Research Progress on the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Using External Therapies in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Corresponding author: Zuo Tao², zuotao@protonmail.com

DOI: 10.12201/bmr.202609.00023

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  Abstract: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a prevalent and common disease in clinical practice and represents one of the most frequently encountered ophthalmic disorders. Its primary clinical manifestations include dry eye, ocular pain, and blurred vision. MGD has a high prevalence, can occur at any age, and is particularly common in middle-aged and elderly populations. Due to its complex etiology and diverse clinical symptoms, MGD is characterized by insidious onset and a protracted course, which significantly impair patients’ quality of life and physical and mental health. Current Western medicine treatments are largely limited to topical symptomatic interventions on the ocular surface, providing only short-term relief of ocular symptoms. In contrast, external therapies of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a distinctive modality of TCM, are not only diverse but also safe, effective, and environmentally friendly, demonstrating significant advantages in the treatment of this disease. This article reviews recent literature on commonly used TCM external therapies for MGD, including Chinese herbal fumigation, Chinese herbal nebulization, acupuncture, thunder-fire moxibustion, and acupoint massage, with the aim of providing a useful reference for clinical management.

  Key words: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction; TCM External Therapies; Chinese Herbal Fumigation; Chinese Herbal Nebulization; Acupuncture; Thunder-Fire Moxibustion; Acupoint Massage; Research Progress

  Submit time: 14 September 2026

  Copyright: The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted biomedRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity.
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  1	2026-08-08	10.12201/bmr.202609.00023V1	Download

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