Eye conditions

Dry Eyes & Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Causes of Dry Eyes & Meibomianitis

Treating Dry eye & MGD before cataract surgery can reduce negative symptoms and improve quality of vision after surgery.

What is MGD?
MGD (Meibomian Gland Dysfunction) occurs when there are blockages or structural damage that inhibits the natural production of protective oils from the meibomian glands located in our eyelids. These blockages can disrupt the tear film and cause ocular surface disease, which can negatively affect surgical outcomes.

In 86% of cases, MGD is a root cause of dry eyes disease.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes & Meibomianitis

Stinging, burning and foreign body sensation
Sticky eyes with mucus discharge
Redness
Itchiness
Watery eyes
Sensitive to lights
Blurred vision
Pains in the eye

Treatment of Dry Eyes & Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Eyelid Toilet using Blephagel shampoo and lubricants
Artificial tears
Cyclosporine eye drops to increase natural tears production
Punctal plugs
Thermal Pulsation Machines to remove blockages from the Meibomian glands
Oral Doxycycline

Treatment of Dry Eyes & Meibomian Gland Dysfunction can improve Cataract Surgery outcomes

New clinical guidelines recommend treating Dry Eye & MGD before surgery, even if there are no dry eye symptoms.

How is Dry eye & MGD identified?
At Dr Natasha Lim Eye Centre, formal MGD assessment is performed using an Ocular Surface Interferometer that measures lipid layer thickness, captures blink rates and partial blinks and images meibomian structure.

The stages of MGD is accurately diagnosed and treated.

Various staging of MGD:

Thermal Pulsation Prior To Cataract Surgery

Thermal Pulsation is the favoured pre-operative and post-operative treatment for cataract surgeries for over 80% of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) Corneal Clinical Committee members.

Untreated patients have a 40% increase in dry eye symptoms and poorer quality of vision after cataract surgery.

Treat MGD with Thermal Pulsation
Gland blockages can be removed and gland function is restored with Thermal Pulsation . Thermal Pulsation is a non-invasive 12-minute treatment administered in your doctor’s practice.

Meibomian Gland Disease treated patients had almost 2x reduction in dry eye symptoms

Untreated patients had 40% increase in dry eye symptoms after surgery

Thermal Pulsation treatment increases mean gland function by 3-fold on average with one 12-minute treatment

Thermal Pulsation treatment reduced mean dry eye symptom scores by over 50% for sustained symptom relief

Frequently asked questions

1. How does Thermal Pulsation treatment benefit my surgery?

Thermal Pulsation treatment helps optimize the ocular surface by treating meibomian gland dysfunction, which is one of the main causes of dry eye disease and ocular surface disease. Treating MGD before surgery can help reduce post-operative symptoms and increase quality of vision after surgery.

2. If I don't have dry eyes can I still benefit from Thermal Pulsation treatment?

New clinical guidelines recommend being screened and treated for MGD even in the absence of symptoms in order to achieve optimal surgical outcomes.

3. What happens during the Thermal Pulsation treatment?

An eyelid applicator is placed under each one of your eyelid. It is shaped to protect the delicate structure of the eye. Once in place, the device heats the meibomian glands and applies gentle massage to improve meibomian gland function.

4. How long is the Thermal Pulsation treatment?

The Thermal Pulsation treatment lasts 12 minutes and treats both eyes at the same time.

5. How long do the benefits of the Thermal Pulsation treatment last?

The results of Thermal Pulsation treatment vary person to person. Clinical studies have shown sustained results lasting up to one year and sometimes longer.

6. How many times do I need to be treated with Thermal Pulsation to see results?

One treatment is all it takes to achieve sustained and effective results. However, MGD is a chronic condition and requires ongoing management.

Authored by: Dr Natasha Lim

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