Between all of the daily tasks I have to complete using my computer, tablet and phone, my eyes often feel like they are taking a beating. By the end of the day, it is not uncommon for my eyes to feel dry, gritty and itchy.
This is pretty common for anyone who uses electronic devices on a regular basis, or does a lot of fine-print work. But these efforts alone may not necessarily be the root cause of your dry eye symptoms.
There is another cause that we really don’t hear much about. It’s called meibomian gland dysfunction, or MGD.
A lot of people have this disorder and don’t even realize it. That’s because it is seriously under-diagnosed.
Basically, this is something that happens when the meibomian glands in your eyelids can’t produce the amount of oil necessary to keep your eyes from becoming dry.
And get this! It’s estimated that about 70% of people over the age of 60 have it.
What are the Symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?
Whether MGD occurs in both eyes, or just one, it generally causes the eye(s) to become dry and watery at the same time, and is often associated with burning, itching and light sensitivity that can affect your vision.
In general, the meibomian glands undergo various age-related changes. But it’s also not uncommon to find MGD among people who also suffer from autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, individuals might not even realize their dry eyes are related to their autoimmune disorder.
Lasik and other eye surgeries can also affect the meibomian glands.
Regardless of the underlying cause of your symptoms, I have found a very simple and basic treatment that that offers nearly instant relief. And it only takes eight to 10 minutes a day!
Eye Relief in Less Than 10 Minutes a Day!
I have dry eyes due to MGD and find that low level heat on the eyes for 8 to 10 minutes a day makes all of the difference in the world.
I use a heated dry eye mask. It looks a little bit like a sleep mask, and is extremely easy use. All I have to do is nuke it in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then relax with it covering my eyes.
What this does is help unblock the meibomian glands to improve oil production which, in turn, reduces dry eye symptoms.
You can find these types of masks on Amazon. Just search for “heat mask for eyes.” The brand I purchased was called Bruder, and it was very inexpensive.
If you don’t have a heat mask and/or don’t wish to purchase one, you can get great results by microwaving a wet and clean washcloth for 20-30 seconds and placing it over your eyelids for 8 to 10 minutes to loosen the oil. Just once a day does the trick.
In addition to releasing those meibomian liquids with heat, it is also a good idea to make sure you’re getting enough omega-3 fatty acids.
I recommend at least two servings of cold-water fish each week to replenish the oils that soothe and moisten your eyes. The best choices are sardines, salmon, tuna, anchovies, halibut and herring.
Just remember to choose wild-caught varieties instead of “farmed” fish. The farmed versions are usually raised on a diet high in inflammatory omega-6 fats rather than the healthier omega-3s.
If you aren’t a fish-lover, don’t worry. You can always choose to supplement with a high-quality fish oil.
It won’t give you immediate results, but as these omega-3 fatty acids start building up in your body, you should begin to see a noticeable difference over a few weeks.
SOURCES:
Moreno I, Verma S, Gesteira TF, Coulson-Thomas VJ. Recent advances in age-related meibomian gland dysfunction (ARMGD). Ocul Surf. 2023 Oct;30:298-306.
Borchman D. The optimum temperature for the heat therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction. Ocul Surf. 2019 Apr;17(2):360-364.
Jo YJ, Lee JS. Effects of dietary high dose DHA omega-3 supplement in dry eye with meibomian gland dysfunction. Int J Ophthalmol. 2021 Nov 18;14(11):1700-1706.
