Tears play an essential part in maintaining healthy eyes and a clear vision. They keep the eyes lubricated and supply them with the necessary moisture. The tear film is protected by a layer of oil that prevents its evaporation.

Your eyelids contain tiny glands that supply the eyes with the oil and help in maintaining the quality and quantity of tears. However, sometimes these glands may get clogged or inflamed. In such a situation, the glands cannot supply the eyes with the moisture.

This can cause discomfort, dryness, grittiness, and blurry vision. Such a situation is referred to as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. MGD is an eye infection that usually affects elderly people, but people of any age group can fall prey to the infection.

Let us discuss MGD, its cause, symptoms, and treatment alternatives.

1. Causes of MGD

Aging is one of the major causes of MGD. As a person grows older, the number of meibomian glands may reduce, and they may fail to lubricate the eyes. However, other factors like ethnicity, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions can also make you more susceptible to MGD.

High cholesterol, triglycerides, and some auto-immune diseases can also increase your chances of such dysfunction. Patients who wear contact lenses are more likely to experience an eye infection. Bacterial infections can also result in swollen eyelids and inflamed glands. Damage or inflammation in the cornea can also result in dry eyes.

Several medications can alter hormone levels and cause hindrance to oil production. Hence, you need to consult with your doctor and discuss all your current medication before commencing your Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Treatments.

2. Symptoms of MGD

The symptoms of MGD may not appear in its early stages. When the oil production reduces, the symptoms start to show up slowly. Dryness, redness, and itchiness are some of the common symptoms of dry eyes.

People may also experience a burning sensation and blurry vision.

Thru inner rims of the eyes may appear inflamed or uneven. Some people also experience the sensation of a foreign body in their eyes.

If you need to spend long hours in front of your computer, the symptoms can be severe, and you need to be extra careful.

3. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Treatments

Based on your individual condition, underlying cause, and the symptoms, your doctor will prescribe a suitable course of action. Some of the treatment alternatives for MGD include lubricants to provide moisture to the eyes. They can be in the form of eye drops or ointments.

Meibomian gland dysfunction can also result from bacterial infection. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics in such a case. Cyclosporine could also be recommended for a short duration to suppress the immune system.

To unclog the meibomian gland, your doctor may recommend directing heat and light pressure to the area to remove blockages. There are self-heating pads that serve as one of the useful Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Treatments. These pads direct heat or pulsed light to open the meibomian glands.

Certain steroids can also help in reducing inflammation of the eyelids and restore the meibomian glands so that they can provide the necessary moisture to your eyes.

You can also use traditional methods like warm compresses to ease the infection. All you need to do is soak a clean cloth in warm water and place it above your eyes. Keep it there for a few minutes to provide relief to your eyes. Remove and soak it again in warm water. Repeat as many times as needed.

Make sure the water is warm and not hot as the area around the eyes is extremely sensitive. Also, you can accompany the warm compresses with a gentle massage to improve circulation and remove the blockage.

Now that you are aware of the causes, symptoms, and various alternative treatments of MGD, you can choose Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Treatments accordingly.

Dry Eye is quite a menace, for common men and women living all around the world. People usually ignore such discomforts as petty health issues, and nothing much serious. But we should remember that such problems should not be kept untreated. Actions should be taken at the initial stage otherwise it may result in permanent damage to your vision.

Dry eyes typically can be termed as a disease when there is a lack of production of tears from the eyes. The tears that are produced from the eyes are not a mere flow of water. It is a combination of oil, moisture, lubricant, protein, and antibodies that keeps the eye moist and clean. It keeps the eyes free from all kinds of impurities and helps the cornea display proper vision. Lack of it can interfere with your vision and can cause uncomfortable symptoms.

Cause

There can be one or multiple causes of Dry Eyes. It is very necessary to detect and analyze them fast so that, the best OTC for dry eyes can be recommended to the patients as early as possible.

People above 50 usually become victims of this visionary obstacle. In current times, it has also become quite evident among women and young adults.

Pregnancy can also be a cause of dry eyes for some women. Menopause or any other hormonal disbalance among women can be the cause as well.

Allergies, Postoperative complications can also be the primary cause of Dry eye in people. It can also result from the consumption of a specific drug. In some cases, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren syndrome can also be the cause of Dry eyes in aged and ailing people.

Teenagers can also fall prey to dry eye disease as they often go through high levels of stress. Overuse of digital machines or overconsumption of antidepressants can also be considered as a prominent cause of Dry eyes.

The disease may not be curable totally. However, it can be brought under control with proper medication and treatment through Best OTC (over-the-counter) medicines for Dry eyes.

Symptoms

Various symptoms can be identified as Symptoms of Dry Eyes.

• Itching, Grittiness, Burning, and Redness

• Weariness or Tiredness when keeping the eyes open or closed.

• Blurred vision

• The difficulty while sleeping and working in front of computers

Sometimes the eyes can also get filled with excess water as a result of the reversal body mechanism. As the volume of water accumulates in the eyes through the signal of the nerves to create a balance in the non-production of tears in the eyes.

Diagnosis

A thorough eye examination is conducted to detect the gravity of the disease. Tear Marker Test, Schirmer Test or and Osmolarity Test are quite well-esteemed diagnosis methods that are executed by the ophthalmologist.

In the case of the Schirmer Test, filter papers are placed under the lower eyelid, and for Osmolarity, the doctor checks how much or in what volume tears have been produced from the eyes. This eventually leads to a patient choosing either prescribed medicines or the best OTC for dry eyes.

Treatment

Dry eye is a chronic disease. It is though not fully curable but various kinds of treatment can be applied to the patients.

1. Home remedies

Along with using the best OTC medicines, for dry eyes, the patients are recommended to eat food that is rich in fatty acid and omega oil. However, consumption of food only may not suffice the need. Hence, a patient must use the best OTC for dry eyes.

2. Medicines

Artificial tears and ointment that contain humectants, lubricants, and electrolytes are ideal OTC remedies that bring back the lubricating effect in the eyes. Applying them overnight can start the production of tears in the eyes. Genteal Severe, Refresh Celluvisc are some of the eminent examples of medication for dry eyes.

Cyclosporine and Liftergrast Xiidra are some of the famous prescribed eye drops by doctors to produce tears in the eye in severe cases. Using testosterone creams or oils can unblock the glands. Lipiflows to provide a warm compress to the eyelids can also be a part of treatment.