Treat MGD in the wilderness

[PiotrSWE]

Hi,

I have MGD and will be going out in the wilderness for a week, with no running water or electricity, and I'm wondering how I can best cope with MGD during this time? Suggestions are appreciated.

[Faith1989]

I would bring moisture chamber glasses and some artificial tears. Also maybe some clean water to flush the eyes? I am assuming this is a fun trip so I know it's hard but try not to think about the MGD.. Do u have any eye allergies? If so, I would also bring an allergy drop and keep flushing the eyes. If I am swimming in a lake or something, this also feels really refreshing to my eyes so if you feel to hot or like the eyes are burning, jump in the lake!

I hope this helps a tiny bit!

[littlemermaid]

Do you have any easy eye cleaning products, like wipes, that suit you?

[DCRdryeye]

In a situation like that you can do everything Faith and Littlemermaid said...you NEED you moisture chambers and eyedrops. But "just" in case you have a flare up take some steroid drops. If you have access to a refrigerator you can cool some tear drops and saline. I went on a trip last year, it was very hot and had my steroid drops and Restasis, both need refrideration and the resort did not have a very cold fridge, it hardly worked so I made them replace it LOL (it was nice of them to do)

[littlemermaid]

With rosacea and allergies and sensitivities that affect the eyes, we've found it's about what makes things better/worse and outdoors is great, with sun and UV protection. With rosacea, we use face-shading hat and mineral sunblock because sun clears the skin but flares the nose with more permanent damage (rhinophyma). She also wears long sleeve very lightweight shirts for sun sensitivity, legs are fine though. Rosacea is about 'supporting the dermal matrix' ie a sunblock that doesn't flare things up with chemicals.

Assuming you've got really good wraparound sunglasses because these are eyes with reduced defences. We use sachet wipes to clean the prescription glasses outdoors - small thing but it improves the eye environment.

Spend a few minutes on Medscape looking up the difference between a classic allergic red eye with oedema (eg from finger which touched a plant allergen) and a brick-red bacterial infected red eye. Dry red eye we know about. Pack an eye antibacterial like Fucithalmic or Chloramphenicol, just in case of eg scratch to the eye from twig, which is what we had once (olive branch in the face, no chance of cleaning). Without refrigeration, these will have preservatives and we use a minimum 3 days so it's a 'better safe than sorry', whichever way that falls. We carry ophthalmic saline vials for flushing the eye. For allergy, cold damp compress, oral antihistamine, and if that doesn't work, anti-allergy eyedrop, again watch preservatives in frequent use. We do carry a PF steroid in vials but that is part of a supervised doc management plan for keratitis flareups only (not allergy or bacteria). Pharmacists can be helpful with advice if they've had the training, not just trying to sell random meds. My d. was originally accurately diagnosed by a pharmacist eye exam, misdiagnosed by County cornea specialist and many optometrists and GPs.

And, of course, at least 2 lubricant eyedrop bottles, cool and clean as possible. We use a small cool pack by Frio, originally designed for insulin - it chills ongoing by adding small amounts of water to gel so no refrigeration needed. We also carry snap-to-chill migraine strips for cooling the forehead.

A few here have started MGD after camping trips so it could be that bugs move in when eye cleaning is difficult. We use antibacterial hand cleaning gel for outdoors and careful not to touch the eyes without it. I'm thinking a cotton wool ball, one each eye, in a small amount of hot or even warm water morning and night would clean the eyes fine, but not to skip it. Small foldup magnifying makeup mirror is essential. No one else touch the eyes without using the antibac gel first.

Not for the trip, but just to say, Piotr, we've done well at home on eg Body Shop tea tree foaming facewash and moisturiser occasionally just in case there's overgrowth of demodex. Loads of great experience in other threads here on clearing demodex in the eyelash follicles and eyelid margins in clogged MGD.

Love to know how you get on ~ have a great trip

[PiotrSWE]

I would bring moisture chamber glasses and some artificial tears. Also maybe some clean water to flush the eyes? I am assuming this is a fun trip so I know it's hard but try not to think about the MGD.. Do u have any eye allergies? If so, I would also bring an allergy drop and keep flushing the eyes. If I am swimming in a lake or something, this also feels really refreshing to my eyes so if you feel to hot or like the eyes are burning, jump in the lake!

I hope this helps a tiny bit!

I have a pair of onion goggles, but only use them for reading at home. They only work when there is sufficient moisture in the air, and I was thinking about purchasing a real pair of moisture chamber glasses. Fortunately, I do not have any eye allergies. I will bring along a bottle of TheraTears SteriLid for lid hygiene.

Do you have any easy eye cleaning products, like wipes, that suit you?

I have only used TheraTears SteriLid, but I figure it will work as good as wipes.

In a situation like that you can do everything Faith and Littlemermaid said...you NEED you moisture chambers and eyedrops. But "just" in case you have a flare up take some steroid drops. If you have access to a refrigerator you can cool some tear drops and saline. I went on a trip last year, it was very hot and had my steroid drops and Restasis, both need refrideration and the resort did not have a very cold fridge, it hardly worked so I made them replace it LOL (it was nice of them to do)

It will be hard to find a fridge, considering the fact that I will be staying high up in the mountains in a tent. It will be quite moist there, so I don't think moisture chamber glasses will be needed. I was prescribed Azyter eye drops in the past with very good relief, but I don't think my condition is severe enough that it will be necessary for this trip.

What I would really have liked is if I could use my Blephasteam device or an eye bag. My main problem is clogged glands and as such it is what provides best relief for me. I do not have a lack of tears, but my tear quality is probably not very good, and eye drops only provide a very temporary relief. The only thing to do is probably to maintain good lid hygiene and use eye drops as needed.

If I had more time, I would probably order an EyeGiene eye bag, as they are supposed to work like normal eye bags and do not require a heating system. I have not found any reviews for it yet though.

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions!

[browneyesblu]

What I would really have liked is if I could use my Blephasteam device or an eye bag. My main problem is clogged glands and as such it is what provides best relief for me. I do not have a lack of tears, but my tear quality is probably not very good, and eye drops only provide a very temporary relief. The only thing to do is probably to maintain good lid hygiene and use eye drops as needed.

If I had more time, I would probably order an EyeGiene eye bag, as they are supposed to work like normal eye bags and do not require a heating system. I have not found any reviews for it yet though.

These do not heat up as much you would want ideally, only to 40 degrees F, but they are better than nothing. Lightweight, easy to pack & require no microwave or running water. Amazon has 1-day shipping (although I'm not sure where you are). Enjoy the trip.

http://www.amazon.com/Megurhythm-Ste...rds=eye+warmer