Meibomian Gland Probing

Meibomian gland probing (MGP) is a safe and effective in-office procedure that treats the underlying cause of obstructive meibomian dysfunction by releasing scar tissue (periductal fibrosis) in and around the meibomian glands, freeing the glands from strictures that block the flow of oil (obstruction).  These strictures can occur at or near the opening of the gland, resulting in no expression of oil, or they can occur further away from the gland opening, allowing for partial expression of oil.  Studies show that expressible glands are just as likely to have nonobvious obstruction as nonexpressible glands are to have obvious obstruction and that these strictures occur in over 90% of glands in lids with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).  Depending on the location of the stricture, pressure build up behind the stricture can result in eyelid tenderness, reduced production of oil, gland wasting (atrophy), gland shortening, and even complete loss of the gland (dropout).  Following meibomian gland probing, patients can enjoy improvement in symptoms such as eyelid tenderness, burning, and light sensitivity and their meibomian glands can be restored, even regenerated.  Meibomian gland dysfunction is a progressive disease, and even after probing the meibomian glands are likely to become occluded again.  Meibomian gland probing can be repeated annually or as needed for maintenance to prevent and treat recurrent obstructions and works best when other contributing conditions are also being treated.

Commonly prescribed therapies for MGD are often ineffective, or only partially effective, because they don’t release the strictures found in the vast majority of glands with MGD.