{"id":2592,"date":"2026-06-29T15:16:45","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T15:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartdryeyes.com\/?p=2592"},"modified":"2026-07-11T12:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T12:02:09","slug":"meibomian-gland-dysfunction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartdryeyes.com\/en\/meibomian-gland-dysfunction\/","title":{"rendered":"Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: The Cause Behind Most Dry Eye"},"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

When people think of dry eyes, they often picture a lack of tears. In fact, the most common form has a different root cause: meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). In this article we explain what the meibomian glands are, what happens in MGD and how it is treated.<\/p>\n

MGD: the most common cause of dry eye<\/h2>\n

Meibomian gland dysfunction – MGD for short – is behind most cases of dry eye, and yet many people have never heard the name. That’s the frustrating part, because it can be misread for years as simple tiredness or “sensitive eyes”. The reassuring part is that once you know the oil glands are the problem, MGD turns out to be very treatable.<\/p>\n

What the oil glands do<\/h2>\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 – it’s 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

What goes wrong<\/h2>\n

MGD develops quietly, usually in the same order:<\/p>\n