WHAT IS MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION?

What are Meibomian Glands?

Meibomian Glands are the tiny oil glands which line the margin of the eyelids. These glands secrete oil which coats the surface of our eyes and keeps the water component of our tears from evaporating (drying out). Together, the water and the oil layer make up the tear film.

The tear film lubricates and keeps the surface of our eyes healthy; it also affects how we see. If either the water or oil layer is decreased or is of poor quality, we may have symptoms of irritation and/or blurred vision.

What is MGD?

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) refers to the condition where the glands are not secreting enough oil or when the oil they secrete is of poor quality. Often the oil gland openings get plugged up so that less oil comes out of the glands. The oil that does make it out of the glands can be granular or crusty and unhealthy which can cause irritation.

MGD is vey common in the early stages, patients are often asymptomatic but if left untreated, MGD can cause or exacerbate dry eye symptoms and eyelid inflammation. The oil glands become blocked with thickened secretions. Chronically clogged glands eventually become unable to secrete oil which results in permanent changes in the tear film and dry eyes. Symptoms include dryness, burning, itching, crustiness, watering, light sensitivity, red eyes, foreign body sensation and styes.

by Dr Lisa Tan Sor Earn Consultant Ophthalmologist and Refractive Surgeon

What is the treatment for MGD?

There are various ways to improve eyelid/eyelash hygiene to clear off the dead skin, oil and bacteria which build up. Because this is a chronic condition, treatment and prevention treatment must be done every day and should include all or some of the following:

• Warm compresses

• Lid scrubs and massage, meibomian gland expression

• Omega 3 fatty acids: Flaxseed and Fish oil

Lid hygiene helps remove oil, bacteria and debris which block the oil gland openings. Use a Q-tip or a warm washcloth on the tips of your fingers to gently scrub along the lash line on the top and bottom eyelids. You can use dilute baby shampoo (a few drops in a small cup of water). Lid scrubs should be done once a day.

Alternatively, eyelid wipes are designed specifically to be gentle and effective at cleansing the fragile area around the eyelids and lashes.

For more advanced MGD, BlephEx is a painless in-office procedure performed by trained technician to very precisely spin a soft medical grade micro-sponge along the edge of your eyelids and lashes. This procedure effectively removes years of accumulated bacterial biofilm.

DENTAL Chewing Gum For Oral Health?

We’ve all heard that candy is not good for oral health as they can increase the likelihood of cavities forming. However, this isn’t entirely true, as some types of chewing gum can help you keep your oral health in check. Together with Dr. Sylvia Lim of Phi Dental, let’s take a look at how chewing gum can lead to better oral health in the long run.

First of all, let me get this out of the way. Like everything in life, doing or eating an excessive amount of something isn’t always good for our health in general. The same goes for chewing gum. Plus, to be more specific when it comes to this topic, Dr. Sylvia states that chewing SUGARLESS gum is good for oral health. It’s been shown to increase saliva flow, therefore reducing plaque acid, strengthening the teeth, and reducing tooth decay.

However, sugarless gum doesn’t necessarily mean gum that doesn’t taste good. Chewing gum that contains a natural sweetener called Xylitol can effectively prevent cavities. Xylitol also helps neutralise acids made by bacteria, keeping tooth enamel strong, which is an important benefit in fighting tooth decay. Some chewing gum have added casein phosphopeptideamorphous calcium phosphate, or Raceldent for short. This substance has been shown to remineralise or slow down tooth decay. However, those who are allergic to milk are advised to stay away from any products containing Recaldent. Another note is, for anyone who is suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, keep in mind chewing gum excessively can strain your jaw and worsen your symptoms.

So, when should you chew gum? Well, chewing gum for 20 minutes after a meal can help remove food debris and increase your saliva flow. Saliva actually strengthens tooth enamel as it carries phosphate and calcium. We don’t suggest chewing gum all day, maybe limiting it to five or six pieces per day. Like I mentioned above, chewing gum after or between meals is good practice.

There you go, if you’re an avid gum chewer, this is definitely good news. Chewing gum does have health benefits that keep your mouth healthy. Do keep in mind that this mainly applies for sugarless chewing gum and not doing excessively throughout your day.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash