the good doctor on: Tarsal Glands
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
