及早察覺瞼板腺功能障礙 Early detection of Meibomian gland dysfunction

瞼板腺是人體中最辛勤工作的組織之一。它們晝夜不停地運作,製造足夠的油脂分泌出來,凝成及維持穩定的淚膜,減少淚液蒸發,潤滑和保護眼球表面,並確保清晰的視力。這些腺體位於眼瞼內,隨著年齡的增長,以及環境因素和其他影響的影響,它們的數量會逐漸減少。並失去油脂分泌功能,最終萎縮。

瞼板腺功能障礙的初期症狀通常很輕微,許多人可能只是偶爾使用潤滑眼藥水。因此,他們可能直到感到不適才意識到問題所在,而不適通常是在腺體功能嚴重喪失後出現的。當您開始感到嚴重的眼睛不適時,您的瞼板腺功能可能已經喪失了近一半。

雖然一般的居家照護措施(例如使用熱敷、保持眼瞼衛生、保持眼部衛生以及服用歐米伽-3等營養補充劑)可能有所幫助,但它們只是輔助性質。有效的治療需要在診所進行專業的治療。如果沒有及時適當的護理,可能會出現更嚴重的症狀,導致眼球表面損傷、視力模糊,並嚴重影響生活品質。

近年在乾眼症及治療瞼板腺功能障礙的技術上,也突破性的發展。現在更了解清楚乾眼症的成因及病理,可以針對性,精準地,同時處理多方面的病因。更有效,快速及安全地治療,在短時間內改善乾眼徵狀、且效果更可維持半年或以上。

Meibomian glands are among the hardest-working tissues in the body. They work around the clock to produce enough oily secretion to form and maintain a stable tear film, reduce tear evaporation, lubricate and protect the surface of the eyeball, and ensure clear vision. These glands are located in the eyelids, and as we age, along with exposure to environmental factors and other influences, their number gradually decreases. They also tend to lose their oil-secreting function and can eventually atrophy.

The initial symptoms of meibomian gland dysfunction are often subtle, and many people may only occasionally use lubricating eye drops. As a result, they may not recognise the problem until they experience discomfort, which can occur after a significant loss of gland function. By the time you start experiencing substantial eye discomfort, you may have already lost nearly half of your meibomian gland function.

While general home care practices—such as using warm compresses,
Lipid-based artificial tears, maintaining lid hygiene, practicing eye hygiene, and taking nutritional supplements like omega-3—can be helpful, they are only supplementary. Effective treatment requires professional intervention at an ophthalmology clinic. Without timely and appropriate care, more serious symptoms can develop, leading to damage to the eyeball’s surface, blurred vision, and a significant impact on one’s quality of life.

In recent years, there have been breakthroughs in the technology of dry eye and treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction. Now we have a better understanding of the causes and pathology of dry eye, and we can treat multiple causes in a targeted, precise and simultaneous manner. More effective, fast and safe treatment can improve dry eye symptoms in a short period of time, and the effect can last for half a year or more.