on September 17, 2026
Upper eyelid imaging should no longer be considered optional. It is becoming an essential part of comprehensive ocular surface assessment, with growing relevance to MGD diagnosis, contact lens success and the identification of ocular surface findings associated with systemic disease.
Why Lids Matter More Than Ever
Recent reviews emphasize the importance of assessing both the upper and lower meibomian glands. The upper lid contains more glands and may show gland loss or morphological changes that are not apparent when imaging is limited to the lower lid.
A 2025 Cornea study and related literature further highlight the value of upper eyelid meibography in evaluating ocular surface disease, contact lens patients and gland changes associated with systemic conditions such as Sjögren syndrome and thyroid eye disease.
Quantitative meibography studies have also shown that features such as gland dropout, distortion, thickness and density can provide useful information when diagnosing and assessing the severity of MGD.
The same broader view applies to the lid wiper. Studies of lid wiper epitheliopathy (LWE) have found associations between upper and lower lid wiper changes and measures including OSDI, lipid layer thickness, tear breakup time and meiboscore.
The bottom line: Looking at both lids provides a more complete picture of the ocular surface. If the upper lid is routinely left out of the assessment, clinically relevant information may be missed.
Meivertor™ helps make upper and lower lid evaluation a practical, repeatable part of the dry eye exam. By simplifying lid eversion, it can make meibography and lid-wiper assessment easier to incorporate into everyday workflow rather than reserving them for selected patients.
Read the full Cornea Study now.
