TheraLife® Eye Enhanced has been clinically proven to restore normal tear production for those suffering from blocked meibomian glands, clogged meibomian glands, meibomian cysts (chalazion), meibomian blepharitis, meibomianitis, and other problems associated with meibomian gland disease.

TheraLife® Eye Enhanced heals eye oil glands intracellularly – from inside – in combination with our omega 3 supplements, hot compress, and eye lid cleansings. Buy the complete treatment dry eye relief kit today!

What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)?

Meibomian glands are located on the upper and lower eyelids, inside the lash line. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) occurs when the oil glands in the eye become inflamed and blocked or clogged—resulting in reduced oil production. MGD causes posterior blepharitis.

Often concurred together with meibomian gland dysfunction are:

Chalazion

A chalazion (plural = chalazia) is like a bubble of fluid that forms under the eyelid if the eye’s normal secretions cannot be dispersed and become trapped in one pocket of tissue.

MGD and chalazion often occur together for most patients, combined with other problems, like blepharitis and dry, watery, crusty eyes.

Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease is the most common cause of MGD. The vision can dry due to a lack of proper lubrication, and tears evaporate too quickly. If the eye’s oil glands become clogged, a crust or other build-up will form.

Watery eyes

The eye can also become overly watery if it is trying to compensate for being too dry.

The problem is that if you have MGD, there are no oils to thicken the tears, meaning that the ones you do produce – in overabundance – will be of poor quality, too thin, and insubstantial to offer lasting natural relief.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is very difficult to treat and is one of the most challenging eyes doctor issues.

How Do Tears Work?

When you blink, a film of tears spreads over the eye – keeps the eye’s surface smooth and clear.

The tear film has three layers:

• An oil layer
• A watery layer
• A mucus layer

Each layer serves a purpose.

The oil layer is the outside of the tear film. This layer is made in the eye’s meibomian glands. It makes the tear surface smooth and keeps the eyes moist. You get dry eye syndrome and evaporative dry eye when you produce less oil.

The watery layer is in the middle. It makes up most of what we see as tears. This layer cleans the eye, washing away particles that do not belong in the eye. This layer comes from the lacrimal glands in the eyelids.

Mucus is made in the conjunctiva – which is the clear tissue covering the white of your eye and inside your eyelids. The mucus layer is the tear film’s inner layer, which helps spread the watery layer over the eye’s surface, keeping it moist. Without mucus, tears would not stick to the eye.

Typically, our eyes constantly make tears stay moist. If our eyes are irritated, or we cry, our eyes make a lot of tears. But, sometimes the eyes don’t make enough, or something affects one or more layers of the tear film. In those cases, we end up with dry eyes.

Symptoms

The symptoms include burning that is worst on waking (by contrast, if you have aqueous deficient eyes, burning worsens as the day goes on). Increased tear evaporation leads to dry eyes, and MGD and dry eye symptoms go hand in hand. Treating the MGD can be the key to alleviating symptoms, such as:

• Grittiness
• Foreign body sensation
• Burning
• Dryness
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Contact lens intolerance

Dry eye symptoms and MGD are always linked. 

Diagnosis

The clinical presentation of MGD includes capped meibomian glands and foamy tears at the front surface.

Your eye doctor can perform meibomian gland expression to determine the extent of the damage to render treatment accordingly.

The secretions can be thickened and have a toothpaste appearance, making meibomian gland expression difficult. Ask your eye doctor what your secretions look like. Typically the eye doctor squeeze the lower lid.

The plugged glands can become infected, and the patient may complain of recurrent styes or chalazion.

The dysfunctional lipid layer in MGD leads to a rapid tear film break up and evaporative dry eyes.

Traditional Treatment Options

Always seek professional medical advice from your eye doctors before treatment.

The treatment options often involve:

No eye makeup

Avoid eye makeup to keep eyelid margins clean.

Warm compresses:

• To melt the clogged meibomian glands. Warm compresses help the abnormal meibum change from solid to liquid at a higher melting point than the surface temperature; when the meibum liquifies, the glands are no longer obstructed.
• Note a warm wet washcloth does not work. A warm washcloth does not get hot enough.

Lid scrubs and massage of eyelids –

• Clean your lid margin to prevent eyelid inflammation. Avenova works best because it disrupts the biofilm layer of the eyelids to prevent bacteria re-attachment, thus reducing inflammation.
• Gently massage both the upper lid and lower lid right after warm compresses.
• Note – baby shampoo does not work.

Omega 3 fish oil

To improve the poor quality of tear film in dry eye disease. Compensating for meibomian glands producing less oil.

Antibiotics

• Oral doxycycline (oral pill) has strong anti-inflammatory properties and softens oil glands’ plugs.

Steroid eye drops

• – for a duration of no more than one month. Long-term use cause glaucoma.

Physical probes– meibomian gland expression

Your eye doctor applies a topical anesthetic and uses cotton tip applicators, or physical instrument to apply pressure on your eyelids to perform meibomian gland expression to unclog your oil glands.

More advanced MGD treatment:

Many patients seek advanced treatment that works for them.

Laser treatment 

• – Intense pulsed light for your eyes loosens clogging.

Thermal Pulsation Heat Wave Treatment–

• A series of 4 treatments that use heat to perform meibomian gland expression. Laser light is beneficial for people with rosacea.

Intraductal meibomian probing treatment 

• The most advanced mgd treatment. Very few eye doctors are trained to perform this procedure.

  These MGD dry eye treatments are typically repeated every 6-9 months to maintain meibomian gland health.

Prognosis

According to the American Association of Opthalmology, in about 80% of cases, daily application of warm compresses to the eyelids followed by eyelid massage can help restore the normal consistency of the meibum, which in turn restores meibomian gland function keeping your eyes healthy.

MGD left untreated can cause severe damage to your cornea.

Note: Frequent meibomian gland expression at home is not recommended. It takes time for meibomian glands to regenerate. 

Risk factors

Hormonal aspects

Androgen and estrogen receptors are present within meibomian glands, and meibocytes contain the enzymes necessary for the intracrine synthesis and metabolism of sex steroids.

Systemic Medications

Administration of Accutane is associated with severe atrophy of the meibomian glands.

Topical Medications

Several topical medications can alter gland function. The use of topical epinephrine, Glaucoma medications; are associated with changes in meibomian morphology.

Dietary Intake

Intake of oral fatty foods can worsen MGD.  Avoid eating red meat, high cholesterol animal fats.

Ocular Surface Microbiome

Cholesterol esters present in the meibum may stimulate the proliferation of commensal organisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus, on the eyelid margin. Bacterial infections cause inflammation of the eyelids- blepharitis.

Contact Lens Wear

The use of contact lenses is associated with reduced gland morphology and function. Contact lens wearers have higher degrees of dropout, and the changes seem irreversible.

References

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