upper and lower lid margins to ensure the oil flows out of the glands.
There are many devices that provide in-office treatment of dry eye, these include Lipiflow, tearcare, onetouch, and miboflo. All these devices provide the same service of heating the meibomian glands which then enable the doctor to more effectively express those glands.
