Factors that contribute to meibomian gland dysfunction can include things such as a person's age and/or hormones, or severe infestation of Demodex brevis mite.

Treatment can include warm compresses to thin the secretions and eyelid scrubs with a commercial eyelid cleanser or baby shampoo, or emptying ("expression") of the gland by a professional. Lifitegrast and ciclosporin are topical