When and How to Clean Your Meibomian Glands?

When and How to Clean Your Meibomian Glands?

Clear up your blurry vision.

This is Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic.

For those who wear contact lenses for extended periods,

or frequently apply eye makeup.

Do your eyes feel stiff or dry?

Do you find yourself not producing enough tears?

If so,

you may need meibomian gland cleaning.

If this is your first time hearing this term, or if you don't know how to clean them,

please read this post to the end.

What are Meibomian Glands?

The correct terms are meibomian glands or meibomian glands. (meibomian gland)

These are oil glands located in the upper and lower eyelids, with about 40 in the upper eyelid

and about 30 tiny glands in the lower eyelid.

Through these, foreign substances and waste products in the eyes

are easily discharged. They are a bodily organ that helps expel foreign substances and waste products from the eyes.

When these meibomian glands function properly,

the fatty secretions they produce facilitate eye movement

and keep the eyelashes moisturized.

However, if you don't wash your face often, wear makeup frequently,

or use contact lenses for extended periods, these oil glands can become blocked.

This can lead to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), causing

a foreign body sensation in the eyes,

dryness in the eyes, or

inflammation of the eyelids.

MGD is one of the most common ocular surface diseases.

Problems Caused by Blocked Meibomian Glands

The role of the lipid layer produced by the eyes is to

prevent tears from evaporating quickly,

help eye drops absorb well into the eye,

create a barrier to protect against waste products and pollution, and

act as a lubricant to reduce friction inside the eyelids.

If this function is blocked,

eye drops may not absorb well,

waste products can easily accumulate in the eyes,

and the eyes can become stiff and dry,

leading to dry eye syndrome.

In more severe cases,

eyelid inflammation called blepharitis can occur,

and very rarely, it can develop into sebaceous gland carcinoma.

Therefore, if you notice white or yellowish foreign matter

coming from your eyes, you must visit a nearby ophthalmologist

for an examination.

How to Clean Meibomian Glands?

If the symptoms mentioned above are mild, you can

clean them periodically as follows:

How to Clean Meibomian Glands
‘Supplies: Towel, Cotton Swab, Artificial Tears’
1. Apply a warm steam towel or a warm eye massager to your eyes for about 7-10 minutes. (Temperature 40-45 degrees Celsius)
2. Gently massage around the meibomian glands to promote the expulsion of waste products. *Avoid excessive pressure as it can strain the eyes; proceed as gently as possible.
3. Using a cotton swab, gently press the upper eyelid from top to bottom. (If your vision blurs at this point, it's a sign that waste products are being expelled.)
4. Similarly, gently press the lower eyelid from bottom to top.
5. Once as much waste product as possible has been expelled, take a new cotton swab, moisten it with saline solution or lukewarm water, and gently wipe from the base of the eyelashes.
6. Finish with a final rinse using preservative-free artificial tears. Source: Gangnam Smile Eye Clinic

However, when using cotton swabs, ensure they are not contaminated,

and it is very important for eye health to use sterile products

if possible.

The fundamental solution is simple.

You need to squeeze out the waste products from the blocked oil glands,

but doing it yourself is not easy.

Especially, squeezing them out with a cotton swab like popping a pimple

is dangerous as it can cause injury to the cornea or eye.

If you have severe dry eye symptoms, we recommend visiting a nearby ophthalmologist

to have your meibomian glands cleaned professionally.

How Often Should Meibomian Glands Be Cleaned?

Typically, cleaning once every 2-3 days is sufficient.

However, if you frequently wear eye makeup and contact lenses,

it is best to clean them once in the morning and once in the evening.

‘Conclusion’

If you have read this post to the end,

I believe you now understand the importance and necessity of

meibomian gland cleaning.

Especially, since we use our eyes all day long,

they can easily get tired, and when not managed, direct

after-effects or problems do not appear quickly,

making it difficult to notice when a problem arises.

If your eyes feel stiff or

uncomfortable while reading this article, do not

consider it a temporary symptom. We recommend visiting an ophthalmologist

for regular check-ups

once every 1-3 months.

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