Screen comfort
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Plain-English Introduction
Learn what meibomian glands do, how MGD relates to dry eye, and why complete blinking matters during screen work.
Meet the glands in your eyelids
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) affects how the oil glands in your eyelids work.
Meibomian glands are small glands in the eyelids that supply oil to the tear film. This oil helps limit evaporation of the watery part of tears. Their openings lie along the eyelid edges. Read the Association of Optometrists introduction to MGD.
Meibomian glands lie inside the eyelids and open along the lid edges. Simplified view.
What changes in MGD?
MGD is a persistent problem with how the meibomian glands work. According to the TFOS definition, it commonly involves blocked ducts or changes in the quality or amount of oil the glands release. See the TFOS definition of meibomian gland dysfunction.
How does MGD relate to dry eye?
MGD can contribute to evaporative dry eye by changing the supply of oil to the tear film. Other factors can also cause tears to evaporate too quickly. Read the TFOS explanation of evaporative dry eye.
Where blinking fits into the picture
Blinks help spread the oil supplied by the meibomian glands across the tear film. See how blinking redistributes the tear film.
A complete blink brings the eyelids together and helps spread a fresh tear film across the eye. Incomplete blinks can leave part of the surface without that fresh covering. Read about the benefits of complete blinking.
Support complete blinking during screen work
BlinkEasy tracks your blink rate during screen time and reminds you to pause and blink consciously. Use each reminder to let your eyelids close fully and comfortably, without squeezing.
For a closer look at the difference between complete and incomplete blinks, our guide explains how the eyelids spread tears across the eye. Understand complete and incomplete blinks.