Can warm compresses make eyes worse?

[Sannah25]

Hi all,

I've been diagnosed with blepharitis and was originally told that I have mild blepharitis but particularly suffered from MGD. So the doctor told me not to do lid scrubs, but use warm compresses and massage my eyes twice a day. Before I started this treatment I had virtually no dry eye symptoms; only after hours and hours of staring at a screen would my eye appear red at all and there was no pain. This is two months ago now. My eyes have gradually been getting worse and especially after doing warm compresses my eyelids are red and swollen - and not because of heat or burns. When I was first prescribed eye-drops, I did not need them. Now I feel bad with dry-as-the-desert eyes if I do not use them regularly. My doctor says it's absolutely impossible the treatment have made my eyes worse and wants me to start taking antibiotics. I am desperate for a second opinion and am on a waiting list but that could be months. Anything anyone here can tell me?

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

[littlemermaid]

Inflammation after warm compress

Littlemermaid had swollen inflamed lids while bacterial infection was worse than we realised and we were using warm compresses once a day, some damage to glands which slowly resolved on topical antibacterials and, mainly, not touching it except for washing away debris with cotton wool and boiled/cooled water. Stopped compresses obviously until lids were better then started again more carefully. Lid hygiene, even baby shampoo, is too acidic for her, and we are super-careful about trying not to reinfect the glands (bedding, towels, flannel in boiling water). Is this ophth putting you on oral antibiotics or topical? Why not topical antibacterials for the MGD? What are your current drops? You were thinking the original cause might be bacterial infection from makeup? We are using a humidifier next to the computer, many people are using moisture chamber or wraparound glasses.

My doctor says it's absolutely impossible the treatment have made my eyes worse

Ha! Managing this is a great skill. Read Dr Latkany posts on compresses for MGD: sometimes he just recommends a daily eye rub in warm shower, for rosacea inflammation he uses cold compress. Sounds like yours is untreated bacterial MGD though?

[Sannah25]

Thanks for your response!

I am a bit confused by all the medical terms: I have had exactly two appointments with an ophthalmologist and was back outside within 5-10 minutes both times. I don't know anything about my infection / eye thingamajig except that it is called blepharitis and my meibomian glands are not working great. Most other information I found online only.

I have used some anti-bacterial eyedrops back when my GP thought it was conjunctivitis. That was for a week or so back in early July, and they did not seem to improve things. I'm just using an ocular lubricant now: Duratears. The antibiotic prescribed is minocycline.

Yea, seems like the disease was originally triggered by make-up, but I haven't worn any for months since.

It's all a bit confusing and so much of the information seems contradictory. Glad I discovered this forum with people who have had to come to terms with the same or similar issues.

[Michael2]

warm compresses can definitely make things worse, but it also can make things better...it just depends. i believe if your problem is MGD and you have inflamed glands, its just exacerbating the issue...whereas if your glands are healing or are more or less healthy, warm compresses help a ton (you can feel huge amounts of oil come out). a good doctor should be able to tell you how your MGD is progressing

[sandra lee]

Hi

It was my experience the warm compresses made me much worse,and if they are making you worse than before I strongly recommend you contact your Opthamologist.

I was being treated for bleph/mgd and my first two Opthamologists and a specialist insisted I do the heat(and one even commented I was not doing it hot enough)and I steadily grew worse.

Thanks to Dr.L(who informed me I had ocular rosacea and heat was making me worse)I now am on my 5th Opthamologist as my recent says she has never seen a case of ocular rosacea as severe as mine.And no wonder,I was heating inflammation for almost 14 months!!!!!!!!

You know how you feel and you need to find a doc who will listen to you.Good Luck!

[jenny2008]

hey there.i have sjogrens, ocular rosacea and mgd.. i use warm compresses... i like to use the thermoeyes... that way the heat doesn't affect your facial skin whatsoever..also, i used to go really hot-that seemed to irritate my eyes really bad.. i also burnt my eyelids. ouch..they are still red but healed.. of course i thought the hotter the better..nope...

now i use a warm compress..thermoeyes.. followed by massage and then i use an Ocusoft wipe to clean the lash line.. i seem to be good with this regimine..