Does Retinol (ie Vitamin A) Cream Used for Wrinkles Around the Eyelids Damage Meibomian Glands?

 

We do not know for sure, but I continue to see many women with severe meibomian gland atrophy without a clear cause whose only risk is the use of Retinol (ie Vitamin A) Cream around the eyelid for wrinkles. 

The only way to assess if Retinol is a significant risk factor for MGA is:

1. to do animal studies on meibomian glands (which I have not ever seen published: send me any paper you find on this) and

2. to do a prospective 

I came across a list serve from 2013 where many patients expressed a concern about using Vitamin A cream near the meibomian glands:

https://forum.dryeyezone.com/forum/archive-disease-topics-related/drug-side-effects/19621-topical-retinoid-creams-retin-a-differin-etc-can-they-underlie-des