Why lubricating eye drops don’t cure dry eyes?

The tear film requires a lady of lipid to prevent the water layer in the tear film to evaporate. Marginal Gland Disease or meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is caused by medications, eye drops with preservative, hormones and previous eye surgeries. MGD reduces the production of the lipid layer. That can be improved by eg Intense pulse light therapy or heat treatment. Lubricating eye drops do not help with the lipid layer and that is why dry eyes are not cured with them. Anti-inflammatory eye drops like steroids and cyclosporin (restasis, ikervis) are also helpful with the inflammation caused by the toxins of the dry eyes but do not treat the MGD.