It’s not uncommon for a person to suffer with dry eyes. In fact, anyone at any age can suffer from them and the irritation can range from mild to severe. It has been estimated that around 33 million Americans suffer with some form of dry eye syndrome, meaning that there are actually different kinds of dry eyes. In this article, we are going to explore the differences between the common dry eye syndrome and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD).
1.Dry eye is the inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea in the eye. This problem presents itself when a person has inadequate tear secretion.
MGD is an eye condition which often goes unnoticed. This is due to the problem occurring on the inside of the eyelid, within tiny glands. Essentially, these glands make the oil layer in your tears keeping the eye from drying up.
2.The cause of dry eyes is usually a result of environmental factors, such as the air con in a car or exposure to windy weather conditions. Often, the symptoms are only temporary and can be relieved by a change of environment or daily habits.
However, a person can also suffer with chronic dry eyes, which can come as a result of age, menopause, medication or another disease.
It is said that there are many more potential causes of MGD. A similarity to the cause of dry eyes is a person’s age, however their ethnicity can also play a role. Contact lenses could affect the inner eyelids as well.
Medical conditions such as high cholesterol, bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases have also been known to cause this irritation.
3.Dry eyes and MGD can feel very different, but both can be pretty uncomfortable.
The symptoms of dry eyes can be typical of what we might imagine. Itchiness, dry sensation, burning, and heavy or sore eyes can often present themselves.
In a lot of cases, MGD may not be obvious at first, especially as it occurs o the inside of the lid. However, the progression can lead to a burning or itching sensation. It has been said that this is a similar feeling to that of sand or dust landing in the eyes. At this point, the eyelid could be red and inflamed.
Often, a person’s inner rim of the eyelid might show signs of being rough in texture. All of these symptoms can contribute towards blurred or cloudy vision which is improved when the person blinks.
4.It is possible to relieve dry eye syndrome by following a few steps, although this is not guaranteed to work for every individual. For greater concerns, you should always visit your doctor.
Some people believe that dry eyes are the cause of chemicals from eye makeup products. this may be causing the irritation and burning sensation. Hence, limiting the usage could help. Similarly, protecting your eyes with sunglasses when in windy conditions or exposed to aircon could help. Plus, it wouldn’t harm to wear blue light-blocking glasses when using a computer.
For MGD, many people believe that you can use a warm compress over the eye to loosen the oils. A light massage has been proven to improve the oil production in some cases.
Eye drops could also be useful for both problems, but again, this is not a guaranteed fix. Depending on a person’s current health conditions and the severity of the eye condition, a trip to the doctor’s office may be more valuable. As with anything, it can be useful to get to grips with some basics before you start exploring treatment options for yourself.