Dry eyes is a chronic condition that can be debilitating that patients deal with on a daily basis.  The symptoms of dry eyes can range from occasional tearing to fluctuating or compromised vision, constant redness and burning, gritty sensations.  Often people live with dry eye symptoms, thinking it is part of aging and the discomfort is the new normal.  Dry eyes causes can be many from staring at a computer/phone for hours, certain medications, hormonal changes and environmental factors. 

​Meibomian Gland Dysfunction is the leading cause of dry eyes in about 85% of patients.  These large sebaceous meibomian glands release a clear oily substance into the tear film to help protect the ocular surface.  The oily layer stabilizes the aqueous layer allowing it not to evaporate and lowering surface tensions.  
Meibomian glands can get obstructed or blocked due to keratinized cell debris and increase in meibum viscosity.  This leads to a decrease of the oily lipid layer to the tear film allowing the tears to evaporate, destabilizing the tear film. 
A destabilized tear film also leads to inflammation creating a vicious cycle of irritation and discomfort.
Dry eye is treated in different ways to help bring homeostasis to the tear film, bringing patient comfort.  ​