QUESTION: I constantly get little white bumps on the eyelid margin. Once I had 3 on my left eye and 4 on my right at the same time. What are they? Should I be worried? 

There are 2 types of CLOGGED MEIBOMIAN OIL GLANDS in this life. Patients that have these little white bumps on their eyelid margins that KNOW about it. And patients that have these little white bumps on their eyelid margins that DON'T know they are even there. In either case, CLOGGED MEIBOMIAN OIL GLANDS deserve your attention.

 

What Are Those Little White Bumps?

CLOGGED MEIBOMIAN OIL GLANDS Explained

 

Your meibomian oil glands live right on the eyelid margin. They secrete the oily layer of your tears, preventing evaporation. When these glands become blocked, oil builds up, forming tiny white or yellowish bumps. You’re witnessing the very gland openings being obstructed. Not good.

 

 

 

Should You Be Worried?

Yes. Whenever I see a patient with these white dots along the eyelid margin, I'm immediately concerned for Meibomain Gland Dysfunction (MGD). These white dots happen because there is an inflammatory response happening at the level of the oil gland of the eyelid. It can be early, mild MGD. It can also be late, severe MGD.

 

In mild cases, I start a cleansing eye care routine to PREVENT flare ups. In severe cases, the patient is usually having a flare up. Here I start prescription medication, supplements, and a cleansing eye care routine. Symptoms of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction are not fun. They can also start out quite subtle and grow into debilitating symptoms if left untreated. 

 

Common MGD Symptoms

• • Dry, scratchy eyes and fluctuating vision

  • Contact lens discomfort

  • Eye makeup intolerance

How to Manage and Prevent CLOGGED MEIBOMIAN OIL GLANDS

 

1. Warm Compress & Massage: Heat is your friend. Use Focused Eye Roll for 30 seconds a day to unclog CLOGGED MEIBOMIAN GLANDS. 
2. Gentle Eyelid Scrub: Add 1 drop of Tea Tree (brown label) or Rosemary (green label) Eyelid & Eyelash Cleansing Oil on Eyelid Margin Scrub Brush. Gently scrub along the eyelid margin to exfoliate the meibomian gland open to allow an exit site for oil flow. 
3. Foaming Lid Cleanser: Finish the double cleanse Tea Tree (blue label) or SuperGLA (purple label) Eyelid & Eyelash Foaming Cleanser to wash away any residue. If this step is skipped, build up can happen making clogs worse. 
4. Repeat Daily: Be consistent. Follow all the steps once a day before bedtime. 

 

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT: Posterior Blepharitis System

For a complete approach, I recommend our Posterior Blepharitis / MGD Cleansing System. It utilizes 2 cleansers and 2 tools to clear blockages and restore meibomian gland function.

 

TL;DR

Yikes. Those are clogged meibomian oil glands. You likely have MGD. Ask your optometrist for a diagnosis. In the meantime clean your eyes with my MGD Cleansing System daily.

 

 

 

Hi, I’m Dr. Tanya Gill, optometrist and founder of We Love Eyes. I started We Love Eyes in 2014 while trying to help one of my (stubborn) patients with contact lens discomfort. In 2016, I had 3 products. Fast forward to today - We Love Eyes has almost 30 SKUs. It’s been an amazing journey. Explore my life’s work at weloveeyes.com. Check out my BLEPHARITIS COLLECTION section to find healthy eye care products for your eye problem. I also have a ton of content at TIKTOK. See the profile page and see the playlist MGD. xo

 

 

 

 

 

• CLOGGED MEIBOMIAN OIL GLANDS

• eyelid margin bumps

• meibomian gland dysfunction

• posterior blepharitis system

• eyelid hygiene routine

• warm compress for eyes

• We Love Eyes blepharitis

• lid massage techniques