Dry Eyes? It Could Be Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

If your eyes often feel dry, gritty, watery, or tired, you might be dealing with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). It’s one of the most common causes of dry eye, yet many people don’t know it exists.

What is MGD?

Your eyelids contain tiny oil-producing glands called Meibomian glands. These glands secrete oil that forms the outer layer of your tear film, helping prevent the watery part of your tears from evaporating too quickly. When these glands become blocked or don’t function properly, the result is MGD, and dry, irritated eyes.

Why It Matters

MGD is a chronic, progressive disease that worsens over time if left untreated. In a clinic-based study of 224 patients with dry eye disease, 86% showed signs of MGD — poor tear quality rather than a lack of tear production (Lemp et al., Cornea, 2012). A variety of factors can contribute to MGD including allergies or infections, makeup, medications, screen time, hormonal changes and aging – just to name a few.

LipiFlow™: A Game-Changer for Dry Eyes

One highly effective treatment is TearScience™ LipiFlow™. This procedure:

• Begins with anaesthetic drops and a protective gel
• Uses gentle heat and pressure to massage the eyelids
• Clears blockages and restores proper gland function

The process is quick, comfortable, and targets the root cause of dry eye. Most people notice their eyes feel more comfortable over the weeks that follow, and in a published trial of 200 patients a single treatment produced a sustained mean improvement in gland function and dry eye symptoms at 12 months, with 86% of those treated needing only that one treatment over the year (Blackie et al., Clinical Ophthalmology, 2016). Results vary from person to person, so we measure your tear film with TearCheck, image your glands with meibography and check osmolarity before and after rather than rely on percentages.

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MGD often begins before you notice symptoms. That’s why early detection and treatment are key. Keeping your Meibomian glands healthy now can help you avoid discomfort later.

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Assessment and treatment are at Rose Optometry, 38 Lake Road, Frankton, Hamilton. Our Dry Eye Clinic page explains how we work out which treatment you need, and you can book a Dry Eye Evaluation online — scroll to "Dry Eye Evaluation" in the appointment list.

References

• Blackie CA, Coleman CA, Holland EJ. The sustained effect (12 months) of a single-dose vectored thermal pulsation procedure for meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye. Clin Ophthalmol. 2016;10:1385-1396. PMID 27555745. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S109663
• Lemp MA, Crews LA, Bron AJ, Foulks GN, Sullivan BD. Distribution of aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye in a clinic-based patient cohort: a retrospective study. Cornea. 2012;31(5):472-478. PMID 22378109. doi:10.1097/ICO.0b013e318225415a