Dry Eye & MGD Treatment
Meibomian Gland Expression in Encino
Most stubborn dry eye isn't a shortage of tears. It's blocked oil glands letting your tears evaporate, and gland expression clears the blockage at its source.
Is It Time?
Signs your dry eye is really a gland problem
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the most common driver of dry eye, and it behaves differently from simple low tear production.
- Burning, gritty, or sandy-feeling eyes that worsen through the day
- Blurry vision that briefly clears when you blink
- Artificial tears help for minutes, then the dryness returns
- Red, irritated eyelid margins or recurring styes and chalazia
- Crusting or foam along the lash line (often with blepharitis)
- Eyes that water excessively (reflex tearing from a poor oil layer)
The tell-tale pattern: if drops keep failing you, the problem usually is not the watery part of your tears but the missing oil layer that keeps them from evaporating. That layer comes from the meibomian glands in your eyelids.
Our Approach
Treating the cause, not just wetting the surface
Artificial tears treat the symptom. Gland expression treats the machinery: under magnification, the oil glands along your eyelid margins are warmed and physically expressed, clearing thickened, stagnant oil so the glands can flow again. Done in the office, it takes roughly ten to fifteen minutes per eye.
What makes our approach different is the evaluation in front of it. Dr. Hashemi examines the glands themselves: how many are blocked, how many still produce oil, and whether something else entirely is masquerading as dry eye. Burning and visual fatigue have neurological mimics, and a fellowship-trained neuro-ophthalmologist is exactly the person who will not miss them.
We are honest about what expression can and cannot do: it provides relief that typically lasts weeks to months, works best as part of a maintenance plan (warm compresses, lid hygiene, and in some cases prescription drops like Restasis, Cequa, or Xiidra), and often takes more than one session for advanced gland disease. Patients who do the home care keep their results longest.
What to Expect
What a treatment visit looks like
- Consultation
Gland-level diagnosis
Slit-lamp examination of your eyelid margins and gland openings, assessment of oil quality and tear film, and a check for look-alike causes of your symptoms.
- Preparation
Warming the glands
Heat softens the thickened oil so it can move, the same principle as a warm compress, applied clinically and consistently.
- Treatment
Expression, about 10–15 minutes per eye
Gentle, deliberate pressure along the lid margin under magnification empties the blocked glands. Most patients describe pressure rather than pain.
- Same day
Back to your routine
Mild redness or irritation for a few hours is common. Normal activities resume immediately.
- At home
Keeping the glands flowing
About ten minutes of warm compresses daily plus lid hygiene extends the benefit and stretches the time between treatments.
- Maintenance
A schedule that fits your glands
Benefits typically last weeks to months. Some patients return every few months; milder cases need treatment less often.
Outcomes
Realistic expectations, honestly set
Drawn from our physician-reviewed patient education library. Response varies with how advanced the gland disease is; severely atrophied glands cannot be restored, which is why earlier treatment preserves more function.
Insurance & Cost
Coverage and cost, before you book
Dry eye and MGD care is medical eye care, but coverage for gland expression varies considerably between plans. Contact our office before scheduling and our staff will help you verify your benefits and understand any out-of-pocket cost in advance.
Patient Experiences
From our patients
I was truly blown away by Dr. Hashemi and her staff. Dr. Hashemi took the time she needed to provide a complete and thorough exam. She did not let one thing slip by and even did further testing to make sure all was ok.
Tracee I appreciate the effort to make me comfortable and the will to actually make me better with the best treatment possible. I got to understand more on my eyes and am looking forward on the treatment Doctor has offered.
Deanna
Common Questions
Gland expression questions, answered
Does meibomian gland expression hurt?
Most patients describe firm pressure on the eyelids rather than pain. The glands are warmed first, which makes expression both more comfortable and more effective. Mild irritation for a few hours afterward is common.
How long do the results last?
Typically weeks to months per treatment, depending on how advanced the gland dysfunction is. Daily warm compresses and lid hygiene at home meaningfully extend the interval between visits.
I already do warm compresses. Why isn't that enough?
Home compresses help maintain flow but often can't clear glands that are already blocked with thickened oil. In-office expression empties them under magnification; compresses then keep them flowing. The two work together, not interchangeably.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on severity. Some patients get lasting relief from periodic single sessions every few months; more advanced MGD often benefits from a short series before settling into maintenance.
Why do my eyes water if they're 'dry'?
A failing oil layer lets tears evaporate quickly, which irritates the surface and triggers bursts of reflex tearing. Watery eyes are one of the most common, and most counterintuitive, signs of evaporative dry eye.
Is this covered by insurance?
Coverage varies by plan. Contact our office and our staff will help you verify your benefits and understand any costs before treatment is scheduled.
Learn More
Read deeper in our education library
The medical facts on this page are drawn from our physician-reviewed patient education library.
Next Step
Tired of drops that only last minutes?
Request a dry eye evaluation with Dr. Hashemi at our Encino office for a gland-level diagnosis and a treatment plan that addresses the cause. We see patients from across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles.