MGD and Ocular Surface Diseases

Your eyes are moistened by two different types of tears: lubricating tears and reflex tears.

• Lubricating tears are produced continuously to moisturize your eyes and contain natural infection fighting agents.
• Reflex tears are produced in response to sudden irritation (smoke, onions, and foreign particles), injury or emotion. Although irritation from dry eye can trigger reflex tears which flood the eye, reflex tears do not have the proper lubricating composition.

Dry eye is a common condition that occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears, your tears evaporate too quickly, or the tears do not have the right balance to keep the surface of your eyes healthy and comfortable.

Dry eye can be temporary or ongoing and may affect people of all ages. It is often associated with MGD, inflammation of the eyelids, environmental factors, medications, aging, and prolonged screen use.

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a chronic abnormality of the meibomian glands, which means the tiny oil glands in your eyelids aren’t working properly. These glands produce oils that keep your tears healthy and stable. When they falter, the surface of the eye can become dry, irritated and inflamed — a condition known as ocular surface disease.

Healthy tears do much more than keep your eyes wet. Your tear film is made up of three important layers: oil, water, and mucus. When one or more of these layers is not functioning properly, dry eye symptoms can develop.

Your tear film helps:

• Protect against infection and irritation
• Deliver oxygen & nutrients to the eye
• Keep your vision clear and comfortable

At Downtown Eyes, we take a comprehensive approach to dry eye by addressing both the symptoms and the underlying causes.

Conditions Associated with MGD:

Taking care of your eyes is an investment in your long-term quality of life. Unlike many things we can replace or repair, we can’t replace natural vision. Many eye conditions develop gradually with no noticeable symptoms, so regular eye care and early treatment matter for preserving healthy vision and independence for years to come.

The Cost of Waiting

Many current treatments only manage symptoms — they act like a bandage you have to keep reapplying, often for life, at real ongoing cost. They don’t address why the glands stopped working in the first place.

Stop Progression Early

Like many conditions, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) can develop without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Early treatment can help protect your meibomian glands before permanent damage occurs—supporting healthier, more comfortable eyes for years to come.

When meibomian glands become severely damaged, they can shrink and stop producing oil permanently. Without enough oil, tears evaporate too quickly, leading to chronic evaporative dry eye. The goal: treat MGD early, before gland damage becomes permanent.

Symptoms

• Light Sensitivity
• Fluctuating, blurry vision
• Excessive Tearing*
• Scratchy, gritty feeling
• Contact Lens Discomfort
• Stye/Chalazion
• Burning/Stinging
• Dryness
• Itching
• Redness
• Tired Eyes

*Watery eyes can actually be a sign of dry eye. When the surface of the eye becomes irritated, your eyes may produce excessive watery tears that do not adequately lubricate the eye.

Causes

• Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) – The meibomian glands in your eyelids produce the oily layer of your tears. When these glands become blocked or do not function properly, tears evaporate too quickly.
• Inflammation– Inflammation of the eyelids and ocular surface can interfere with normal tear production and gland function.
• Aging– Tear production and meibomian gland function can decrease with age.
• Screen Time– Prolonged computer, phone, and tablet use can reduce blinking, allowing tears to evaporate more quickly.
• Environment– Wind, dry air, air conditioning, heating, smoke, and other environmental factors can contribute to tear evaporation.
• Contact Lens Wear- Some contact lens wearers experience increased dryness or discomfort, particularly with prolonged wear.
• Medications & Medical Conditions- Certain medications and health conditions can affect tear production or the quality of the tear film.
• LASIK & Refractive Surgery– LASIK and Refractive surgery cause dry eye primarily because creating the corneal flap severs tiny sensory nerves in the eye. This nerve damage interrupts the normal feedback loop that tells the brain to produce tears, leading to reduced tear secretion, an altered blink rate, and temporary surface inflammation while the corneal nerves slowly healing

COMMON TREATMENTS

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity of your dry eye.

Common Treatments include:

Advancements in Treatment:

At Downtown Eyes, we offer an innovative, non-surgical approach to address the underlying causes of dry eye- not just the symptoms: Envision by Inmode Forma-I™ Radiofrequency (RF) and Lumecca-I™ Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Forma-I™ Radiofrequency (RF) and Lumecca-I™ Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) brings sophisticated, energy-based technology directly into the eye care setting, offering a non-surgical, in-office treatment option designed to complement your existing dry eye care plan.

Schedule an Ocular Surface Evaluation at Downtown Eyes to see if Forma-I and Lumecca-I are right for you.