TearCare MGD Treatment

Meibum (or oil) is produced by oil glands (the meibomian glands) located inside the upper and lower eyelids. When we blink completely, the oil glands are able to express lubricating oils which seals in the moisture (aka: prevents your tears from evaporation). Think about it like Italian dressing - oil sits on top and water on the bottom. This oil becomes an important key to MGD.

An astonishing 86% of dry eye patients present with MGD (meibomian gland dysfunction)! MGD is associated with an increased bacterial overpopulation (blepharitis), which leads to eye inflammation. 

Furthermore, in MGD patients the oil glands stop producing a healthy oil (clear and liquid meibum) and instead, produce thick, viscous and toothpaste-like meibum. The change in this oil consistency leads the oil glands to become blocked and constipated. A hardened oil cannot be excreted when we blink which therefore leads to dry eye symptoms.

Dry eye is a late manifestation of blepharitis. Blepharitis occurs from the chronic accumulation of bacteria and its biofilm in the eyelids and lashes. Bacteria release exotoxins onto the front surface of the eye which in turn leads to a slippery slope of inflammation. This inflammatory cascade continues until it starts affecting other structures of the eye like the lacrimal gland and the damage becomes irreversible.

Warm compresses are a wonderful option for home therapy for mild dry eye, however they are only considered a palliative form of treatment. Warm compresses relieve pain/discomfort but are unable to treat the root cause of the condition because the heat cannot be maintained to reach the melting point of the oil glands inside the eyelids.

It is highly recommended to perform BlephEx or ZEST prior to oil gland expression to get the best results. An exfoliation of the eyelids helps remove biofilm, blepharitis, demodex mites, removes oil gland caps, and cleans the orifices of your oil glands. This allows for a more effortless expression of the oil glands.

We always recommend preventative treatment! Asymptomatic MGD affects over 20% of the population and it is 2x as common as symptomatic MGD. MGD is a chronic, progressive abnormality of the oil glands and it may result in symptoms of eye irritation/redness, inflammation, and other ocular surface disease presentations. Preventative treatment is very important and I like to think about it like teeth cleaning. We get them done on a regular basis even if we have minimal plaque or no cavities. With the same concept in mind, we would not start dental cleanings only once majority of our teeth are in severe decay or once gingivitis is severely advanced. Preventative treatment is key to good eyelid health.

As of now, there are no insurance policies that coverage at this time. TearCare is actively working on reimbursement at the moment.

An advanced dry eye treatment and procedures of this kind is around $1000 as a patient-pay procedure. This will vary by practice and location. Please contact our office for specific pricing.