Inflammation

[Hopeful2]

Hi LaDiva,
Thanks for the positive feedback!! I'm wondering if the MGs look good, why do they appear to not be producing much oil?? Maybe it is due to a disruption of the lacrimal feedback loop from lasik.

Is there anyone else out there who has a hard time seeing the oil come out?

[MaryVa61]

Hi LaDiva. Mine looked like raw meat too, until I finally figured out my big triggers and what to do about it. I'm sorry if I'm repeating info I've shared with you already in another thread. I have a bad memory for names! The below measures helped very dramatically, especially avoiding my skin allergens (mostly cotton fabrics & cleansers for skin, hair) & chemical eye irritant ingredients in eye products and household products. Improvement takes 7 days after ALL elimination.

What helped my severe inner lid redness, pain, dryness & sometimes swelling & Blepharitis:

Skin allergy tests at the dermatologist's, and elimination of Quaternium-15 and formaldehyde which I tested positive to. Replaced my shampoo, skin soaps/cleansers, lotions, house & laundry cleaning products, got rid of air fresheners, threw away throw pillows on sofa & 100% cotton fabrics, ....

Changing all eye products to avoid BAK completely, including now use a preservative-free Glaucoma medication.

Similasin Allergy Eye Relief drops, 3 or 4 times per day at least.

Avoiding ANYTHING that can be irritating to eyes (cosmetics, unnecessary or ineffective dry eye products, household stuff with VOC's...)

Continued:
Fish oil and flax oil (taking full daily of dose of each, Barlean's Omega Swirl)
Humidifier all evening near where I sit in living room, every 3 days.
OASIS Plus lubricating drops, Refresh PM night ointment, Goggles for driving, eye scrubs w/Q-tip wetted only w/Saline Wound Wash.
Cleanse face & eye area with a fabric Face Cloth cleansing pad from ENJO (Edelweiss) w/no cleansers on it at all and no lotions on face at bedtime.
Continued treatment of eyebrow Seborrhea until gone but no tx at bedtime. Seemed triggered by allergies to hair/skin products.
Replaced old, dying air purifier with new one (IQ Pro Health Series). Expensive!!! But eyes much worse when time to change filter.

Once the severe pain & redness stopped, I started having itching when exposed to allergens, so it's easier to identify new problematic products now. Previously the pain masked the itching. Most allergy drops didn't help because they contained BAK or something else I was sensitive to. I hope something gives you relief soon, and you can really get your life back like I have.

[LaDiva]

Thank you Mary! The eye doctor gave me some Pataday, but I haven't noticed much change, and the steriods didn't help much either. Also tried Similasin, but maybe will try that again. The eye doctor did say it looked like allergies. Must also watch food because of the rosacea. Chocolate is a big no no. Thanks so much for the information and your kind words. I'll start making lists again! Glad to hear you are feeling better!

[kitty]

If the steroids did not help then likely your problems are not allergy related, at least that is what my Doc told me. Steroids should help inflammation if that is what you have. You might want to get a second opinion. If you can tell us in what State you live someone might be able to recommend some dry eye specialists near you. Also, be cautious of eye allergy drops. Most contain preservative which can be irritating. In addition, they can cause increased dry eye symptoms as a side effect.

[LaDiva]

Thanks Kitty. I will email you.

[MaryVa61]

Just another thought here, if you're allergic to the BAK in the steroid drops, like me, then steroids may not help with allergies. Most have the same preservative (BAK/BAC) as the typical allergy eye drops. That's why I just use Similasin and allergen avoidance.

Another thought that may be way off, but just in case...doctors don't seem to always notice eyebrow seborrhea, unless you specifically point out to a dermatologist that you need to know if you have it. It can be subtle and shed tiny bits onto the lower lid edge, irritating the edge and inner lids. Looks like Blepharitis.

Mary

[LaDiva]

Thank you Mary! Just changed shampoo. The eyes look a bit better, and I've been under a great deal of stress lately, so fingers crossed!

[sazy123]

IMHO i think hot compresses are a waste of time if you have inflammation and NO/minimal blocked glands. Theres an article somewhere on here about this very issue. And it made alot of sense to me after years of warm compresses and no relief. Cold compresses prob do give relief, i havent given them a good try. But i doubt they are going to solve the problem.

[sazy123]

Moving slowly today! Will keep you post Sazy. I've had rosacea on my face, but the eye business was new. I think it all started from being under a great deal of stress. I had PRK about five years ago, and no real problems after the surgery and have never worn contact lenses. When my dry eye problems escalated, the doctor ran a bunch of tests. The rheumatoid factor came back very high, and so they did further tests, but I do not have RA. I am guessing the RA test measures inflammation in the body, and boy, it must all be in my eyes! Not sure about being sick and noticing eye improvements as I cannot remember being sick recently. Hope you feel better Sazy!

Hi Ugh! I have tried cold, and do think it helps. Just need to be more regular with the cold treatment. Thank you for suggesting this. It is very helpful. I know what you mean about wondering what really works. A friend who has this told me it took her about two years to really feel better, but she did and does feel better. Hope it is just a matter of time for all of us. Best wishes.

I dont want to feel better, a sore throat is a god send to me- it means normal feeling eyes!! the whole of last year i had a congested throat, eyes felt great! Notice how your eyes feel when your sick next time.

[sazy123]

Sazy and LaDiva,

MY doctor tells me my eyes are inflamed. I have looked at the insides of my lids and I don't know if I see inflammation. I looked at my hubbies eyelids and his actually look redder than mine. I do see some fine red veins on the inside lids.

I will try sending some pictures and maybe someone can comment on what they see?[ATTACH]362[/ATTACH][ATTACH]361[/ATTACH]

I hope this works!

Hopeful2, the inside of your lids dont look inflammed at all, well there is some vascular activity going on (but no more than people without Dry eye)- I have studied my sisters and dads inner eyelids in great detail LOL. I can tell you right now my inner eyelids look RED RAW and painfull. I will post a picture of them on here when i get a chance. Just as Ladiva says that her eyelids look like raw meet (mine do too).

Do you have blocked glands? Your eyes have vascular/inflammation going on, so you may have more of a surface issue OR inflammation actually inside the glands that is hard to see.

Edit= i can see that your lower glands are blocked, but not bad as in capped, so the oil may be really thick. But since your inflammation doesnt look too bad have you tried High quality/dose fish oil (i.e nordic naturals) along with other treatments for inflammation and warm compresses?

also, It may be the light of the camera flash that is making the inflammation look less.

[sazy123]

Hi LaDiva,
Thanks for the positive feedback!! I'm wondering if the MGs look good, why do they appear to not be producing much oil?? Maybe it is due to a disruption of the lacrimal feedback loop from lasik.

Is there anyone else out there who has a hard time seeing the oil come out?

If you push on your eyelid margins- do you get thick oil come out, i.e does your vision get blury?

[Hopeful2]

Hi sazy,

Thanks so much for all the feedback!! Yep, I have checked out my husband's and my daughter's meibomian glands They all appear to be more raw and vascular looking than mine. . . and they are 'normal'!? I do take fish olis, borage oil and Astaxanthin, do compresses, lid washes . . . I'm not entirely convinced that inflammation has a key role.

I don't think my glands are blocked. . . I can express clear oil. I use a 10 X mirror and after I wipe my lower lids and apply some pressure I can see oil coming from the ducts. It is not running over the edge of the lid, but it does form a small pool. In the morning I get dry crusty bits in my lashes and my vision is somewhat cloudy. The crusty bits in the lashes are not oily so I don't know if they are from the meibomian glands. In any case, when I described them to the doctor, he said that was the MGD kicking in. . . I must admit I don't fully understand the connection between getting the crusty deposits and MGD.

In the summer when I pressed on my glands I had a really tough time getting anything out of them. I am wondering if with time (six months after lasik) there might be some healing that has happened and the meibomian glands are secreting more ?

I'll look for your pics

[LaDiva]

I want to follow up on this by adding that when I quit using Azasite, the inflammation subsided, and now is generally non-existent. Thank you, for your input everyone!