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Glenn Howerton Opens Up About His Battle with Dry Eye Disease and New Hope for Relief
Glenn Howerton, best known for his role as Dennis Reynolds on the long-running comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has shared a candid account of his ongoing struggle with dry eye disease (DED). The 50-year-old actor took to Instagram on August 28 to detail the challenges he has faced with this persistent condition over many years.
“For decades I’ve struggled with persistent DED causing my eyes to be chronically red and irritated,” Howerton revealed. He noted that this has been especially difficult given his on-camera career, where appearance is crucial.
Howerton attributed his dry eye issues primarily to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a disorder affecting the oil-producing glands in the eyelids. Despite trying a variety of conventional treatments, he found no relief.
“Nothing worked. In fact, they all made the problem worse because none of them addressed the fact that the glands themselves were blocked,” he explained.
A turning point came three months ago when Howerton sought treatment from Dr. Steven Maskin in Tampa, Florida.
Dr. Maskin uses an innovative technique called “meibomian gland probing” to unblock the glands, and Howerton reports seeing “significant improvement for the first time,” although the condition hasn’t completely resolved.
Motivated by his experience, Howerton is encouraging eye care professionals to consider Dr. Maskin’s protocols, hoping to help others suffering from this often debilitating condition. “His protocols have helped countless patients including myself, manage this frustrating and often debilitating condition,” he wrote.
Beyond his health update, Howerton reflected on his career with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. He admitted that before season 12, he felt the urge to explore new opportunities and considered leaving the show. Ultimately, he stayed on and continued contributing as both a writer and executive producer.
Fans can catch new episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on FXX Mondays at 9 p.m. ET and stream past seasons on Hulu.