Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Do you suffer from burning eyes, stinging eyes, red eyes, or fluctuating blurry vision? If yes, you might have undiagnosed meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

MGD is a condition where the oil glands in our eyelids become obstructed, secrete inadequate oil, and potentially atrophy if not managed properly. Both our upper and lower eyelids have oil glands that secrete oil, or lipids, onto the front surface of the eye, or ocular surface. The oil makes up the superficial layer of our tear film. The purpose of the oil layer is to prevent the aqueous, or tears, from evaporating off of the eye too quickly. Without a healthy, adequate oil layer tears will evaporate off of the ocular surface too quickly which would potentially lead to dry eyes or ocular inflammation. Common symptoms include stinging, burning, redness, foreign body sensation and intermittent blurry vision.

MGD is a commonly underdiagnosed condition because symptoms can range from asymptomatic to severely symptomatic depending on the severity of the condition. Some common risk factors of MGD include aging, contact lens wear, blepharitis, and use of certain medications. Common treatment options include warm compresses, lid massages, lid hygiene, and topical lubricants. During your comprehensive eye exam we will take a thorough case history and make a detailed assessment of how well your oil glands function and the stability of your tear film. Based on the exam findings we will create a treatment plan tailored for any stage of MGD that you may have.

Don’t continue suffering from symptoms of burning, stinging, or red eyes. Schedule your comprehensive eye exam today!