Should I test my Androgen levels ?

[cristiandryeyes]

I've just found out that Accutane affects Androgen levels, shrinks MGs and taking DHEA drops can actually "rejuvenate" them. I took accutane for 6 months in 2007 and progressively developed MGD. I noticed DE symptoms in 2009. Should I test my Androgen levels or the whole thing does not make sense?

Please help

[cristiandryeyes]

Thank you for your response. I know that accutane shrinks the meibomian glands and the effect can persist for years. I also found out that androgens cause them to produce thinner quality secretions (no clogging) and to eventually increase in size.


What I'm saying here, my MGs might have suffered a morphological change and topical androgens could help recover them back.

But I do agree my andorgen levels should be normal...maybe my glands are damaged/atrophied ? omg

[cristiandryeyes]

A skilled opthamologist may be able to tell if the glands are atrophied. I was told that as we age we typically will undergo atrophy of glands and it could also be from contact lens wear. I don't think anybody is immune to gland atrophy - we just need to make the best of the ones that are alive and kicking. Do you feel your doctor is competent when it comes to analyzing your meibomain glands?

Yes, he's a dry eye specialist and the last time I visited him, he said my glands were obstructed by wax. He didn't say they were atrophied. He suggested H Pylori infection but I didn't mention that I had taken Accutane in the past. I have made an appointment but I have to wait until they call me back and tell me the exact day/hour. He's not in Spain at the moment, it's ironic...I said I was more patient in other post but being honest, the waiting is killing me.

[rhad]

I Think that in most cases of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Androgens or sex hormones aren't what is causing this disease...I along with many others on this board have gone this route, the tests usually come back normal. I was even tested for Thyroid function, came back normal as well. even those that do come back low, their usually isn't a significant change in their meibomian gland dysfunction condition..not alot of improvement if any at all..

I've researched this area as a possible cause of MGD, and it doesn't go anywhere...

but if you got the money, and time to get your Androgens tested, get your Testosterone, DHEA levels checked. Testosterone is made in the Testices, and DHEA is made from the Adrenal Glands ontop of the kidneys, if I remember correctly.

rhad

[cristiandryeyes]

To tell you the truth, that waxy stuff might not be a bad thing. I started that way 6 months ago but with the warm compresses and doxycyline, they are more liquidy. I am hoping the restasis will keep the inflammation under control and the oil does not solidify. Have you tried taking doxycyline? I know the heat irritates your eyes but it used to do the same to me but I kept doing it until it started feeling good.

Yes, I have tried warm compresses for 4 months twice daily and Minocicline for 3 months. This stuff does not get liquefied by heat. To tell you the truth, particularly there's one gland with a visible "wax solidified bubble" on top of it, and no matter how hard I have expressed it, I cannot get rid of the damn bubble. So this gland has been clogged for about 6 months.

Most of the times I don't see nothing coming out of my glands, and once in a while I can see some yellow wax coming out almost completely solidified.

I Think that in most cases of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Androgens or sex hormones aren't what is causing this disease...I along with many others on this board have gone this route, the tests usually come back normal. I was even tested for Thyroid function, came back normal as well. even those that do come back low, their usually isn't a significant change in their meibomian gland dysfunction condition..not alot of improvement if any at all..

I've researched this area as a possible cause of MGD, and it doesn't go anywhere...

but if you got the money, and time to get your Androgens tested, get your Testosterone, DHEA levels checked. Testosterone is made in the Testices, and DHEA is made from the Adrenal Glands ontop of the kidneys, if I remember correctly.

rhad

Yes I know, I can't close the circle. My androgen levels should be back to normal by now, but you know what the say...Accutane effect can persist up to 9 years and it takes time for MGs to heal -glands react very slowly to hormones-. I just think DHEA in drops can speed up this process, increase their size so they don't get clogged and start working properly.

[ringo]

MGD ismostly a result of androgen deficiency, but interestingly (how does our body work!), this deficiencymay or may not be present in the body overall, meaning that your body can be producing a suffcient amount of androgens verall, but somehow their concenration in the eye diminishes. Why that happens is a subject of a long and complex research which unfortunately I cnnot quote right now, but with dry eye, unless it is the result of a disease affecting the body overall like AIDS, Sjogren's, diabetes, etc., the androgen deficiency as the inflammation itself is localized and limited to the eye.

In the eyes of dr eye patents there is an excessive concentration of prolactin-- and I mean far above the normal levels. If there were enough androgens in the eye, and if they were doing their work properly, they regulate prolactin and thus regulat the antigen presentation process that maintains the immunohomeostasis in the eye. High levels of prolactin locally in the eye, mean low levels of androgens or their compromised function, either only in the eye, or oerall in the entire body.

That basically means that even if your tets for androgen levels come back normal, your eyes might still be deficientin androgens. Scientists have been working for years now on on this dilemma, trying to produce a topical eye androgen supplement, as the general androgen supplement does not work.

[rhad]

I wouldn't waste my time with the androgen theory. Hormones are extremely powerful substances. A woman's body only makes about 1 tablespoon worth of Estrogen for her entire life. That goes to show that just a trace of the hormone in the bloodstream, like a grain of salt, has a very powerful effect on the body...however. many on this forum have tried the androgen theory. search the forums for old posts on taking DHEA supplement, eye drops, progesterone cream, etc. only a few noticed any difference, but most didn't notice any significant change in their symptoms.. Rebecca once told me that "the proof is in the pudding". Theories are nice, but they have no "real" value, unless when actually applied in "real life" situations, they actually do what was theorized... I was tested for DHEA, Testosterone etc by my Doc. I've also personally tried an oral DHEA supplement...I gotta tell ya, scariest feeling in my life. I felt so weird, I was afraid i was gonna die, very weird feeling, it definately affected my body, and not in a good way at all...that just tells me the tests were right, I was not deficient in DHEA..

my two cents on this subject..

rhad

[cristiandryeyes]

MGD ismostly a result of androgen deficiency, but interestingly (how does our body work!), this deficiencymay or may not be present in the body overall, meaning that your body can be producing a suffcient amount of androgens verall, but somehow their concenration in the eye diminishes. Why that happens is a subject of a long and complex research which unfortunately I cnnot quote right now, but with dry eye, unless it is the result of a disease affecting the body overall like AIDS, Sjogren's, diabetes, etc., the androgen deficiency as the inflammation itself is localized and limited to the eye.

In the eyes of dr eye patents there is an excessive concentration of prolactin-- and I mean far above the normal levels. If there were enough androgens in the eye, and if they were doing their work properly, they regulate prolactin and thus regulat the antigen presentation process that maintains the immunohomeostasis in the eye. High levels of prolactin locally in the eye, mean low levels of androgens or their compromised function, either only in the eye, or oerall in the entire body.

That basically means that even if your tets for androgen levels come back normal, your eyes might still be deficientin androgens. Scientists have been working for years now on on this dilemma, trying to produce a topical eye androgen supplement, as the general androgen supplement does not work.

How do I know if I have an excessive concentration of prolactin in my eyes? Is there any specific test for that?

Thank you.

[cristiandryeyes]

I don' think there is a test to specifically test for the prolactin in the eye. However, Christian if you really want to test out the testosterone theory, then buy some and slap it over your eyelids every night. You can get it from your doctor in either a gel or cream and try it out yourself. I tried the 5% testosterone cream from a compounding pharmacy and the only thing it did was moisturize my eye lids. Of course, you should not get it close to the lid margins - it's applied over the eyes. Like I said it was a useless product but try it anyway - it may stop you from wondering what if.....

Wouldn't it be better if I tried DHEA drops instead ? In any case, I'm gonna talk about this to my Dr. He works for several pharmaceuticals, he surely knows the potential damage Accutane can inflict and the benefits of androgen therapy to speed up the process of healing.

[ringo]

Prolactin is detected in the tears of dry eye patients using special lab tests which however are usually limited to medical research testing and not testing of patients.
There are currently and have been for quite some time clinical trials and research going on about finding a proper delivery system of androgens to the eye; however none has been approved yet; so I do not think that DHEA drops or testosterone cream will make any difference.
We should wait and hope that the androgen drops finally get approved and then we can try them. But Until then, in my opinion it is better not o slap your eyes with hormones randomly.

[redandunhappy]

Hi ringo,

In the eyes of dr eye patents there is an excessive concentration of prolactin-- and I mean far above the normal levels.

Do you think it follows that if you have high levels of prolactin in the body, this might cause excessive levels of prolactin in the eye, resulting in dry eye? (rather than being androgen deficient as such)

I'm interested because I know I have slightly high levels of prolactin in my body - and this has been the case for roughly the same length of time that I've had blepharitis/MGD...

Many thanks