Meibomianitis

Written byCourtney Dryer, OD

Last updated December 15, 2022

What Is Meibomianitis?

Many individuals experience eye irritation. Sometimes the irritation is caused by eyelid inflammation, which can worsen with time. Inflammation of the meibomian glands of the eyelid is called meibomianitis.

Meibomian glands are oil glands located in your upper and lower eyelids. These oil glands have tiny openings that release oil into the tear film of the eye providing your eyes with lubrication. If meibomian glands become blocked, they do not function as they should.

Key Points

Meibomianitis is chronic inflammation of the meibomian glands that can affect both your upper and lower eyelids.
Meibomian glands are oil glands that consist of tiny openings that release oil, and their key function is to lubricate your eyes.
Symptoms of meibomianitis include eye discomfort, blurry vision, swelling, redness

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Understanding Meibomianitis

There are approximately 31 glands in the upper lid and around 26 glands in the lower lid, with the upper lid glands being around 5.5 millimeters in length, and the lower lid glands being around 2 millimeters in length. Each gland is roughly 1 millimeter wide. Meibomianitis is an inflammatory type of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Studies have linked meibomian gland dysfunction to dry eye disease and trouble wearing contact lenses.

Risk Factors

Though the exact cause is unknown, there are many factors that may put you at risk for meibomianitis.

Age
Meibomian gland function declines with age much like other glands or organs. Proper diagnosis and treatment of MGD and meibomianitis can help reduce ocular symptoms.

Low Humidity
Living in an area with low humidity increases tear evaporation and can lead to dry eyes. Both air conditioning and heat can make symptoms worse.

Overwear of Contact Lenses
Contact lenses may dry out your eyes. Using preservative-free artificial tears or switching to daily disposable lenses can improve eye health.

Unhealthy Diet
Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for healthy eyes. You can improve eye health by eating omega-3 fatty acid-rich food including flax seed, olives, plant oils, seafood, eggs, yogurt, and juices.

Hormones
Androgens regulate the function of both the lacrimal and meibomian glands. If you are deficient in androgen, which can occur during menopause, you are at risk for MGD and dry eye disease.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of meibomianitis include:

Uncomfortable, irritated eyes
Inconsistent blurry vision (may improve when you blink)
Swollen, red eyelid margins
Watery, red eyes

Diagnosis

When you begin to experience symptoms of meibomianitis, make an appointment to see your eye care specialist. Both optometrists and ophthalmologists can diagnose and manage meibomianitis.

Your eye doctor will ask about your medical history including systemic and ocular medications. Then they may use sophisticated imaging called meibography to view your glands.
Further, your doctor may use a tool to express your glands and squeeze out the oil to determine its consistency.

Meibomianitis Treatment

Your eye doctor may recommend treatment to take better care of your eyelids. For instance, good eyelid hygiene may include a warm compress and lid cleanser.
Oral antibiotics like tetracyclines may reduce inflammation and improve meibomian gland function.
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help enhance your diet.
Lid treatments using heat may be recommended if the condition is more severe.

Sources

Schaumberg, Debra A., et al. “The International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Report of the Subcommittee on the Epidemiology Of, and Associated Risk Factors For, MGD.” Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, vol. 52, no. 4, 30 Mar. 2011, p. 1994, 10.1167/iovs.10-6997e.
National Institutes of Health. “Office of Dietary Supplements – Omega-3 Fatty Acids.” Nih.gov, 2017, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/.
“Meibomianitis- Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis – by Dr. Harshavardhan Ghorpade.” Lybrate, www.lybrate.com/topic/meibomianitis-causes-symptoms-and-diagnosis/a6efaa076bfca145386574d82a900893. Accessed 2 Aug. 2022.
Chhadva, Priyanka, et al. “Meibomian Gland Disease.” Ophthalmology, vol. 124, no. 11, Nov. 2017, pp. S20–S26, 10.1016/j.ophtha.2017.05.031.
Suzuki T. Inflamed Obstructive Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Causes Ocular Surface Inflammation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018 Nov 1;59(14):DES94-DES101. doi: 10.1167/iovs.17-23345. PMID: 30481812.
Henriquez AS, Korb DR. Meibomian glands and contact lens wear. Br J Ophthalmol. 1981 Feb;65(2):108-11. doi: 10.1136/bjo.65.2.108. PMID: 7459311; PMCID: PMC1039437.
Bron AJ, Benjamin L, Snibson GR. Meibomian gland disease. Classification and grading of lid changes. Eye (Lond) 1991;5 ( Pt 4):395-411.
Abusharha AA, Pearce EI. The effect of low humidity on the human tear film. Cornea. 2013 Apr;32(4):429-34. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e31826671ab. PMID: 23023409.
Sullivan DA, Sullivan BD, Evans JE, Schirra F, Yamagami H, Liu M, Richards SM, Suzuki T, Schaumberg DA, Sullivan RM, Dana MR. Androgen deficiency, Meibomian gland dysfunction, and evaporative dry eye. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Jun;966:211-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04217.x. PMID: 12114274.