Meibomian gland expression therapy is useful when you have dry eye due to blocked meibomian glands and you have found self-care options less effective. This therapy involves the mechanical, therapeutic expression of your meibomian glands by your eye care professional. This is done using numbing drops to make the therapy comfortable for you. Gland expression is also performed following IPL treatment for dry eyes.
Am I suitable for meibomian gland expression?
A dry eye examination gives us the information we need to determine if you will benefit from Meibomian gland expression. Or you may have a report from another eye care professional indicating you have Meibomian gland dysfunction and would benefit from lid expression for dry eyes.
How long is the appointment?
Your treatment session will last approximately 30 minutes. Before we perform lid expression for your dry eyes we first gently heat your lids for 10 minutes. this involves a heat mask over the closed eyelids. This is followed by instillation of numbing drops and gentle expression of your meibomian glands. The session is completed with an eye rinse/irrigation and anterior eye examination.
Will I have to have the therapy repeated?
Although expression of the meibomian glands is found to be effective at opening up the gland ducts and clearing stagnant glands, they can become blocked again. This has a variety of different causative factors they may be unique to you. Repeat sessions are often required to periodically maintain healthy glands.
Is Meibomian Gland Expression painful?
Meibomian gland expression is not painful as we use topical anaesthesia (eyedrops) and so the procedure is well tolerated by our patients. The drops keep the eyes numbed for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, it is important that you do not rub your eyes. Rubbing your eyes can lead to inadvertent damage to your eyes.
If you are looking for Meibomian gland expression in West London contact us below. Parking is available on site and we are close to local stations.
Ideally located just off the A4 Great West Road in Brentford, close to the BMI Syon Clinic. IQ Optometry Dry Eye Clinic can be easily reached from Chiswick, Isleworth, Osterley, Heston, Hanwell, South Ealing, Acton, North Sheen, Twickenham, Richmond and many other areas in London. If you have a question about blepharitis, why not WhatsApp on 02084224466?