About a month ago, I had excessive tearing in left eye. No other symptoms at all. No pain, no redness, no swelling, no puffiness, nothing.

Saw a well-known ophthalmologist at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. He diagosed a mild case of MGD. During exam he expressed oil from the glands.The tear duct is open and healthy.

Told me to use warm compresses with a 2"x2" sterile gauze pad for only about 1 minute twice a day. And said to press down on the closed eyelid while compress is on. Said most people don't do it hard enough but to be careful not to do it too hard. He prescribed azithromycin eye drops (this is a pretty new eye antibiotic and requires application only twice a day for first 2 days, then once a day for 5 more days....need to use it less times per day...better patient compliance) I have no infection, but he said he wanted me to use this prophylactically, to prevent infection.

After this, I should continue the compresses for life, since this is not "curable", but "treatable".

My question is- I'm still not clear about the massage technique on this...he's telling me to simply apply pressure on closed eyelid (on/off/on/off...like "dabbing". But I keeping reading different ways docs want you to express the oil.

So- I'd love to hear how others "express" the glands. During the compresses? After? Dabbing/pressing? Running finger (covered with sterile gauze or clean washcloth) across closed eyelid after compress?

He does not suggest scrubbing with or without baby shampoo at this time.

Thanks in advance....
zuzu