Meibomian Glands

Oil glands withing the eyelid whose duct opens onto the eyelid. Secretions supply the outer portion of the tear film, preventing rapid tear evaporation.

These glands can be visualized using IR technique to determine if there is meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Normal Meibomian Glands
Lower lid  
Normal Meibomian Gland Normal Meibomian Gland
Upper lid  
Normal Upped Lid Normal Upper lid meibography
Meibomian Gland Dropout
Meibomian gland dropout  
Thickened lid note thickened eyelid
Patient above patient above
Meibography technique

If video fails to load, use this link: Transillumination meibography
Light Source Adapters
ADAPTER Light source with adapter
This probe was created at The University of Iowa's machine shop and is not commercially available. A more recently designed probe was described in 2007 Yokoi, et al.*

*Yokoi N, Komuro A, Yamada H, Maruyama K, Kinoshita S. A newly developed video-meibography system featuring a newly designed probe. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2007;51(1):53-6. PubMed PMID: 17295142. doi: 10.1007/s10384-006-0397-y