Blog #50 On Tarsal Glands
No these glands are not from Tarsus, though
they are located in the tarsal plate.
They are now more commonly called meibomian glands and we have roughly
100 of them, 25 on each lid. The meibomian
glands lie embedded in the tarsal plate on each lid and run up and down emptying
onto the lid margin.
The latest research in Dry Eye Diseasestresses the importance of these little glands and their contribution to
healthy eyes and clear vision. The
meibomian glands produce, you guessed it, meibum, a substance that is rich in
fats. The tears on the eye are made up of
two layers, a watery layer of aqueous that spreads over the eye and then a thin
layer of lipids, the meibum, which spreads the tears over the eye and prevents
them from evaporating when the eye is open.
During the Covid 19 pandemic, since June of
2020, dry eyes have become a common problem, mostly caused by the dysfunction
of these glands. Staring at a screen for
work, zooming a few times a week, and spending a good deal of our leisure time on
screens all contribute to eye dryness. The meibomian glands unfortunately slow down
their secretions as the eye gets drier and more inflamed. This is because the meibum becomes more
sludgy, the opening at the lid margin gets blocked with residue, and eventually
the glands stop production altogether. The sad part is that there can be irreversible
damage to the glands if no treatment is given.
There is help.
Gland expression, tear analysis, meibography imaging, and staining
determine the extent of the problem. Treatment will involve the entire front
surface of the eye, the tear layer and the lids and glands; it involves a regimen
of warm compresses, massages, and drops that treat inflammation and dryness. The patient will likely be started on omega 3
fatty acid supplements to help produce healthy meibum. Maintenance
of healthy glands on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis is necessary.
Who knew that these tiny glands could have such
an impact on our lives. Please call for
an appointment, even if you are not having symptoms, to make sure that your
meibum is flowing freely.
Til next week,
the good
doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist
