Sunday, March 18, 2018

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye

Dry eye disease has many causes and is now being linked to another serious condition Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. If you have sought treatment to no avail, chances are your lack of relief might stem from improper care of your condition since artificial tears and other traditional dry eye treatment do not address the meibomian gland dysfunction as effectively.

What is the Importance of Meibomian Glands?

They are a kind of sebaceous gland at the rim of the eyelid and are responsible for supplying meibum, an oily layer that maintains a stable tear film and reduces evaporation of the tears. Changes in the functionality of the meibomiam glands can seriously impact tear production. Some people have only slightly altered production, however, others have significantly decreased production, which results in significant thickening of  the meibum produced. Research over the last couple of years has pointed dysfunction of these glands in production of meibum as a leading cause or contributor to dry eye.

New Research Study
A group of worldwide dry eye experts spent over two years determining the meibomian glands and their role in the health and disease of the eye. Their findings were compiled in The International Workshop onMeibomian Gland Dysfunction: Report of the Subcommittee on Management andTreatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction were released in 2011. They resolved that Meibomian Gland Disease (MGD) is an extremely important condition and very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. The workshop has aided in advancing our understanding of the causes of dry eye and the best types of treatment. It is critical to see a qualified eye doctor to determine the cause and severity of your condition as well as the appropriate treatment if you suffer from irritated eyes.

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photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinosart/262656431/">Guillermo Salinas</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>