Meibomian gland dysfunction

[Isla28]

Good Afternoon, I’m new here.
I have recently been diagnosed with Meibomian gland dysfunction which is causing evaporative dry eye and my eyes are constantly so sore and stinging. I have been advised to do warm compresses on my eyes as often as I can followed my eyelid massages to try and unblock the oil glands which has been working well. However, I’m getting myself really down because I’m only 28 and every time I put make up on around my eyes, especially mascara it causes my eyes to sting and my upper eyelids to slightly swell. Does anyone else on here have the same thing and if so are there any mascaras anyone could recommend I try?
Thank you in advance :)

I have also been diagnosed with this but think there must be different levels as my warm massages have produced tiddly squat! All that has happened is my eyes are bloodshot and upper eyelids wrinkly. As to wearing eye makeup, I rarely wear any so not much help at all I'm impressed that you managed to get gunk out though - perhaps I'm doing it wrong!

Im so sorry you are going through the same thing. I’m not sure if I’m getting much gunk out but it definitely helps relieve the discomfort in my eyes when I remember to do the heat compresses. Can I ask what your symptoms are? Do your eyes also sting?

@Lifestooshort71 Im so sorry you are going through the same thing. I’m not sure if I’m getting much gunk out but it definitely helps relieve the discomfort in my eyes when I remember to do the heat compresses. Can I ask what your symptoms are? Do your eyes also sting?

I have this too. I would advise you to skip the makeup until you can get your eyes to settle. Have you looked into getting IPL treatment? This is specifically designed to unblock the glands. Usually it's a course of 4 sessions, each one followed by gland expression.

No stinging but then I'm a lot older than you so perhaps a different cause? I do put dry eye drops in which seems to help. If you have any eye issue though, is it best to avoid eye makeup as it might block the glands up again? But what do I know! It must be depressing at your age though, poor thing 😢 did they give you any idea when it might clear up? 💐

I have this, and what helped me was those microwaveable eye masks. You can get gel ones to heat in hot water too. They stay hot for long enough to help unblock the glands.
I had to give up mascara but instead I found just curling my lashes and then a little flick of eyeliner from the top corner of my eye looked good. My eyes do feel loads better for it.
Hope it gets better soon!

@BoxOfCats No I haven’t looked into IPL, where can I get this?

@GardenBea i also have one of those heated eye masks which I’m trying to use as often as I can. I’m a nightmare tho because as soon as my eyes start to feel better I forgot to do it and then symptoms all come back. Can I ask how long you have had it for? Did mascara irritate your eyes aswell? I’m so gutted as I hate not wearing mascara!!

You world need to find somewhere local to you, I can't advise on that sorry. You could try asking whoever you have been seeing already. Where I live it's a specialist dry eye clinic.

I haven't officially been diagnosed recently, but can see that the glands are blocked on the bottom, inside of both lids. I had something similar many years ago. My symptoms are watery eyes, especially on the inner aspects. I very rarely wear eye make-up because it make my eyes sting and water and even a facial moisturiser seems to do the same.

I tried a hot flannel and recently bought an eye mask you put into the microwave. Neither stay hot for long! I have tried the upwards massage, but it too makes my eye skin wrinkly and does nothing. Once I've thoroughly heated up the skin, I get a cotton bud dipped in saline and gently place this on the inside of the lid. I then have another on the outside of the skin and roll it upwards against the one inside. Yes- I'm well aware this isn't an approved method and likely not recommended by anyone!

Yesterday, a tiny slither of what I assume was blocked wax came out- followed by a tiny speck of (maybe?) pus. I awoke this morning with another little speck of pus on the same spot, so I assume its draining?

@BoxOfCats Are you in the UK?

I am not, so I can't advise you on anything local to you.

I prefer a USB plug in heated eye mask. I find the microwave ones are too hot to start with, then just get cold quickly.

Hi, I have recent experience of this.
first started as red patches on my lower lids and then one became increasingly inflamed and sore.
opticians are limited on advice.
I went privately to see a consultant.
he put me on 3 months of antibiotics (did nothing)
he recommended the same- warm compresses and massage. The heat seemed to exacerbate mine. I used blephasol to clean my eyes, then bought a heated eye wand from look fantastic (stylpro), I also had a heated eye bag that the consultant had recommended! I used the wand everyday to massage my eyes. I then started using Optase eye gel. It’s a green one with yea tree oil. This now seems to be keeping it at bay. I no longer use any eye make up removers- I wonder if they were clogging my lids.
I now wash my eyes with this everyday whilst at the same time, massaging with my fingers and it’s keeping it at bay.
i really feel for you, it’s horrible

oh and I use a maybelline yellow mascara that seems to work for me but I no longer put it on my lower lids

good luck!