{"id":2592,"date":"2026-06-29T15:16:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T15:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartdryeyes.com\/?p=2592"},"modified":"2026-08-15T18:10:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T18:10:50","slug":"meibomian-gland-dysfunction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartdryeyes.com\/en\/meibomian-gland-dysfunction\/","title":{"rendered":"Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\"Dr.\nMedically reviewed by Dr. Ludger Hanneken<\/strong>
Medical Director \u00b7 Smart Dry Eyes<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Causes<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Eye<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When we think of dry eyes, we usually picture a lack of tears. But in many cases the problem is different: the glands that make the oily part of the tear \u2014the meibomian glands\u2014 work less well than they should. This is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)<\/strong>, and many people live with it for years without knowing. Here we explain what it is, how it’s assessed and how it’s treated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MGD: a common factor in evaporative dry eye<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MGD often plays a part in dry eye, especially when tears evaporate too quickly. Many people have never heard the name and, for years, mistake it for tiredness or sensitive eyes. The good news is that, once identified, it can be treated and kept in check with the right care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the meibomian glands do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Along the rim of each eyelid sit dozens of tiny meibomian glands. Every time you blink, they release a thin film of oil onto the surface of your tears. That oil is what stops your tears evaporating between blinks \u2013 it\u2019s the “seal” that keeps the eye comfortable. No oil, no “seal”, and the surface dries out no matter how many tears you produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What goes wrong<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MGD can develop gradually and does not always follow the same sequence. Several of these changes are often involved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n