Your Dry Eyes May Be Caused By Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?
When the glands in your eyelids don’t secrete enough oil into your tears, this is called Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, or MGD,
Your meibomian glands produce the oily part of the tear film needed to protect the surface of your eye by preventing the evaporation of the watery part of your tears. When this function is not working well, your eyes may feel dry.
What Causes MGD?
A number of conditions can lead to changes in the structure of function of the glands, known as MGD. If left untreated, MGD can become progressively worse over time.
Other factors that can contribute are:
- Computer device / use
- Contact lens wear
- Reading/watching TV
- Eye Surgery
- Environment
- Poor blinking
- Allergies
- Glaucoma and chronic eye diseases
- Eye infections (such as styes)
- Medications
- Climate
- Makeup that can clog glands
What do Meibomian Glands Look Like?
When your glands are healthy, the photo on the top of these high definition image shows normal gland structure, with 20-30 glands in the lower eyelid. The other two photos show the stages and eventual progression of Meibomian gland loss.
LipiFlow is a treatment for MGD
LipiFlow is a device is specifically designed to remove blockages from the meibomian glands effectively. Many specialists now consider LipiFlow as the standard treatment for MGD. A LipiFlow device comes with a console and a single-use sterile device called the Activator. It uses a technology called Vectored Thermal Pulsation.
LipiFlow treatment deals directly with the most common root cause of dry eye disease. It provides a warm and gentle heat to the eyelids while simultaneously applying a gentle massage. This combination effectively removes the blockages in the meibomian glands and allows them to secrete the clogged oil.
After a session of LipiFLow treatment, the glands will be able to resume its natural production of oil for the tear film. With sufficient oil layer in the tear film, the tear won’t evaporate too fast anymore, ensuring a much healthier eye surface.
One session can offer significant relief to patients suffering from dry eyes and MGD.
Talk to your doctor about whether LipiFlow would be a treatment for you.
Call us at 519-473-3937 and schedule a Dry Eye Consultation today.
Christina Chan
03. 04. 2021
