Dry eye / Blepharitis / Meibomian gland disease

Dry eye is a common disorder affecting over 340million people worldwide. It tends to get worse with age and is the most common reason for people to seek ophthalmic advice. 

It may be caused by a lack of tears (aqueous deficiency) or by an unstable tear film that is then prone to breaking up / evaporating (evaporative / mixed) and it may lead to several symptoms ranging from dry, gritty, tired eyes through to pain, redness and reduced vision. 

A common cause of dry eye is blepharitis and meibomian gland disease which causes inflammation of the eyelids and meibomian glands resulting in a reduction in the outer oily layer of the tears. This makes the tears unstable and more prone to breaking up and evaporation.

Dry eye causes inflammation of the ocular surface which in turns reduces the tear quality and volume thus worsening the condition in a cyclical manner. It is essential that any treatment aims to control the inflammation as well as the tear deficiency and instability.