Is this my life now....???

[epicjinx]

I'm so tired of mgd and allergies. I've tried so many eye drops gels fish oil my allergies have came back after even still on catacrom.... I'm applying hycosan eye drops, I take scope fish oil, my eyes are getting redder. I have very mild mgd my bottom oil glands express white/grey stuff. I hate myself for using computers so much years ago. I never knew this could happen. I have very little options left, I'm depressed with no relief at all. Scerlera lenses (sp) are my last option. But I don't know what else to do. Or to try... I'm tired of waking up, is rather be dead I'm doing everything to treat this I feel suicidal. I hate myself I have red dry eyes until i die! I'm sorry but I'm soooooo tired of no relief. I don't know what my other options are. I know allergies effect my oil glands.... but I'm having no hope treating this. I'm only 20... loosing hope alot. It's effecting my college work... I feel stupid for getting this!! Years ago id be on computers for college then go home to it too. What else can I do? I can't live like this anymore! Please help I'm desperate for relief.....

[Faith1989]

Have you tried any prescription drops such as restasis or allergy drops? Have you tried doxycycline to get the oil glands functioning? Also, for artificial tears the only one I use is preservative free Soothe which I order from the US. When I was at my worst, Soothe was a lifesaver. Also anti inflammatory diets have shown to work. I was 22 when I got this, so I get it. You will eventually feel better. Keep trying and push doctors to help, if one doesn't ask for a referral.

[MGD1701]

Hi,
The most important is to: find out root causes so you can treat them effectively
- otherwise do more harms and waste money/energy.

There are many reasons, so focus on your BIG problems first and so you can solve them step by step.

For MGD, warm compress/WC, massage, lid scrubs (x2/day) are critical - do you feel oil when you perform wc?
If not, something wrong - maybe your glands are too clogged?
Then Probing/BlephEx should help - they are cheaper than LipiFlow.
Drop are for relief NOT the solution. You need oil-based drops.
--------------------
Allergies: Avoid cleaners with and skin care, beauty products with following preservatives:
Alcohols, EDTA, Acrylates, Argireline

formaldehyde-donating preservatives - normally producers show:
DMDM-hydantoin, quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol.

parabens; BAK; phenoxyethanol (smells like a rose)
---------------
If you use PC often, blinking exercises helps.

Omg 3 - fish oil is NOT the only choice. plant seeds can gain the same results and more economical.

Perhaps you could tell others
1) where (which city) you live so they might help you to find a real expert.
2) be a bit specific about your eye problems
(MGD, glands status, how many functional, clear/thick oil, oil quality, allergies, mid-night pain...etc) -
so others could share their experience/tips.

Lastly, if old practices are NOT working, find out WHY and explore NEW ONES.
what is done is done, nothing we can do. Think positive!

[epicjinx]

Faith- I've tried catacrom which did work then before patanol no effect with that and now hycosan ecotin is in it with another product listed. I've not been told to use doxycycline, nor have trued restadis. I'm in the UK, mgd1701- I've been told I have allergies underneath my oil glands and have mild mgd apparently i did get told it went from mild to very mild. Yes I did got told to reduce it now and I don't feel oil although it does squish sound when pressing against all my oil glands are open my bottom ones express white/grey oil from my recent appointment 7 in my left 5 in my right I use ocusoft too. Last bit I'm I'm not sure what else to try I don't have money for lipiflow ipl ECT.. . Hope this helps sorry finding it hard to cope

[MGD1701]

Hi epicjinx
firstly, dont think too much - just focus on ONE thing at a time.

LipiFlow is NOT the only solution but you need to master warm compress (wc) massage and lid scrubs effectively.
Facial steamer helped my thick oil flow as my thick oil about 43C - now my oil is only half thick.
(but 40C is bad for cornea so first try to do wc longer, say 15 min.).
What wc you use? constant heat is important.

Try to think what went wrong, what are good/bad for your eyes.

[epicjinx]

I use optase or therapearl for ten minutes I got told to reduce doing this. Went wrong? My oil glands being blocked. I haven't found anything good for my eyes everything doesn't give me relief.

[MGD1701]

10 min Therapearl - do you check temperature? I dont like such microwaved wc -
I wanted to know exact temperature - for safety/efficiency reasons.

Well, doctors also told me 10 min. warm compress (wc)/Blephasteam 42.5C but I hardly had oil secretion feeling.
So I did a lot of research & tried facial steamer - later I finally had oil feeling (= oil flows) - now my oil is not so thick.
Doctors also did NOT tell me I should have OIL FEELING - I found out that by myself!
If your oil not flows, your glands will be blocked then you need probing etc otherwise they might be gone FOR GOOD.

(constant) Heat and moisture/mist are important for successful wc, according to my research and experience.
They can remove dirts, bacterias etc.

Try to learn more on mastering wc.

[epicjinx]

Yes i do check tempature, My oil glands ARE no longer blocked because of warm compress and such. But, now i do not have ENOUGH oil coming out of my glands due to my lower lids being white/grey oil coming out. I dunno what more to say to you... As i've did warm compresses alot, and no change in my oil.

[MGD1701]

Great. I dont have oil quantity problem so I can not help you with it. Maybe others could.
Please do some research or consult dr. - possible reasons might be medication, birth control pills etc.
Normal oil should be clear as oliver oil, I have read.
Maybe it is good to do blood test for the omeg 3 to make sure how much more you need.

If not enough oil is coming out, NOT sure if more warm compress helps??
Sometimes more is NOT always good.

[Hokucat]

Hi epicjinx. Many of us in this forum have been through tough times like you are going through now, so we totally understand, and want you to know you can get through it.

Perhaps tell your eye doctor how desparate you feel about your condition, and that you want to try on the scleral lenses sooner rather than later. When you have the scleral consult, likely you will try on a sample pair, to see if you can tolerate the lenses and see if it makes your eyes feel better. It would be good for you to know if this will help manage your symptoms in the long run. It could be a game changer.

There are a few other things to help manage your symptoms in the near term, that I don't think you mentioned you already use:

-Wrap around goggles or glasses have helped many people. Several people like WileyX or 7Eye.

-Punctual plugs on the lower and possibly upper tear ducts has helped some people.

-Genteal Severe Eye Gel was the only drop/gel that gave me any relief during my worst times. I honestly don't think I would have made it through those really bad years without it. Although it is supposed to be preservative-free once in the eye, some people have developed an allergic reaction to it from long term use, so use it sparingly.

https://www.lenscatalogue.co.uk/Acce...ent-34-oz.html

Besides managing your symptoms, it's important to address the cause of your condition. Somehow you need to get your white/grey oils to flow and improve the quality. I agree with Faith that a healthy diet can make a difference. It was a key factor in addressing my underlying condition and changing my oils from thick white Crisco-like oil to flowing. Here's a post where I outlined key factors including what I eat that helped me recover, in case you need some ideas on what foods to eat (and stay away from):

http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/forum...ccumulate-info

Also, I don't know if it's possible for you to take a break from school so you can rest your eyes from electronic devices and studying and focus on getting better, but that could be ideal in the long run.

Ok, hang in there epicjinx. You have a lot of support from us in this forum who have gone through similar periods and have improved, and we are here for you.

[epicjinx]

The thing is I don't have money to get them atm because I paid 60 last time at my appointment for 6 months review. I have been wearing swim goggles also my lecturer knows about how it's effecting me and he even phoned them. I got told about punctual plugs but my issue is oil based so I doubt it will help at all. I've been taking fish oil supplements to try and change it but no use and my allergies are back so I think I will be going back to square one. I took a day off today as I'm feeling horrible my lecturer has my number to phone me about what will go on. I just wonder if those lenses would give me proper relief as nothing else is working. I told my gran about my eyes her reply: forget about it. I've been doing vix steam plus lighting candles to relax me as I'm stressed. I just don't know how else to cope. I've been sleeping alot more than usual because of it. I was thinking of detox or these lenses because I don't know what else to do. I know others have been it sorts helps being on here with others.

[ehsan372]

hi.
do yo have mgd?
do you test tea tree oil or suphur?

[Hokucat]

Glad your lecturer is supportive of your condition. Perhaps he can write a note to have as documentation for your current and future doctors/specialists, describing how your condition is affecting your attendance and studies...it may expedite them recommending future treatments, possibly help justify some treatments as a medical necessity vs. elective (this might determine how much you have to pay yourself), etc. Might be also good to show to your gran and other family, to help further support you emotionally and possibly financially with treatments to help your condition. Unfortunately, people who do not have debilitating dry eye find it difficult to comprehend just how bad off we are.

I've read MGD can also lead to aqueous deficiency, so plugs can still be worth a try at some point.

Regarding diet and detox, these are always good for your overall health. You can start now by gradually making changes to your diet now. Just by eliminating sugars, gluten and diary, and eating/juicing more vegetables you might start to see a difference. I kept a daily log of everything I ate and drank, meds/eye drops/supplements taken, exercise, hours of sleep, how dry my eyes felt that day, etc. to help me determine what made me feel better or worse. I personally never had to detox, the diet changes alone and sticking to it was enough to see a material impact.

You're wondering whether sclerals can help you given you've tried everything but nothing has worked so far. Just go have the consult and try on the sample pair(s) to find out, otherwise you'll never know.

[epicjinx]

Ehsan- I do have mgd but not sure about tea tree oil or sulphur why? Hoku cat- I have finally gotten an appointment for the eye hospital in the UK and by the email I got I can hopefully get more treatments punctual plugs cyclosporin and those lens on nhs or either pay privately for the treatment from the sounds of it. So I'll ask about these. I've been on/off diet stuff but my diet has never been healthy at all... Which I'm wondering now if it might be adding to my issue. I've also asked my mum to go to my appointment with me. I'm trying to be hopeful that these will give me relief!

[Hokucat]

Epicjinx, I'm so glad you got the appointment at the eye hospital, that's a big step forward! Good you asked your mum to go with you too...all this info can be overwhelming so perhaps you or your mum can take notes at the appointment, and she can better understand what you're dealing with.

Yes, a poor diet can add to your dry eye problem, or even can be the cause. When my eyes were severely dry, I noticed if I ate sweets or gluten just one day, the next day my eyes would be totally unbearable. I was an extreme case, but from that experience I could see just how much eating poorly could impact my eyes. Try taking small steps to start improving your diet now, cause changing everything at once can be difficult.

Good luck at your appointment!