What is dry eye syndrome - meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)?

Our tears are made up of three layers: oil, water and mucus.

Oil layer (lipid layer):
It is the outermost layer of the tear film, slowing down the evaporation of tears and lubricating the contact surface of the eyelid and eyeball.

Water layer (tear layer):
It is the middle layer of the tear film, smoothing the surface of the cornea, supplying corneal epithelial cells with oxygen, resisting external bacteria and removing metabolites.

Mucus layer :
It is the inner layer of the tear film, forming a hydrophilic interface, so that the tear layer can be evenly distributed on the surface of the eyeball, and at the same time play the role of nutrition, corneal protection and smoothing of the corneal surface.
Problems in any of these three layers can lead to dry eyes.

Dry eye - Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a common chronic inflammation.
This causes the oily glands to become clogged, and the oil they produce thickens and loses quality, causing tears to evaporate. This is one of the most common eye diseases, accounting for 70% of all dry eye syndromes.

the distribution of tears.

Causes of meibomian gland dysfunction

  1. Blepharitis
    Caused by the biofilm of symbiotic bacteria on the skin covering the edge of the eyelids . Exotoxins from these bacteria can enter the meibomian glands, causing blockages in the meibomian glands and a decrease in the quality or quantity of tears.

  2. Skin condition
    Example: Acne rosacea

  3. In the modern Western diet, alterations in omega-3 and -6 fatty acid levels in the body are common, resulting in impaired oil seal function.

icon _eyes_dry eye
Picture_Causes of meibomian gland dysfunction_Skin condition_Acne rosacea
Picture_Dry eye_Meibomian gland dysfunction_Causes of meibomian gland dysfunction

Dry eye syndrome - a symptom of abnormal function of the meibomian glands

When you hear dry eye, what symptoms do you think of? It may be dry eyes without tears.
But this is wrong, it turns out that "continuous watery eyes" is the most common symptom of dry eyes! Because when there are dry eyes and insufficient tears, the body generally produces too many tears to help relieve them, which is called "reflex tear secretion", but will cause tears to flow non-stop. It should be noted that "reflex tear secretion" is only a temporary remedy for the body and cannot treat dry eyes.

Common symptoms of dry eye:

  • Hard or sticky or eyelids, especially near the root of the eyelashes.
  • DRY EYES (MGD ACCOUNTS FOR 70% OF ALL DRY EYE SYNDROME)
  • jealous
  • Sore eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Uninterrupted flow of eye water.
  • Headache
  • Easy to get tired
  • photophobia
  • Contact lenses are difficult to wear, resulting in the inability to wear them successfully.

Check the price of dry eye examination and treatment

Know the types of dry eye

Dry eye syndrome can be divided into two types: "dehydration" and "evaporation"

1. Water-scarce dry eye disease.

Dry eyes due to the failure of the lacrimal glands to produce enough tears.

Treatment :

  • Artificial tears/gel
  • Steroid eye drops
  • Cyclosporin eye drops (RESTASIS®, Allergan)
  • Punctal occlusion occlusion occlusion of tear holes
Daily advice:
  • Reduce the wearing of contact lenses
  • Humidifier air humidifier
  • Pay attention to the working environment, avoid the color directly to the air conditioning vent
  • Rest properly

2. Evaporative dry eye

MOST ARE CAUSED BY MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION (MGD), WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 70% OF ALL DRY EYE SYNDROME. MEIBOMIAN GLANDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECRETING THE OIL IN TEAR WATER, WHICH SLOWS DOWN THE EVAPORATION OF TEARS. MGD IS A COMMON CHRONIC INFLAMMATION THAT CAN BLOCK THE MEIBOMIAN GLANDS AND ACCELERATE EVAPORATION IF THERE IS LESS GREASE IN TEARS.

TEST YOURSELF FOR DRY EYE SYNDROME - MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION (MGD)

IMAGE_OSDI_DRY EYE_SELF-DIAGNOSIS

DRY EYE SYNDROME - MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION FAQ

Can dry eye syndrome be cured?

There is currently no treatment that can completely eliminate all the symptoms caused by dry eye. Because dry eye is caused by a variety of factors, treatments for mild and severe symptoms are very different. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat this condition. Your ophthalmologist can help you find ways to reduce your symptoms.

The following are treatments for chronic dry eye, so you can find what works best for you.

  • There are many medications and procedures available to treat chronic dry eye. Artificial tears moisturize your eyes. If you have moderate dry eye symptoms, you may only need artificial tears. However, you need to apply them multiple times a day.
  • In addition, two examples of alternative therapies that can help reduce chronic dry eye symptoms include acupuncture and intense pulsed light therapy. One study suggests that acupuncture may be beneficial compared to artificial tears, but more research is needed. One theory is that acupuncture can reduce pain and inflammation, which reduces eye irritation and improves dry eye symptoms.
  • Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is an alternative treatment commonly used to reduce rosacea and acne symptoms. In a study of chronic dry eye syndrome, 93% of participants reported that they were satisfied with the degree of symptoms after IPL treatment.
Can I feel dry eyes when wearing contact lenses?

Contact lens use is thought to be closely associated with dry eye. About 80% of soft contact lens wearers and about 70% of hard contact lens wearers complain of dry eyes. Tears are used as a lubricant between contact lenses and the pupil (cornea) to protect your eyes. In a state where tears are reduced, the cornea and conjunctiva are likely to be damaged, which in turn reduces their resistance to bacteria and causes serious corneal infections.

I use electronic devices all day, so my eyes are dry. Are there good precautions?

Precautions that can be taken when using electronic devices include:

  • Blink on purpose
  • Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry indoor air
  • Bring your computer screen below your line of sight
  • The airflow of sitting air conditioning will not blow directly into your eye position
  • Rest properly
What is an effective treatment for dry eye?

Depending on the patient's symptoms and condition, a variety of dry eye treatments can be used. Mild dry eyes can be treated by often using eye drops that help retain moisture, eye drops containing moisturizing ingredients, and other formulas to replenish the tears that have been reduced. It is important to improve the quality and quantity of tears during treatment, and lubricating eye drops can often help. However, if dry eyes cannot be treated with eye drops, the outflow of tears can be suppressed by artificially closing the tear punctum and the discharge of tear fluid.

What happens if dry eye is not treated?

Subjective symptoms, such as dry or sandy eyes, and ocular surface disease (injury) may be aggravated. In addition, bacteria can enter the eye through injury and cause serious corneal infections. If people with these conditions wear contact lenses, their symptoms may worsen.

Is there a relationship between age and dry eyes?

The amount of tear secretion decreases with age because the secretory function of the lacrimal glands that produce tears decreases. Decreased tear secretion is thought to be one of the causes of dry eyes. On the other hand, the function of tear drainage (tear drainage) is sometimes reduced, resulting in a decrease in the amount of tears flowing out. This means that dry eye does not always occur with age.

I have been using eye drops that I bought at a pharmacy. Is there a problem with continuous use?

If eye drops purchased at a pharmacy do not relieve symptoms, consult your ophthalmologist.

Tears play a role in delivering oxygen and nutrients to the pupil (cornea) and killing bacteria that enter the eye, but too many eye drops can cause precious tears to be washed away. In addition, eye drops purchased at pharmacies by dry eye sufferers may not be injured by the effects of the ingredients, as these ingredients are not diluted by tears.

Consultation registration

Enquire now