Patent ID: 8255039

Claim:
A method of near infrared (NIR) imaging of a meibomian gland, comprising: illuminating the meibomian gland with NIR radiation using an NIR light source; focusing an NIR camera on a region of an eyelid containing the meibomian gland; making a first NIR image of the meibomian gland; applying a pressure suitable for simulating blinking pressure on the meibomian gland; optionally refocusing the NIR camera on the region of the eyelid containing the meibomian gland; and making a second NIR image of the meibomian gland while the pressure is being applied, wherein at least one of making the first NIR image and making the second NIR image comprises imaging at least a portion of a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland below a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland to allow visualization of a flow or lack of flow of secretory material from within the meibomian gland channel and through the meibomian gland channel toward the meibomian gland orifice.