Meibomian glandular dysfunction

Standard treatment involves:

• Careful cleansing of the edges of the lids
• Applying moist heat to the affected eye

These treatments will usually reduce symptoms.

Your health care provider may prescribe an antibiotic ointment to be applied to the lid edge.

Other treatments may include:

• Meibomian gland expression, performed by an eye doctor, to help clear the glands of the secretions
• Insertion of a small tube (cannula) into each gland opening to wash out thickened oil
• Several weeks of tetracycline antibiotics

Any general skin condition such as acne or rosacea may also require treatment.

Meibomianitis is not a vision-threatening condition. However, it may be a chronic and recurring cause of eye irritation. Many people find the treatments frustrating because results are not often immediate. Treatment, however, will often help reduce symptoms.

Call your health care provider if treatment does not lead to improvement or if styes develop.

Images

Eye anatomy

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Meibomianitis Symptoms

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Meibomianitis Prevention

Review Date: 07/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)