Posted by: Albany Cornea | Center For Eye Care Excellence in Dry Eyes

Are your eyes itchy, gritty, sensitive to light, or dry? Do your symptoms keep coming back?

You may have Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD is a progressive condition that affects the oil-producing glands in your eyelids, causing recurring symptoms and even dry eyes.

Keep reading to learn more about whether IPL can help with Meibomian gland dysfunction.

What are Meibomian Glands?

Meibomian glands are specialized oil-producing glands located along the edges of both your upper and lower eyelids, positioned right at the base of your eyelashes.

These tiny but essential glands secrete an oily substance called sebum, which plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy eyes. The sebum forms a protective layer over your tear film, keeping your eyes properly lubricated and preventing your tears from evaporating too quickly.

This oil layer is vital for maintaining comfortable, moist eyes throughout the day.

What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) occurs when your meibomian glands fail to produce adequate amounts of quality oil needed to maintain a healthy tear film. This dysfunction typically develops when the glands become inflamed or blocked by thickened secretions that prevent normal oil flow.

When MGD occurs, insufficient meibum reaches the surface of your eye, compromising the protective oil layer. Without this crucial barrier, your tears evaporate too quickly, leading to dry, uncomfortable eyes and various related symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

You might not notice any symptoms at first, but as MGD progresses, you may experience symptoms such as:

  • Blurred vision
  • Itchy eyes
  • Swollen eyelids
  • Watery eyes
  • Foreign body sensation
  • Red, sore eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Burning eyes
  • Persistent chalazions and styes
  • Discomfort wearing contact lenses
  • Crusty eyelids 
  • Watery eyes
  • Stringy mucus discharge 

What are the Possible Complications of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

MGD is a chronic and progressive condition. Left untreated, it can cause dry eyes.

Your tears comprise three layers that keep your eyes moist, lubricated, comfortable, and healthy. These include:

The mucus layer: The inner layer that helps tears stick to the eye surface.

The watery layer: The middle layer that keeps your eyes moist and washes away foreign particles.

The oily layer: The outer layer that ensures your eyes remain lubricated. It also prevents tears from evaporating more quickly.

Combined, these three layers are known as the tear film. A problem with any of these layers can lead to dry eyes.

When the Meibomian glands become obstructed, the quality or quantity of meibum, or the oily layer, diminishes, causing rapid tear evaporation and dry eyes.

Like MGD, dry eyes is a chronic condition that can cause disruptive symptoms that affect your productivity, daily activities, and your overall quality of life.

Can IPL Help with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?

The relief offered by MGD treatments such as artificial tears and warm compresses is usually temporary. IPL is a game-changer in combating MGD. 

It tackles the root cause, instead of just managing the symptoms, providing long-term relief from the persistent symptoms of MGD.

What is IPL?

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is an advanced, non-invasive treatment that uses precisely controlled light energy to target inflammation and blockages in your meibomian glands. This advanced therapy offers an effective solution for managing meibomian gland dysfunction without surgery or invasive procedures.

What to Expect With IPL

Your IPL treatment follows a carefully structured process designed for your comfort and safety:

Preparation: Your ophthalmologist will begin by thoroughly cleaning your eyelids and applying a protective gel to the treatment area. This gel helps conduct light energy efficiently while safeguarding your skin.

Eye protection: Special shields or protective goggles will be placed over your eyes to ensure complete safety from the intense light pulses.

Treatment delivery: Using a specialized handheld device, your doctor will deliver targeted light pulses to the area around your eyes. These light pulses convert to therapeutic heat that gently melts and clears the hardened oils blocking your meibomian glands. The treatment also penetrates deeper to address inflamed blood vessels that contribute to the ongoing cycle of MGD.

Gland expression: Your ophthalmologist may perform gentle manual expression of the meibomian glands to remove any remaining blockages and encourage healthy oil production.

Treatment experience: Each session takes just 10 to 15 minutes and causes minimal discomfort. You may feel a slight warming sensation, but the procedure is not painful.

Recovery and results: IPL requires no downtime, allowing you to return to your normal activities immediately. However, you’ll need to protect the treated area from sun exposure by applying broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen whenever you’re outdoors.

Most patients notice significant improvement after just one or two treatments, though you may need 3 to 4 sessions for optimal, long-lasting results, depending on your MGD severity.

What are the Benefits of IPL?

Some of the many advantages of IPL include:

Stimulate Normal Gland Function

Without treatment, MGD can cause permanent damage, resulting in gland atrophy. IPL therapy helps restore gland function, preventing long-term complications and preserving your eye health.

Decreased Inflammation

Inflammation contributes to the development of Meibomian gland dysfunction. IPL destroys abnormal blood vessels that cause inflammation, considerably reducing inflammation.

Healthier Eyelids

Reduced inflammation results in less irritation, redness, and swelling, increasing eye comfort and improving the health of your eyelids.

Better Vision Quality

IPL improves the quality of your vision by decreasing MGD symptoms. Post-treatment, you’ll experience less light sensitivity, contact lens discomfort, itchiness, and blurriness. IPL can also treat dry eyes caused by MGD.

It encourages meibum secretion, which improves tear film quality and stability, preventing excess tear evaporation and alleviating dry eye symptoms.

Effective, Long-Term Relief

By addressing the underlying causes of MGD and dry eye, IPL provides long-lasting relief from your symptoms, improving overall vision clarity and eye health.

Restore Your Vision and Eye Health with IPL

MGD can cause persistent symptoms that interfere with your daily life. It’s also a common cause of dry eyes. With a cutting-edge treatment like IPL, you can experience real and lasting relief and ensure the health of your eyes.

Do you have symptoms of MGD? Schedule your appointment at the Center for Eye Care Excellence today to receive an accurate diagnosis and discover how IPL can alleviate your bothersome symptoms.