Meibography in Santa Monica
See what is happening inside your eyelids. Meibography is a quick, comfortable infrared scan that shows the structure of your oil glands and helps us tailor your dry eye treatment.
What is meibography?
Meibography is a non-invasive infrared imaging test of the meibomian glands, the tiny oil glands along your eyelids that are essential to a stable tear film. By capturing images of the glands, measuring the tear lipid layer and calculating tear film stability, it gives us a comprehensive view of your eyelid health.
Why it matters
Meibomian gland dysfunction is a leading cause of dry eye, and it can progress before symptoms become severe. Imaging lets us see gland shortening, dropout or blockage directly, so we can diagnose accurately and choose the right treatment.
Repeat scans over time show how your glands respond to treatment, which helps us refine your plan.
What to expect
The test is fast and painless. Your doctor gently turns the eyelid while the camera captures images, then walks you through the results on screen. There are no drops or recovery time.
- Takes only a few minutes
- No contact with the eye surface
- Results reviewed with you during the visit
Questions, answered
Is meibography uncomfortable?
No. The scan is quick and comfortable, and nothing touches the surface of your eye.
Who should have meibography?
It is especially helpful for anyone with dry eye symptoms, contact lens discomfort, blepharitis, or planned eye surgery.
Can damaged glands recover?
Treatments such as IPL, radiofrequency and gland expression can improve gland function. Early diagnosis gives the best chance of preserving healthy glands.