Newer treatment options are becoming available such as intense pulsed light treatment, surgery options, and immune based eye drops. MGD is a common condition seen in both children and adults. Please be sure to follow the directions for any antibiotics prescribed for MGD, they may be different than what you have done with antibiotics for other problems. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe either an antibiotic eye drop, an antibiotic eye ointment or antibiotics by mouth. Please talk to your child’s pediatrician to be sure that omega-3 vitamins are safe for your child.Īlthough MGD is not an eyelid infection, antibiotics can help with the inflammation and bacteria that cause MGD. If your child can take pills, there are several over the counter tablets/capsules which can be taken instead. There are several companies which make “kid friendly” fish oil and flax seed oil liquids and gummies (Nordic Naturals and Barleans are two examples). Do not use flax seed oil if your child is on blood-thinning medication or blood-sugar lowering medication. Mix with juice, smoothies, or hot cereal. For flax seed oil, try 1 teaspoon/day for toddlers or 1 tablespoon/day for older children. Omega-3 fatty acids can help the meibomian glands make better oils to moisturize the eyes.įlax seed oil and fish oil are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to the above treatments, studies show that boosting your child’s diet with essential (omega-3) fatty acids can help with MGD. Eyelid scrubs may need to be done once a day or few times a week, depending on what your ophthalmologist recommends.Ĥ) OMEGA- 3 FATTY ACID: FLAX SEED and FISH OIL Ask your ophthalmologist if you have questions about what types of soaps to use. It is best to use a soap which will not burn or irritate the eyes. You can use a mild soap like Cetaphil or CeraVe or dilute baby shampoo (a few drops in a small cup of water). Use a Q-tip, your fingers, or a warm washcloth on the tips of your fingers to gently wipe along the eyelashes on the top and bottom eyelids. Washing the eyelids helps remove oil, bacteria and crusting which can block the oil gland openings. Using too much pressure with massage may cause pain and more irritation, so be careful not to press too hard on the eyelids. Pressure from the thumb and pointer finger may also be used to massage the eyelids. Roll the finger upward on the lower lid while looking up, then roll the finger downward on the upper lid while looking down. Older children and teenagers may perform the massage by themselves once they understand the technique. Apply light pressure with your fingertips to the lid margin just above the eyelashes. Massage can be done immediately after applying the warm compress. Speak with your ophthalmologist if you have questions about this treatment. These machines are used in the office to heat eyelids for longer periods of time and can be helpful in cases of failed regular at-home warm compress treatments. In the recent years, electronic eyelid heating devices have become available. As this is a chronic condition, warm compresses may be needed for weeks to months. Warm compresses should be done at least twice a day when the MGD symptoms are bad, and once a day to keep MGD from coming back or getting worse. There are also eye masks and pads with gel beads that can be warmed in the microwave and used for warm compresses. Place a warm (not too hot) wet washcloth gently to the closed eyes to apply heat on the eyelids. They may also discuss ways to improve eyelid/eyelash health by cleaning off crusting, dead skin, oil and bacteria that build up on the eyelid margins.Īpplying heat to the eyelid margins helps oils flow better out of the eyelid glands and melts the “thickened” oil that is blocking the eyelid glands. Your ophthalmologist may recommend one or more of these treatments depending on the severity of MGD. These include warm compresses, antibiotic or steroid eye drops, artificial tear eye drops, and antibiotics by mouth. There are different treatments to help MGD. ![]() ![]() These different signs and symptoms of MGD may come about slowly and may be hard to see. Foreign body sensation or the feeling that something (like dirt or sand) is in the eyesĮyelid inflammation from MGD may also cause styes or chalazia to form on the eyelids.Clogged glands eventually disappear and become unable to make oils for the eye. In the early stages, patients may not notice anything, but if left untreated, MGD can cause eye symptoms. HOW DOES Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) AFFECT THE EYES? These signs may be seen with a microscope in the ophthalmologist’s office. Lower eyelid with signs of MGD: Clogged oil glands, small blood vessels (arrows) by the oil glands and redness of the eye. von Noorden Young Investigator Awardįigure 1.
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