Stoney Creek, ON
(905) 575-3937
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MGD is inflammation and clogging of the small oil-producing glands of your eyelids. These oils are very important for the health of your tears. When your meibomian (“my-BOH-me-an”) glands become inflamed and clogged, less oil is released into your tear film. This causes your tears to evaporate from your eye more quickly, resulting in dry and irritated eyes.
- Redness
- Burning
- Stinging
- Gritty feeling
- Sensitivity to lights
- Scratching or itchiness
- Contact lens discomfort
- Blurred or fluctuating vision
- Crusting and sticky discharge
- Feeling like something is “in” your eye
Some common risk factors for MGD include:
- Medications
- Extended screen use
- Eye Makeup
- Eyelid Hygiene
- Ageing
- Female gender
- Hormonal Therapy
- Environmental factors
- Smoking and alcohol
- Diet
To better determine the severity of your dry eyes we may ask that you fill out a form describing any MGD risk factors and symptoms you may have. During the eye examination, your doctor will examine your eye lid sand meibomian glands under magnification for signs of blockage and inflammation. Light thumb pressure is applied to the eyelid to gently express the oil of the meibomian glands. The overall health of your eyelids and the quality of the oil released can help diagnose the presence of MGD.
Using specialized technology, we can also capture high resolution images of your meibomian glands. This will confirm the presence and severity of your MGD and is also used to track the health of your glands for future changes.
For mild cases of MGD we recommend the specialized iMED microbead heat mask. We have found that the fitted mask delivers heat more evenly and effectively when compared to a warm cloth. Gentle lid massage afterwards can loosen mildly clogged glands in less severe cases of MGD. Unfortunately, warm compresses and lid massage on their own can be cumbersome, time consuming and are often not enough to effectively treat the symptoms of MGD. To help, there are several supportive therapies for MGD and they are often used in combination for best results;
- Heat mask
- Omega 3 oil supplementation
- Preservative free artificial tears
- Eyelid cleansing wipes
As part of Spectrum’s ongoing commitment to provide our patients with the latest in eyecare technology, we recommend our TempSure Envieyelid warming technology for maximum treatment results. TempSure Envi heat therapy is the most current and effective treatment option for all stages of MGD. Treatments are non-invasive, safe for all skin types with no post treatment down time.
Compared to traditional heat mask therapy, our TempSure Envi technology delivers heat much deeper and more effectively to clogged meibomian glands. As a result, the melting and unclogging effect of stagnant oils is much greater. A soft massaging motion then breaks up the melted and deeply clogged oils, allowing your healthier oils to start working again. Healthier oils are clearer, richer and when mixed with your natural tears, reduce the stubborn symptoms of MGD related dry eye. TempSure treatment sessions generally take about fifteen minutes per eye. While some patients experience mild relief after one treatment, a minimum of three is required for maximum benefit. In more severe cases of MGD related dryness, symptoms may return after your warming treatments are completed. In this case, an annual maintenance session may be necessary to control any reoccurring symptoms of MGD.