Private LipiFlow costs from £750 to £1,400 per bilateral session in the UK, depending on whether the LipiScan meibography, LipiView interferometry and a structured drop pathway are bundled in. The fee covers the dry-eye assessment, the single-use activators, the 12-minute treatment and a follow-up review. Repeat maintenance sessions within 18 months are typically £650 to £850.
What is LipiFlow?
LipiFlow is a vectored thermal-pulsation system for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). A sterile single-use activator sits inside each lower eyelid, heating the inner surface to a controlled 42–43°C while delivering rhythmic pulsatile pressure on the outer lid. This warms the obstructed meibum to its melting point and expresses it from the glands, restoring the lipid layer that stops the tear film evaporating between blinks. Unlike warm compresses, the heat is delivered from the inside of the lid directly over the gland orifices — the only side that reliably reaches therapeutic temperature.
It treats evaporative dry eye driven by MGD, the underlying cause in around 80% of dry-eye cases. It is a single 12-minute treatment, needs no anaesthetic injection and has no recovery downtime. For MGD driven mainly by ocular rosacea or lid-margin inflammation, intense pulsed light (IPL) is often first-line, and in severe ocular surface disease an amniotic membrane graft may be considered.
LipiFlow prices
LipiFlow is priced per bilateral session. A full package typically includes the LipiScan meibography image, LipiView tear-film interferometry, the disposable activators, the treatment and a structured follow-up review.
A structured 3-month MGD programme bundling the treatment with drops, omega-3 and a repeat review reaches £1,150–£1,400. See the full menu on our price list.
Not sure if LipiFlow or IPL is right for you? A consultation includes the LipiScan and LipiView testing needed to choose the right treatment.
Book a dry-eye consultationWhat’s included in the price
A full LipiFlow package should include:
- A consultant or specialist dry-eye assessment with symptom scoring, slit-lamp examination and a gland expression test
- LipiScan meibography — infrared imaging of the meibomian glands to grade dropout and obstruction
- LipiView tear-film interferometry — measuring lipid-layer thickness and partial-blink fraction to confirm candidacy
- The 12-minute bilateral treatment with sterile single-use activators
- A drop and lid-hygiene pathway — a written plan covering preservative-free tears, omega-3 and warm-compress maintenance
- A structured 6-week review, with the option of a 3-month repeat LipiScan to document gland recovery
A good clinic offers an integrated escalation pathway — IPL, manual gland expression or prescription drops — if a single session is not enough.
What affects the price
Several factors move a LipiFlow quote within the £750–£1,400-per-session range:
- Diagnostics included — a treatment-only session is cheaper than a package with full LipiScan and LipiView imaging.
- Structured programme — bundling drops, omega-3 and a 3-month review costs more upfront but supports durability.
- New vs repeat — a maintenance session within 18 months skips the full work-up and costs less.
- Clinician seniority and location — consultant-led London clinics charge more than regional services.
- Combined pathways — adding an IPL course for an inflammatory component increases the total.
Most UK private medical insurers do not cover LipiFlow as it is treated as elective dry-eye therapy, though some fund the underlying consultant assessment — see our guidance for insured patients, or spread the cost with 0% finance.