Understanding Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and What to do about Dry Eye

What is MDG?

A major cause of dry eye is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Essentially, the edges of our eyelids are covered in small glands called meibomian glands, which contain lipids. These glands are important in smoothing the tear surface to slow down evaporation of eye moisture. Hence, when these glands fail to produce enough oil, the moist layer of our eyes evaporates too quickly leading to dry eye symptoms. Often when these glands struggle to produce adequate oil it is because they are clogged. In addition, the edges of the eyelids where the glands sit may be inflamed, which is characteristic of a common condition called blepharitis.

How Should It Be Treated?

According to the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, one suggested treatment from MDG is to use lid scrubs to engage in proper eyelid hygiene. Lid scrubs are essential to cleaning external meibomian gland blockages caused by epithelial overgrowth. They are used on the lid margin, just over the gland orifices to halt this overgrowth and to prevent other external substances from clogging the glands. Overtime, lid scrubs have been proven to improve tear-film break up time, and have also been shown to relieve blepharitis.

There are many lid scrubs on the market, but Ocusoft brand offers some of the best. Ocusoft lid scrub plus has a unique leave-on formula which prolongs contact maximizing the bacterial time kill eradicating seven different strains of bacteria common to the eyelids. They have also demonstrated lower eye irritation scores than their competitors.

In addition, the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction suggests the use of liposome sprays. The study tested multiple treatments and phospholipid liposomal sprays achieved the greatest reduction of lid margin inflammation and improvement in tear film break-up time when compared with hyaluronate eye drops and triglyceride gels.

One of the leading lipsome sprays on the market is offered by Ocusoft brand. Their Advanced Liposome Spray formula is recommended for patients with eyelid irritation and mild dry eye. The product also includes vital nutrients and antioxidants to promote general eye health. Both the Ocusoft lid scrubs and liposome sprays are available in most markets.

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