How is MGD different from dry eye?

MGD is the most common cause of dry eye. Dry eye is the symptom picture; MGD is the gland failure behind much of it.

What does meibography show?

The structure of the glands inside your eyelids — how many are present, whether they are full length, shortened, twisted, or missing.

Can meibomian gland dysfunction be cured or reversed?

It is managed. Treatment restores function to struggling glands and protects the rest; maintenance keeps them flowing.

What is meibomian gland dysfunction?

The meibomian glands sit in the eyelids, open along the lid margins and release the oil layer of the tear film, which slows evaporation. In MGD the glands block, their oil thickens and some drop out, so too little oil reaches the tears and they evaporate too quickly. It is the most common cause of dry eye.

What causes meibomian gland dysfunction?

Several things contribute: aging, hormonal changes around menopause, skin conditions such as rosacea, long screen hours with fewer and weaker blinks, and some medications such as isotretinoin (Accutane). When blinking slows, the oil can stagnate in the glands and thicken, and glands shrink with age, which is why early treatment matters.

How is meibomian gland dysfunction treated?

At home: warm compresses and lid hygiene. In the office: meibography to see which glands are intact, then intense pulsed light with gland expression to melt and clear the thickened oil, gland probing for ducts that heat cannot open, and prescription drops when inflammation needs them. The plan follows what your gland images show.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Bijan Cohenmehr, OD Last reviewed October 24, 2026

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

The oil-gland problem behind most dry eye.

The meibomian glands line your eyelids and release the oil layer that keeps tears from evaporating. When these glands become clogged, inflamed, or start to shut down — meibomian gland dysfunction, or MGD — tears evaporate too quickly. It is the #1 cause of evaporative dry eye.

Book appointmentOr call 310-828-2010 Accepted insurance

What fails: The tear film’s oil layer
Key test: Meibomian gland imaging
Main treatment: IPL + gland expression
Urgency: Gland loss can be permanent

MGD can explain

Burning and grittiness that drops only briefly relieve
Watery eyes that still feel dry
Blurry vision that clears when you blink
Red, irritated eyelid margins
Contact lens discomfort late in the day

Why imaging comes first

Treating dry eye without evaluating the meibomian glands is like treating dental pain without looking at the tooth. Meibography shows how many glands remain, and whether they are blocked, shortened, or dropping out.

The IPL program →

Treatment

Protect the glands you still have.

Once a gland has fully dropped out, it may not grow back, so the goal is to find struggling glands early and restore their function.

High-resolution meibography to grade the glands and set a baseline
IPL to calm inflammation and liquefy stagnant oil
Manual gland expression while the oils are warm
Warm compresses and lid hygiene to hold the result between visits
Prescription drops when inflammation or low tear volume needs them

Cohenmehr Optometry has used this imaging-first, IPL-based approach for more than 8 years.

Risk factors

MGD risk goes up with:

Heavy screen time and incomplete blinking
Rosacea and inflammatory skin conditions
Contact lens wear
Isotretinoin (Accutane) use, past or present
Age and hormonal changes

Book a gland evaluation

Common questions

Meibomian gland dysfunction, answered.

Anything else, call the office at 310-828-2010.

MGD is the most common cause of dry eye. Dry eye is the symptom picture; MGD is the gland failure behind much of it.
The structure of the glands inside your eyelids — how many are present, whether they are full length, shortened, twisted, or missing.
It is managed. Treatment restores function to struggling glands and protects the rest; maintenance keeps them flowing.
The meibomian glands sit in the eyelids, open along the lid margins and release the oil layer of the tear film, which slows evaporation. In MGD the glands block, their oil thickens and some drop out, so too little oil reaches the tears and they evaporate too quickly. It is the most common cause of dry eye.
Several things contribute: aging, hormonal changes around menopause, skin conditions such as rosacea, long screen hours with fewer and weaker blinks, and some medications such as isotretinoin (Accutane). When blinking slows, the oil can stagnate in the glands and thicken, and glands shrink with age, which is why early treatment matters.
At home: warm compresses and lid hygiene. In the office: meibography to see which glands are intact, then intense pulsed light with gland expression to melt and clear the thickened oil, gland probing for ducts that heat cannot open, and prescription drops when inflammation needs them. The plan follows what your gland images show.

Articles

By Dr. Brandon Cohenmehr, OD

Also consider

Next step

Look at the glands, not past them.

A dry eye evaluation with meibography shows exactly where your glands stand.

Book a Dry Eye Evaluation Or call 310-828-2010