Everything You Need to Know About Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Everything You Need to Know About Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Everything You Need to Know About Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Everything You Need to Know About Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Everything You Need to Know About Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

If your eyes itch, burn, sting, look red, or you have a constant feeling of something being lodged in your eye, you may have a condition called Meibomian (“my-BOH-mee-an”) Gland Dysfunction, or MGD. This condition is the leading cause of Dry Eye Syndrome.

Patients from throughout the Buckhead area suffer from Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. If you suffer from any of these symptoms or think you might have MGD, contact the Dry Eye Treatment Center At Family Eye Care Center Of Atlanta. Dr. Takeia Locke can help you with the long-term relief you need.

What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

Our tears are made up of three components: the lipid (oil) layer, aqueous (water) layer, and the mucus (sticky) layer. These components work in unison to lubricate and coat the eyes, keeping them moist and comfortable.

Your meibomian glands control the lipids in the eye (meibum) which combine with water and mucus in the eye area to create a thin film that consistently lubricates your eyes. Meibum is an essential part of your eye’s makeup as it prevents the evaporation of the eye’s tear film.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction occurs when the meibomian glands fail to provide enough meibum. This can be triggered by various factors and causes the tear film to evaporate at a quicker rate, leading the eyes to feel dry and uncomfortable.

What are the Causes of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

  • Age: MGD tends to manifest in older people, particularly in women during and after menopause

  • Taking certain medications: particularly retinoic acid (acne treatment), HRT (hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women), antidepressants, antihistamines, and anti-androgen medication (used to treat prostatic hypertrophy).

  • Endocrine disorders

  • Pregnancy

  • Wearing contact lenses for an extended period of time.

  • Immune system disorders: atopic rosacea, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren’s syndrome.


Excessive screen time has also been linked to the development of MGD. Staring at a screen on your TV, smartphone, computer or tablet, causes you to blink less frequently. Blinking naturally moisturizes your eyes, and by doing so, clears any small particles that may have accidentally lodged in your eye. Less frequent blinking results in dryer eyes, which can harm the long-term ability of your meibomian glands to function properly.


What are the Solutions for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

Treatments for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction range from self-administered or practitioner-administered treatments and typically involve a few methods, such as artificial tears, heat application, and manual gland expression. Dr. Takeia Locke usually suggests applying warm compresses over your eyelids as a first course of action. This gently opens the clogged glands and loosens the oil that may have accumulated. Warm compresses can provide temporary relief.

Further therapies used to manage MGD include omega-3 supplementation, topical antibiotics, oral tetracyclines to reduce the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, corticosteroids, or topical cyclosporine.

People with MGD commonly purchase over-the-counter eye drops to lubricate their eyes. Unfortunately, these drops tend to provide only transient relief, because, without an adequate layer of Meibomian Gland oil, the liquid from the drops simply evaporates off of the eye. Dr. Takeia Locke at Dry Eye Treatment Center At Family Eye Care Center Of Atlanta can recommend the appropriate eye drops or treatment for your dry eye case to improve your eye comfort levels.

Think You Have MGD? We Can Help

If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms or conditions, then reach out to the Dry Eye Treatment Center At Family Eye Care Center Of Atlanta. Based on the degree of your condition, symptoms, and lifestyle, Dr. Takeia Locke will recommend the best course of treatment for you.

Dry Eye Treatment Center At Family Eye Care Center Of Atlanta serves patients from in and around Buckhead, Atlanta, Vinings, and Brookhaven and throughout Georgia.

Testimonial:

“I went to the Dry Eye Treatment Center At Family Eye Care Center Of Atlanta and everyone there was professional and courteous. Dr. Takeia Locke did a thorough evaluation and treatment. I’m happy to say that my eyes feel comfortable and my vision is back to how it was before the condition began.”

References:

Jennifer P. Craig, Yen-Heng Chen, Philip R. K. Turnbull; Prospective Trial of Intense Pulsed Light for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2015;56(3):1965-1970. doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-15764.

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