Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

[Pinklady]

I found this video really useful in explaining visually MGD and what happens. Hope it is of use to someone else
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3d1UZxQP4E

[Rebecca Petris]

Pinklady, thank you for the link. The graphics are wonderful. Great way for someone to get a good sense of the mechanics of MGD and how it affects both lids and cornea.

[Faith1989]

Good video. I think lipiflow is way overpriced and unless it was drastically reduced or I won the lottery, I wouldn't get it done again. My glands clogged right back up again not long after..my corneal specialist agrees.

[bunnyrabbit123]

Hi Faith-
Did your cornea dr. offer any thoughts on why the glands clogged so quickly? Did you go back to the place that did the lipiflow treatment? I'd like to try this, but I know I have lid problems.

[browneyesblu]

Good video. I think lipiflow is way overpriced and unless it was drastically reduced or I won the lottery, I wouldn't get it done again. My glands clogged right back up again not long after..my corneal specialist agrees.

May I ask where you had it done? Did they prescribe any post-procedure treatment?

For bunnyrabbit123: what lid problems would preclude you from having it done?

[EternalTears]

I have a situation where my eyes/cornea/lids feel normal after using Genteal once every morning (between 6:00am -7:00am) and if I protect the eyes from wind, I wont usually feel dry symptoms until 11:00pm or later and thru the night until I awake around 6:00am. If I go to a ophthamologist or cornea specialist and he/she examines the cornea/tear film during the day, how will the DR see any measurable indication of disease or compromised MGD or Aqua glands if the best time to see any dry eye indication is between 11:00pm and 6:00am?

[bunnyrabbit123]

Hi Browneyesblu-
I have ptosis, especially on the right upper lid. This is going to probably be addressed again (I've had surgery once on that lid already). My concerns are that Dr. Korb, in the video someone was good enough to post on this forum, mentions that patients who have lipiflow and then come back in a couple of weeks with a return of dry eye symptoms/clogged glands are probably dealing with lids that don't close properly at night . I'm sure this is a factor in my dry eye, as I'm quite dry in the a.m. I've tried the silicone goggles Rebecca has in shop. but I toss a lot at night and can't get them to stay on. Ointments I've tried seem irritating-I'm at a loss right now as to how to get protection overnight.

[browneyesblu]

Hi Browneyesblu-
I have ptosis, especially on the right upper lid. This is going to probably be addressed again (I've had surgery once on that lid already). My concerns are that Dr. Korb, in the video someone was good enough to post on this forum, mentions that patients who have lipiflow and then come back in a couple of weeks with a return of dry eye symptoms/clogged glands are probably dealing with lids that don't close properly at night . I'm sure this is a factor in my dry eye, as I'm quite dry in the a.m. I've tried the silicone goggles Rebecca has in shop. but I toss a lot at night and can't get them to stay on. Ointments I've tried seem irritating-I'm at a loss right now as to how to get protection overnight.

Hi bunnyrabbit,
Thanks for the answer. I guess I will have to watch that video again. I seem to remember him saying that almost anyone will have the night problem even without ptosis. It sounds like it’s critical to solve it before spending the money for Lipiflow. The ointment helps but it’s not a complete solution, I still wake up with some dryness. Anyway I have heard it’s not a good idea to use ointment for a long time. I’m still looking for a better solution, if I find one I’ll let you know. Could not get comfortable in Tranquileyes at all. How do people sleep in that thing?

May I ask where you had IPL done? Maybe a better option than Lipiflow.

Interesting development on the hormone front. I kind of stumbled upon a dr. who specializes in HRT who happened to be an ophthalmologist early in his career. He completely understood and is much closer to home which is important because you have to make return visits for blood tests and dosage adjustments. I decided to cancel the long trip to Scheie and let him treat me. He even offered to do some research into MGD and androgens for me. I’m not expecting miracles, it will be months before I know if it’s working. But it’s a start.

[bunnyrabbit123]

Hi browneyesblu-
Re: tranquileyes & silicone goggles. If you sleep on your back, you can have success with these things. I don't and just had trouble sleeping with anything on my face. I'm going to pm you the name of dr. who did my ipl- If you decide to go for it, bear in mind it takes several treatments. What it's done for me is remove that stabbing, shards of glass feeling I had constantly- I'm still quite dry otherwise and continue with restasis & otc. Not the level of success I wanted but definitely better than before.
How lucky you've found someone closer to home to address your hormone concerns- You're in NJ, I'm from NJ. Would you share this name with me? I totally get not wanting to deal with Scheie. The drive for us is 150 miles, the traffic is insane and if you can find someone nearby who gets this problem-more power to you! Where are you at in this process? Tests? Anything prescribed yet?

[browneyesblu]

How lucky you've found someone closer to home to address your hormone concerns- You're in NJ, I'm from NJ. Would you share this name with me? I totally get not wanting to deal with Scheie. The drive for us is 150 miles, the traffic is insane and if you can find someone nearby who gets this problem-more power to you! Where are you at in this process? Tests? Anything prescribed yet?[/QUOTE]

Hi bunnyrabbit,

I sent you a pm about the HRT

[romeodakins]

Helpful video, I though the Meibomian glands were only on the eyelashes. So when I do eyelid scrubs and I supposed to scrub the inner eyelids? Like use my finger to pull my eyelid open and shove the towel inside the pocket and scrub? Also the video said something about after removing blockage they don't sucrete oil properly anymore. How would you make fix that issue?

[bunnyrabbit123]

Hi RomeoD-
No!! Do not scrub the inside of your lids. I want to stress to you that they should be called eyelid cleansers, not scrubs. IMO scrubbing only makes things much worse.

Dear Browneyesblu-
Thanks for the pm. I'm seeing the local alternative med. Dr. at the end of the month. I'll compare notes with you then.

[romeodakins]

Hi RomeoD-
No!! Do not scrub the inside of your lids. I want to stress to you that they should be called eyelid cleansers, not scrubs. IMO scrubbing only makes things much worse.

Dear Browneyesblu-
Thanks for the pm. I'm seeing the local alternative med. Dr. at the end of the month. I'll compare notes with you then.

So I'm not supposed to scrub? Can you explain how to do the scrubs, I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly. How much pressure should I put and where do I clean/scrub?

[EternalTears]

Ill get my answer to my question this Monday May 20 at UCLA from DR Rex Hamilton for Lipiview test. thanks anyway

I have a situation where my eyes/cornea/lids feel normal after using Genteal once every morning (between 6:00am -7:00am) and if I protect the eyes from wind, I wont usually feel dry symptoms until 11:00pm or later and thru the night until I awake around 6:00am. If I go to a ophthamologist or cornea specialist and he/she examines the cornea/tear film during the day, how will the DR see any measurable indication of disease or compromised MGD or Aqua glands if the best time to see any dry eye indication is between 11:00pm and 6:00am?