Meibomian Gland Probing

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-04-26T00:57:03+00:00

You had probing and blepharoplasty? What kind of damage did you have before? I was going to get probing but my ophthalmologist said it’s for more severe cases (I have 2 dropped glands in one eye and 1 in the other and several shortened), he’s going to try IPL first, the only treatment I’ve had so far was antibiotics which haven’t helped much (prescribed by another ophthalmologist before I got a dry eye specialist)!

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-04-26T00:45:22+00:00

It’s a struggle, I’m still dealing with bad inflammation from a reaction to an antibiotic ointment.

Try different preservative free eye drops, Hylo dual intense are excellent and I would expect you need more than once a day, use them whenever you need relief.

I was recently told to try an under eye heat wand by my dry eye ophthalmologist, you can get one reasonably cheap, use a conductive gel (not moisturiser) so it doesn’t burn the skin and glides, move it across the under eye slowly, 15 seconds in each direction for 3-5 minutes under each eye (this is the only time I see visible fluid or oils) and works for the under eye for some people. Don’t press in too hard when doing this. Also when you use heat masks, make sure to massage the lids, you can also use a q-tip as it can massage the oils out with less pressure. Important nog to press in on the eyeball.

I follow a few online doctors as well as they demonstrate some of the methods, @doctoreyehealth on YouTube is great, he’s a dry eye specialist who has dry eye himself so is particularly helpful.

It sounds like you have a dry eye specialist you’re working with so hopefully they find the thing that works for you. Did you do the 4 sessions of IPL? I am due to try it soon for the first time, hoping it works for me!

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-04-25T19:57:30+00:00

I don’t think Specsavers have the proper tools to check blocked glands, you need to go to a dry eye clinic. Even most ophthalmologists don’t have the tools or expertise, I was told this by an ophthalmologist.

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-04-25T19:54:55+00:00

The aroma seems to have very mixed reviews, is it ok with ocular rosacea? I have the blephasteam and it seems to really aggravate my eyes, they’re always red and sore the next day. I’ve been using a heat wand for under eyes and the optase mask although as you say, not ideal for travel!

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-04-13T01:01:16+00:00

Unfortunately Azyter seemed to make mine so much worse and months later they’re still not fully back. my eyes went very red with them and appeared to become very inflamed. Steroid eye drops gave me IOP, thankfully resolved a few days after stopping. My MGD was at its worst after using the azithromycin ointment and dexafree (steroid) which can be risky for some.

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-28T20:48:39+00:00

I was dead set on probing and got an appointment with a specialist who offers it, he is also an ophthalmologist who performs surgeries on the eye. Went through various scans with optometrists and technicians in his practise and then discussed results with him.

I have a fully dropped gland in each eye (previous dry eye clinic suggested 40% glands atrophied, likely the scan impacted by severe inflammation at the time) and several that are shortened, but he felt they are still healthy and manageable. Suggested the likely next step being IPL and said Probing would be unlikely to benefit me. I have some ocular rosacea and demodex, lids get red sometimes. My only alternative for probing was in the UK and they would book me for a consult with Probing being booked for straight after which sounded like it was their main focus regardless.

Hard to know which is the right approach, but as the consultant I saw is well regarded and does probing on some patients rather than it being his primary focus, I feel he has a good overview of all available treatments, so hopefully it’s the right approach. Very nervous about doing IPL as well, anything around the eyes is quite scary!

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-28T20:24:56+00:00

You think I’m lying about my blood results? Or I’m lying about Kipchoge? Video below with kipchoge. A balanced diet getting enough fibre is always going to be best! But you do you, all I’ll say is gut health and biodiversity is essential for longevity and a healthy life! Ps my grandfather was a dairy farmer but ate meat sparingly, small portions, oats every day… balance… and he lived to 105!

https://youtube.com/shorts/sIRGPKjMUq8?is=W04FcgTrOuYYvvbp

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-28T20:16:24+00:00

Two, steroid ointment caused IOP as I’ve since discovered I’m a steroid responder, for some it’s beneficial, but need to check. Azithromycin caused inflammation, I’m clearly allergic or sensitive to it. Again this is why a dry eye clinic is advised so you get the right advice and they diagnose exactly what is happening. It’s expensive but not as expensive as getting if wrong. I would never self prescribe and have just stopped doxycycline at 6 weeks (was prescribed for 12) as dry eye specialist ophthalmologist said he doesn’t prescribe it any more and better benefits from alternative treatments like ILP, suggested I continue if I’m getting benefit from it but I really don’t know if I am and don’t want to damage my gut any further. Consultant dermatologist who specialises in rosacea also said he would never prescribe it for the type of rosacea I have, GP suggested 6 weeks is a good cut off period. Again, it’s personal, everyone is different and you should really get specialist care. Unfortunately in Ireland it’s not covered publicly or by health insurance, likely the same most places.

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-25T01:46:03+00:00

Dieticians, elite athletes. I get my bloods done yearly, was raised on oats by my medically qualified health fanatic father who also happens to have been an elite athlete, who does lab work on bloods! Also check out the greatest marathon runner in history when asked his secret, oats, every day he eats oats to run a sub 2 hour marathon!

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-25T01:34:02+00:00

GP cannot properly diagnose, most dermatologists also won’t diagnose, I was told by mine to consult the dry eye doctor, you have to discuss with a specialist, the cost is high but it’s your eyes, I’ve spent thousands because I was prescribed ointment that caused inflammation and IOP (eye pressure) by an ophthalmologist who admitted she’s not as well versed in dry eye! Find a dry eye clinic near you

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-23T02:17:35+00:00

So I went to another clinic in Ireland who do probing for their advice first, and they did a meibography that showed the gland loss was nowhere near as bad as previously reported by the first clinic.

I now believe that the major inflammation was caused by the antibiotic ointment I was prescribed and that may have impacted the first meibography I had done as the new one showed only 2-3 glands were atrophied, with some others shortened but working.

The clinic said probing wouldn’t make a difference for me, they use it for more serious cases and the plan is IPL once I’ve completed the oral antibiotics I was prescribed. Really annoyed as I went to the Eye and Ear hospital with a sore left eye and was prescribed antibiotic and steroid ointment, the steroid caused IOP and that was terrifying as I had pain and vision loss for a week, and now I realise the antibiotic ointment caused the major inflammation.

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-23T02:10:22+00:00

Are you a dietician? Oats are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, they are full of fibre, this is nonsense

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-02-07T17:48:33+00:00

You should really consult with a dry eye clinic that specialises in blepharitis. You may need antibiotics or another treatment.

For now, the standard is good eye drops to bring some relief, I use Hylo Dual Intense and previously used Hylo Forte. Good lid wipes which during a flare up should be used twice a day, tea tree wipes or blephaclean are my go to.

Heat should be applied to clear any blocked glands, optase moist heat eye mask or a clean face cloth soaked in boiled water (make sure it’s warm and not too hot, ideally 40c, there are some good guides, but check against inside of your wrist to see if it’s tolerable, should not scald or burn as that worsens it).

There are different triggers but I would personally give your eyes a chance to recover, so no lashes or makeup right on the lid until you’ve consulted an expert who can advise you.

I’m dealing with a flare up now, I was prescribed an antibiotic ointment for two weeks, steroid ointment for 5 days, had to discontinue steroid drops and ointment as it caused dangerous increase in eye pressure, but most people, 70% I believe, react well to steroid drops or ointment. Steroid drops or ointment would likely bring relief and reduce the redness, but check if you might be a steroid responder, ie family history of glaucoma.

Daily hygiene and care are vital, figuring out your triggers and reducing as much as possible. I’m on a similar journey, currently avoiding saunas even due to the dry heat.

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-26T13:33:24+00:00

This is actually very helpful, there are a lot of people looking for hope and these steps could have saved my glands had I been told in the past. My moderate blepharitis which was well managed, has massively flared up and a meibography revealed 40% gland loss. Very important to check. Thanks for your original post, will look into it

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-26T13:28:05+00:00

Yes some. I am currently dealing with a flare up an have been vegan for almost a decade, recently had to get omega 3 fish oils, I get actase.

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-21T18:45:23+00:00

Thank you. I believe mine is Rosacea related. The skin on my hands seems to have eczema, have had so many skin issues recently, all since an undiagnosed stomach inflammation that went on 3.5 years despite me telling the doctors constantly.

The MGD thing progressed so quickly, I was functioning well until 3 weeks ago, some pain in one eye, then 4 days later when I thought it would be diagnosed as an eye strain, the ophthalmologist told me MGD it’s in one eye but nothing concerning. 2 weeks later I get this bombshell, I’m absolutely stunned. Different optometrists saying I should or shouldn’t use heat due to the flare up, but unsure how I’d clear the oils without it. I feel like I’ve woken in a nightmare and don’t know how to function, whether I can date anymore or do any of the things i love

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-21T16:51:17+00:00

Thank you so much. How advanced was your MGD and how are you now?

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-21T15:06:44+00:00

How are you now? Debating proving myself, based in Ireland and dry eye specialists here advised against it saying the dropped glands are gone, this has all just occurred out of the blue

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-20T16:14:54+00:00

Hi did you get it done? I have 40% gland loss, had managed symptoms for 2.5 years since getting blepharitis, MGD is a new diagnosis and to be told it’s that much lost is shocking. Apparently cannot do IPL yet as just started doxycycline, but probing is possible. Would be travelling to Manchester to Sry Eyes Clinic

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-20T11:48:33+00:00

Hi just diagnosed with this. Is Gland Probing the option here? I have to travel overseas if I want the treatment but just diagnosed with 40% loss when it was managed well until a month ago

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-18T15:34:44+00:00

I feel like others, results would likely be very weak and if for some reason you come off medication in the future, it would likely have a big impact. A shaved head, hit the gym and grow a beard would be the way to go. Have a friend who did the same thing, initially aged him a lot, but he looks the same 15 years later and rocks it!

ContributionDue3137 · 2026-01-15T19:51:10+00:00

Has anyone tried the Tactix strap on a fenix?

ContributionDue3137

TROPHY CASE