Most people suffering with dry eyes have Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (also called ‘tarsal glands’).
Meibomian gland dysfunction is caused by a blockage in your eye’s meibomian glands.
Meibomian gland function is very important to the health of your eye.
There are about 25 to 40 meibomian glands in the upper eyelid and 20 to 30 in the lower eyelid that secrete oils onto the surface of the eye.
The meibomian glands are tiny but important. They produce ‘meibum,’ an essential oily substance that mixes with the water in your tear film.
These oils keep the tear film lipid layer from evaporating. Meibomian gland secretions occur when the meibomian glands are blocked and can’t get the oil out, the quality of your tears goes down and your eyes dry out.
Science shows that 86% of patients diagnosed with dry eye also exhibit symptoms of human meibomian gland dysfunction.
Meibomian gland dysfunction needs to be treated. If left untreated, human meibomian gland secretions will stop secreting oil permanently changing your tears and leading to inflammation and chronic dry eye.
Symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
In the early stages of symptomatic meibomian gland dysfunction – even if the meibomian glands are impaired, there might not be any symptoms.
But as the disease progresses, the quality of tear film on the surface of the eye drops, leading to discomfort. Some of the most common symptoms include:
dry eye
eye fatigue
eye discharge
gritty or sticky sensation on the eyelids
irritation
blurred vision
Often, the oil gland openings get plugged-up with thicker secretions so that less oil comes out of the glands. The oil that does make it out of the glands can be granular (crusty) or otherwise abnormal, and can cause irritation. Chronically clogged glands eventually become unable to secrete oil, which results in permanent changes in the tear film and dry eyes.
Who is at risk?
If you are aware of some of the risks of developing any form of meibomian gland secretion, you can take earlier steps to help manage your eye health.
The known risk factors that can contribute to meibomian gland disease are:
Age
The older you get, the more likely you are to get dry eyes. People aged 40 and above have significantly higher MGD risk factors.
Cosmetics
Sleeping in eye makeup, improperly applying, or removing eye makeup often clogs meibomian glands. Makeup can cause meibomian gland obstruction covering the openings of the meibomian glands causing them to become inflamed.
Ethnicity
Meibomian gland dysfunction ishigher in Asian populations. Research has shown up to 69% of Asian people have MGD. By comparison, up to 20% of Caucasians in Australia have MGD.
Lack of regular blinking leads to stagnant oils and damage to the meibomian gland anatomy.
What to expect at the optometrist
The first thing your optometrist will want to do is distinguish between meibomian gland dysfunction and other possible causes of dry eye disease.
To properly diagnose meibomian gland dysfunction your optometrist will ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. Your optometrist will physically examine your eyelids and run a tear-breakup-time test. They may do further imaging with a meibographer, a device that takes pictures of the surface of your eyes and your eyelids. All these procedures are painless and noninvasive.
Treatment of MGD
Based on the results of your examination, the optometrist will tailor a treatment plan to best manage your condition. Mostly, the goal of the treatment is to unclog the openings of the meibomian glands, and to keep them unclogged.
Only an optometrist can determine if you have meibomian gland dysfunction and provide the treatment you require. If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of MGD, book an appointment with an Eyecare Plus optometrist.
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