Does gland probing hurt?

With numbing gel, most patients describe pressure and small pop-like releases rather than pain; lids can feel tender for a day.

How do you know I need probing instead of more IPL?

Imaging plus expression testing: glands that remain sealed and unproductive despite therapy — yet look intact on meibography — are the probing candidates.

Is meibomian gland probing a one-time procedure?

Often one thorough session reopens the sealed ducts; some patients benefit from a repeat if obstruction reforms. Maintenance therapy protects the result.

Will probing bring dead glands back?

No — it reopens blocked doors, it doesn’t rebuild rooms. That’s exactly why candidacy is image-guided.

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

Meibomian Gland Probing in Los Angeles

For the glands that heat can’t melt open.

Most blocked meibomian glands respond to warmth, expression, IPL and OptiLIFT. A stubborn few are sealed harder than that — fixed, scar-like obstruction at the duct itself. Probing addresses exactly those: a fine, sterile probe gently reopens each sealed duct under numbing gel, so the gland behind it can flow again.

Book appointmentOr call 310-828-2010 Accepted insurance

For: Fixed obstruction that resists therapy
How: A fine probe reopens the duct
Comfort: Topical numbing; brief pressure
Pairs with: Expression, IPL, OptiLIFT after

The procedure

Minutes per lid, under numbing.

01
Confirm the target
Meibography and expression testing identify the true probing candidates: glands that stay sealed despite heat and treatment.
02
Numb the margin
Anesthetic gel quiets the lid edge; most patients feel pressure and tiny releases rather than pain.
03
Reopen each duct
A fine sterile probe passes a few millimeters into each blocked opening, releasing the fibrotic band sealing it.
04
Put the glands to work
Expression (and often IPL or OptiLIFT in the same plan) moves oil through the newly opened ducts so they stay open.

Probing reopens ducts; it doesn’t regrow glands. That is why we choose candidates from imaging: glands with life behind the blockage.

Who it helps

The signs you’ve outgrown heat alone.

Lid margins stay tender and inflamed despite faithful compresses
Expression yields little or nothing from certain glands
Recurrent styes and chalazia keep forming at the same spots
Imaging shows intact glands trapped behind sealed openings

For those patients, probing is often the turn in the road: obstruction relieved at the source, then the rest of the dry eye program finally gets traction.

In the program

One tool in a sequenced plan.

Book a gland evaluation

Common questions

Gland probing, answered.

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

With numbing gel, most patients describe pressure and small pop-like releases rather than pain; lids can feel tender for a day.
Imaging plus expression testing: glands that remain sealed and unproductive despite therapy — yet look intact on meibography — are the probing candidates.
Often one thorough session reopens the sealed ducts; some patients benefit from a repeat if obstruction reforms. Maintenance therapy protects the result.
No — it reopens blocked doors, it doesn’t rebuild rooms. That’s exactly why candidacy is image-guided.

Gland probing near you

12222 Wilshire Blvd, on the Santa Monica border.

West Los Angeles Brentwood Santa Monica Westwood Beverly Hills Culver City Pacific Palisades West Hollywood Marina del Rey Newport Beach

Also consider

Next step

Glands that won’t budge for heat?

Bring your history to our optometrists in Los Angeles — imaging tells us in one visit whether probing is your missing step.

Book an evaluation Or call 310-828-2010