Blocked Meibomian Glands

[sandra lee]

Warm compresses and ocular rosacea

After seeing 6 different Dr's in the past 14 months who all agreed I had mgd/blepharitis,I was told by 5 to do hot as I could tolerate compresses,1(a specialist in Boston)advised theratears imask.Nothing worked and I was getting progressively worse until I went to a specialist in NYC and he said I had Rosacea which was causing my mgd,bleph and to not use any heat!!!!!!Use cold!!!As he is quite a distance from me I cannot keep going back to him but he is going to fax his notes to a new opthamologist I am seeing tomorrow and I was just wondering how ocular rosacea members here manage their lid hygeine.As I only ever read heat and massage I am confused.Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

[cristiandryeyes]

After seeing 6 different Dr's in the past 14 months who all agreed I had mgd/blepharitis,I was told by 5 to do hot as I could tolerate compresses,1(a specialist in Boston)advised theratears imask.Nothing worked and I was getting progressively worse until I went to a specialist in NYC and he said I had Rosacea which was causing my mgd,bleph and to not use any heat!!!!!!Use cold!!!As he is quite a distance from me I cannot keep going back to him but he is going to fax his notes to a new opthamologist I am seeing tomorrow and I was just wondering how ocular rosacea members here manage their lid hygeine.As I only ever read heat and massage I am confused.Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

I have skin rosacea too and I wonder if I should use hot or cold compresses. Please, keep us updated about what your Dr says about this.

[sandra lee]

I had my visit with yet another new opthamologist today and he was wonderful.As I have been misdiagnosed for the past 14 months he immediately agreed (as Dr. L did)that I indeed have full blown Rosacea and has agreed to treat me(although I am not going to let myself have great expectations).No heat for me and lid massage (I do this morning and night)sometimes with my forefinger and sometimes use q-tips in sterile water.He started me on Azasite(I was on this last year and it helped but symptoms did roccur after a few months)but told me to(with clean fingers)put a drop on my finger and close my eyes and rub it back and forth across both lids in each eye(1 drop each eye) and to use Refresh Plus(which I had been on previously.I need to see a dermatologist asap(but in my area fastest appt. will be end of January)and start treatment for the Rosacea.He had a few suggestions also if you would like to PM me.Just thought I would share this regiman if anyone wants to consult their Opthamologist.Good Luck to All!!!!

[advocate]

What you've said, below, is the traditional explanation given by the eye care profession. I suspect that the real answer is that your eyelids are suffering from an allergic response to allergens in the air, causing them to become red produce thick pus instead of the thin, clear oil that they are supposed to produce. You might want to check out my guide to treatment options for Blepharitis and MGD, which I've posted in this forum. The original guide has over 3,000 views, and I've posted an updated guide within the last month.

As I understand it -- blocked glands are caused by the meibum(oil) becoming solidified like wax The reason we use heat on the lids is to melt this and then massage to get the glands flowing again

Why the meibum goes solid in the first place and how to prevent it Thats what we need to know