Dry Eye
Dry Eye disease and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction typically go hand in hand. This occurs when the meibomian glands, which secrete oil, become blocked or stagnant. Dry Eye complaints are typically “my eyes water all the time,” they feel scratchy, itchy, irritated and “they burn.” Vision often fluctuates as well because of the inconsistent quality of the tears. The tears are made up of 3 layers: oil/meibum, water, and mucus. We often have enough tears but the quality of the tears is what is compromised.
Typical treatments for mild cases are lubricating eyedrops as needed. For those who experience more severe issues warm compresses with lid massages are highly recommended. A mask that stays hot/warm for at least 10 minutes helps loosen the oils in our glands making them flow better (less like butter and more like olive oil). We recommend that you heat your eyelids, massage them, clean them, and then hydrate your eyes with artificial tears. This ensures that you are taking every step in improving your meibomian glands. The products we like the most are located on the Shop Page.
For those who are fed up with other treatment options, we encourage IPL treatment. This is an intense pulsed light treatment that helps heal the glands by targeting inflammation, and we’ve seen excellent results. Visit our IPL treatment page to get more information.