That annoying feeling when your eyes feel dry, gritty, or like there’s sand under your eyelids often comes from blocked meibomian glands. These tiny oil-producing structures along your eyelid margins keep your tears from evaporating too quickly.
Meibomian gland expression is a simple procedure where an eye care professional applies gentle pressure to your eyelids to squeeze out thickened oils and debris from blocked glands, restoring normal oil flow and tear stability. It’s just one way we can help you find relief from frustrating dry eye symptoms.
What Are Meibomian Glands?
Your eyelids contain about 30–40 meibomian glands, each producing the oils your eyes need to stay comfortable. These oils spread across your tear film with every blink, creating a protective layer that prevents your tears from drying too quickly.
Sometimes the oils in your meibomian glands become thick and sticky, like cold honey or toothpaste. These thickened oils can clog the tiny openings of your glands, preventing normal oil flow.
Without this oil layer, your tears evaporate much faster than normal. You end up with that dry, scratchy feeling, even though your eyes might be producing plenty of tears. Your vision might get blurry after reading or computer work because your tear film isn’t staying stable.
How Expression Clears Your Blocked Glands
Think of meibomian gland expression like squeezing a tube of thick lotion. Your optometrist applies controlled pressure to push out the hardened material blocking your glands. This gentle pressure helps restore the natural flow of healthy oils.
The procedure targets each affected gland individually, working along your upper and lower eyelid margins where the gland openings are located. Professional dry eye treatment often includes this technique as part of comprehensive therapy.
What to Expect During Your Treatment Visit
Your optometrist begins by examining your eyelids and glands to identify which ones are blocked and need attention. We’ll apply topical numbing drops to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the entire treatment process.
For most patients, we combine meibomian gland expression with IRPL (Intense Regulated Pulsed Light) therapy in the same visit for optimal results. The IRPL treatment uses gentle light pulses to reduce inflammation and heat the thickened oils in your glands, making them softer and easier to express. This warming effect is more thorough and consistent than traditional warm compresses alone.
Once your glands have been warmed and the oils softened by IRPL, your optometrist uses specialized tools to apply gentle, controlled pressure along your eyelid margins, working systematically to clear each affected gland.
You’ll feel pressure as we work, but the numbing drops prevent sharp pain. The expression portion typically takes 10-15 minutes per eye. Don’t be surprised if you see a silly string-like material coming out during treatment, as that’s exactly what we want to see. It means the blockages are clearing and your glands can start functioning normally again.
What Happens Right After Treatment?
Your eyelids might feel slightly tender for a few hours after the procedure, similar to the feeling after a gentle massage. You might notice some temporary redness around your lid margins, but this typically fades quickly. If you received IRPL therapy as part of your treatment, avoid direct sun exposure for 24-48 hours and use sunscreen as recommended.
You can return to your normal activities the same day with no special restrictions or downtime needed. Many people start feeling relief within 24-48 hours as their newly cleared glands begin producing and releasing healthy oils. Your tear film becomes more stable, reducing that dry, gritty sensation.
The improvement often continues over the following days as your glands return to normal function. For patients with chronic meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), we typically recommend 3-4 initial treatments, and then follow-up treatments once or twice a year to maintain your results and prevent new blockages from forming. Your optometrist will create a personalized maintenance schedule based on the severity of your condition and how well your glands respond to treatment.
Supporting Your Meibomian Gland Health at Home
While professional treatment clears existing blockages, simple daily habits can help maintain your results and support long-term gland health.
Warm Compress Routine
Use a clean, warm compress designed specifically for eyes (such as microwavable eye masks or heated eye bags) for 5-10 minutes once or twice daily. The compress should be as hot as you can comfortably tolerate without burning your skin. This higher temperature is essential for melting the thickened oils in your glands. These reusable devices maintain consistent heat better than traditional methods, ensuring the oils stay liquefied throughout the treatment.
Eyelid Hygiene
Gently clean your eyelid margins with preservative-free eyelid wipes or foaming cleansers specifically formulated for eyes. These products are designed to remove debris and buildup without introducing bacteria. Make this part of your bedtime routine for best results.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Adding omega-3 supplements in re-esterified triglyceride form to your diet or eating more fatty fish can improve the quality of the oils your meibomian glands produce. This form is more easily absorbed and utilized by your body than standard ethyl ester supplements. Better oil quality means less thickening and fewer blockages over time.
Blink Breaks
When working on screens or reading, remember to blink fully and regularly. Incomplete or infrequent blinking reduces oil spread across your eyes and can contribute to gland dysfunction. Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds and blink deliberately.
Your optometrist will provide personalized recommendations based on your specific condition and lifestyle during your follow-up appointments.
Enjoy Comfortable Vision Again
If you’re dealing with dry, irritated eyes that don’t respond to over-the-counter drops, blocked meibomian glands might be the issue. InVision Eyecare in Saskatoon offers comprehensive dry eye diagnostics and treatment options, including meibomian gland expression, to help restore your eye comfort.
Contact us to schedule a dry eye evaluation and find the relief you’ve been looking for.
