The Meibomian glands are glands in your upper and lower eyelids that produce lipids and proteins. These lipids and proteins help maintain a healthy tear film, reduce tear film evaporation, and thus, preserve a healthy ocular surface.
Meibomian gland dysfunction, or the clogging of these glands, significantly contributes to the chronic, incurable condition called dry eye disease. The symptoms of dry eye disease are ocular dryness, burning, and itching, foreign-body sensation and excessive tearing.
In order to manage these symptoms, proper eyelid hygiene is needed by using warm compresses on the eyelids and eyelid scrubs to keep the glands open. Patients who return to the office, say that their eyes and vision are better afterward. Think of it as flossing for your eyelids.
Warm compresses, such as the Bruder pack that is available at Coan Eye Care in the Orlando area, loosen clogged Meibomian glands in the eyelids. Apply the pack to closed lids for 10 mins a day. Afterward, a cotton swab can be used to gently wipe across the eyelid margin about 5-10 times as a means of scrubbing and, therefore, removing any debris that may be blocking the Meibomian gland.
Lid scrubs such as Blephadex, are also available at Coan Eye Care can also be used as a lid scrub.Coan Eye Care also provides hypoallergenic, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, fragrance fee, moisturizing make up for the eyes and the skin (Eyedeal Cosmetics) but must be removed every night. Just as a failure to take care of one’s teeth can lead to tooth loss, a failure to practice lid hygiene can exacerbate Meibomian gland dysfunction and, ultimately, lead to gland drop out, which will have a profound negative effect on a patient’s quality of life.
Drop by Coan Eye Care, where we can scan and evaluate your Meibomian glands with our Lipiview system and then try to prevent gland drop out with our new Lipiflow system. Treatment, involves, Lipiflow (thermal pulsation therapy), which will heat the meibomian glands gradually and gently. This will help liquefy the turbid oils in the gland and your body will replace it with fresh, clear oil so that your eyes feel great again.