You may never have heard of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)—but it’s one of the most common and underdiagnosed causes of dry eye symptoms.

Your eyelids contain tiny oil glands called meibomian glands, which produce the crucial oily layer of your tear film. This oil prevents your tears from evaporating too quickly and helps keep your eyes smooth, clear, and comfortable.

In Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), these glands can become blocked, inflamed, or stop working effectively, reducing both the quality and quantity of the oil in your tears. As a result, your eyes may feel dry, gritty, sore, or irritated—even if they’re watering excessively.

MGD can develop gradually and is often influenced by a mix of lifestyle, environmental, and medical factors. These include:

Each lower eyelid contains 20–30 meibomian glands. In a healthy eye, these glands are long and well-formed, producing a clear, flowing oil. With MGD, the oil becomes thickened or stagnant, and the glands may shorten, atrophy, or disappear altogether—reducing their ability to protect the eye’s surface.

MGD is now recognised as a primary driver of evaporative Dry Eye Disease, with inflammation, increased tear evaporation, and instability of the tear film all contributing to ongoing symptoms and damage to the ocular surface.

Managing Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) is one of the most common causes of dry eye and can significantly affect the comfort, clarity, and health of your eyes. These tiny oil-producing glands in your eyelids play a critical role in keeping your tears stable and preventing them from evaporating too quickly.

When the glands become blocked, inflamed, or produce poor-quality oil, the tear film becomes unstable—leading to symptoms like gritty, burning, or tired eyes, fluctuating vision, and increased light sensitivity.

The good news? There are many effective strategies to manage MGD and restore gland function.

Daily Home Care

Consistent at-home care forms the foundation of MGD management:

• Lid Hygiene: Use a dedicated eyelid cleanser or foam to gently clean along the lash line, removing oil buildup, debris, and bacteria.

• Warm Compresses: Daily application of a warm compress helps soften hardened oils and loosen blockages.

• Anti-Inflammatory Support: Omega-3 supplements and anti-inflammatory eye drops, either prescription or OptiMel, may be recommended to reduce inflammation and improve oil quality.

These steps are essential, but often not enough on their own—especially in moderate to severe or long-standing MGD.

In Practice Therapies 

To more effectively treat the root cause of MGD, we offer a range of advanced treatments that can clear blockages, restore gland function, and reduce inflammation:

Therapeutic Meibomian Gland Expression

A targeted, in-practice technique to physically unblock and clear meibomian glands, helping to restore natural oil flow and improve comfort.

Blepharoexfoliation

Mechanical exfoliation of the eyelid margin to remove hardened oil, crusting, and bacterial biofilm that can obstruct glands and worsen inflammation.

ZEST (Zocular Eyelid System Treatment)

A natural okra-based gel is used to deeply cleanse the lash line and reduce Demodex mites and debris—ideal for those with chronic blepharitis or irritated eyelids.

LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation

The gold standard in MGD therapy. This FDA-approved device applies gentle, controlled heat and pressure to the inner eyelid to liquefy and express blocked oils—restoring gland health in a single 12-minute session.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) 

IPL treats the inflammatory skin and lid margin conditions that drive MGD. It also helps rejuvenate gland function and improve tear film stability, especially in patients with ocular rosacea or lid redness.

Low Level Light Therapy

Using safe, gentle wavelengths of red light, LLLT reduces inflammation and stimulates meibomian gland activity. It’s ideal for sensitive skin or as a follow-up to other therapies.

 

Long-Term Outlook

MGD is a chronic condition, but with regular management, most people experience significant and lasting improvement. Our approach combines daily home care with periodic in-practice therapies to maintain comfortable, stable, and healthy vision.

If you suspect you have MGD or have been struggling with dry, red, or irritated eyes, book a comprehensive dry eye assessment. We’ll tailor a plan that works for your eyes—and your lifestyle.