R R

What Is Keratograph Meibography?

Keratograph meibography is an infrared imaging test that photographs the meibomian glands inside the eyelids. It is commonly performed on devices such as the OCULUS Keratograph to evaluate meibomian gland dysfunction, a frequent cause of evaporative dry eye. The images can show gland structure, shortening, or dropout that may contribute to unstable tears and irritation. Results help your clinician tailor dry eye treatment and monitor changes over time.

Link to This Resource Page

Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.

To display this...

What Is Keratograph Meibography?

Keratograph meibography is an infrared imaging test that photographs the meibomian glands inside the eyelids. It is commonly performed on devices such as the OCULUS Keratograph to evaluate meibomian gland dysfunction, a frequent cause of evaporative dry eye. The images can show gland structure, shortening, or dropout that may contribute to unstable tears and irritation. Results help your clinician tailor dry eye treatment and monitor changes over time.

read more about keratograph meibography ...

Copy this HTML:

Copy HTML Copied!

What Does Keratograph Meibography Show?

Meibomian glands produce the lipid layer of the tear film, which slows tear evaporation. Meibography shows the visible gland patterns and can highlight areas where glands look thinned, truncated, or missing. These structural findings can help explain symptoms such as burning, fluctuating vision, and contact lens discomfort. The test is usually combined with other dry eye measures for a complete assessment.

How Is the Test Performed?

The clinician gently everts your upper and lower lids and captures infrared images of the gland area. The test is noncontact, quick, and typically does not require dilating drops. Good blinking and a clean ocular surface improve image quality, so your clinician may ask you to blink normally just before capture. Some clinics perform additional Keratograph tests in the same visit, such as noninvasive tear breakup time and tear meniscus height.

How Results Are Used in Dry Eye Care

Meibography findings help classify the type of dry eye and guide management toward the lid glands when appropriate. If gland dropout is present, treatment often focuses on improving gland function and tear film stability, even though structural loss may not fully reverse. Your clinician may recommend a plan that includes multiple steps.

  • Warm compresses and lid hygiene
  • Artificial tears or lipid-based drops when indicated
  • In-office gland therapies when appropriate

Limitations and Next Steps

Meibography shows gland structure, but it does not directly measure the quality of the oil the glands produce. Symptoms can also be influenced by allergies, inflammation, medications, and screen habits, so imaging is interpreted with your full history and exam. Makeup residue or incomplete lid eversion can reduce image quality, and repeat images may be needed for comparison. If symptoms are significant, your clinician may add tests for tear osmolarity, staining, or inflammation markers.

FAQs on Keratograph Meibography

Is keratograph meibography painful?

It is usually not painful. You may feel mild pressure as the lid is everted, but the imaging itself is quick and noninvasive.

Does meibomian gland dropout grow back?

Gland atrophy or dropout is often considered a long-term change, but symptoms can still improve with treatment and better gland function in remaining tissue. Early detection helps you manage triggers and reduce progression risk.

How is meibography different from a slit-lamp exam?

A slit-lamp exam evaluates the eye surface and lid margins directly, while meibography uses infrared imaging to visualize gland structure inside the lid. They are complementary and often done together in a dry eye workup.

Should I stop wearing contacts or makeup before the test?

Clinics commonly prefer a clean lid margin for imaging, so avoiding eye makeup on the day of testing can help. If you wear contact lenses, ask your clinic whether they want you to remove them before imaging and how long to wait before other measurements.

References

Imaging Modalities for Dry Eye Disease. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Imaging_Modalities_for_Dry_Eye_Disease. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.

A Comparative Study of Two Imaging Techniques of Meibography. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10417025/. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.

Advances in Meibography: A Review of Techniques, Technologies and Clinical Applications. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35067791/. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.

Meibography: A Review. The Ocular Surface (via PubMed). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35067791/. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Meibomian_Gland_Dysfunction. Date Accessed February 2, 2026.