To warm compress or to not...that is the question.

[Eyeproblems]

Is ocular rosacea the same as blepharitis? I used to think I had ocular rosacea but eye specialist diagnosed me with blepharitis which seemed similar or the same thing or at least related. Maybe the specialist diagnosed it as such because my acne was gone by the time i hit 22 (25 now)

Anyway interesting topic as i have always found what dr. latknay suggested. I would only do one minute each eye. I think the heat does help loosen material, but it only takes about 30 seconds imo to do it. I noticed reading some people claiming to do 10 minutes each eye, i tried it the odd time, and my eyes and eyelids felt very sore and dry in the process. Heat tends to dry my skin out, so i stuck with the 30 seconds a minute just to loosen it, and it seems to work without irritating my eyes.

[ringo]

Dear Eyeproblems,

Sometimes it is very difficult to differentiate between blepharitis and rosacea of the eye, as far as my experience goes. that is especially in cases where there is no facial rosacea.

In any case, I will quote my doctor's words on this situatoin: imagine the facial skin of a person with rosacea. Now imagine what happens to his facial skin after spending 5-10 minutes in a sauna.(which is absolutely contraindicated in facial rosacea).

Now imagine an eye afflicted with rosacea (you can have a look at photos of how the surface of an eye with rosacea looks like in many different sources).

Imagine what happens to it after 5-10 minutes exposure to intense heat (meaning above the normal body temperature or more).

In my opinion, if someone cannot be absolutely sure that they do not have ocular rosacea, heat should be avoided. In most ocular surface diseases heat is an aggravating factor, as demonstrated by various studies conducted in adverse environments (drafts, winds, heat exposure, low humidity, etc.)

I guess an occasional hot compress combined with something to counter the inflammation in cases where there are no alternative treatments options, might be acceptable. But I doubt if it is applicable in confirmed rosacea cases.This is my view of this rather complicated issue.

But after all, it is a matter which only a doctor can decide on; and only after examining each individual eye. So we can go on debating here the pros and cons of this teatment, but ultimately a doctor will decide on each individual case.

Personally, I cannot tolerate any heat on my eyes. But that is just me.

Dani

[indrep]

Dani,
Could you please quote the source for "most ocular surface diseases heat is an aggravating factor".

The studies you mention regarding,"drafts, winds, heat exposure, low humidity, etc" are all related to evaporative dry eye and not necesarilly rosacea.

I would like to read the source material.

[gary]

Hi Ringo,
I sure am glad that you are on this forum,I think that you are a verry good asset to us! You do seem to be very intelligent! and also a very nice looking lady! I really appreciate all the research that you do and share with us.I am not so sure that the "doctor"knows best though.

The last two that I have been to keeps telling me to use warm compresses,They all just give me a generalize diagnosis I still don't know exactly what my problem is, water,oil or mucus.

I cannot seem to get the so called doctors to run any tests to try and find out.It looks like they could take a sample of my tears and oil and analize them to give them an idea whats going on.I couldn't even get them to express my glands to see if they were of the right consistency,they acted like that was beneath them to do that!

I read your post about heat aggrevating the inflammation which in turn attacts the meibomain and lacrimal glands now that made a lot of sense to me,so I started using the cool moist compresses and so far mt eyes feel a lot better!!My eye problems started when I got the shingles on my forehead and I guess in got into my eye.

I am so afraid that I will never get rid of the zoster virus thats in my eye.
Please don't ever give up on this forum I think that would be a tremendous loss for us,you do such a good job trying to help us!!

Thanks again Dani!
Gary

[ringo]

Dear indrep,

Here is example references, just found them now, as what I have mostly been reading is from a medical electronic database papers on heat shock proteins and their role in driving T-cells and inflammation, which I have no way of quoting now.
-- http://rosacea.emedtv.com/ocular-ros...-rosacea.htmls http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/archi...hp?t-6698.html, : http://www.randeye.com/CommunityEduc...rtableEys.html

Evaporative dry eye is a type of ocular surface disease very similar to rosacea, as rosacea sufferers have evaporative dry eye due to clogged inflamed meiboian (lid) oil glands. That makes their tear film very unstable and easy to evaporate, in addition to other problems on their ocular surface. Also, any type of severe dry eye may worsen with application of heat.

My point here was, that like Gary below explained, some doctors hesitate with the ocular rosacea diagnosis, as it is so similar to other eye disorders. Especially in the absence of facial signs. However, if one does have it, heat aggravates it and this is demonstrated by studies in adverse environments; and by the experience of many sufferers, including in this thread and other threads on the forum regarding the issue.

All I am trying to say is that one has to exercise caution when applying heat to an inflamed eye, and that it does more harm than good to some people, me included. Propagating it as a universal treatment for dry eye, according to me, is not benefiting some sufferers. By heat, as I said in my previous post, I mean, above body temperature or more. Unfortunately, many people apply hot compresses,baggies,various dry hot material, etc., not lukewarm washcloths (moist, below and up to body temperature).

And like I said, finally, this issue should be resolved by a person's choice based on personal eperience and doctor's recommendation.

regards.
Dani

Dani,
Could you please quote the source for "most ocular surface diseases heat is an aggravating factor".

The studies you mention regarding,"drafts, winds, heat exposure, low humidity, etc" are all related to evaporative dry eye and not necesarilly rosacea.

I would like to read the source material.

[ringo]

Hi Ringo,
I sure am glad that you are on this forum,I think that you are a verry good asset to us! You do seem to be very intelligent! and also a very nice looking lady! I really appreciate all the research that you do and share with us.I am not so sure that the "doctor"knows best though.

The last two that I have been to keeps telling me to use warm compresses,They all just give me a generalize diagnosis I still don't know exactly what my problem is, water,oil or mucus.

I cannot seem to get the so called doctors to run any tests to try and find out.It looks like they could take a sample of my tears and oil and analize them to give them an idea whats going on.I couldn't even get them to express my glands to see if they were of the right consistency,they acted like that was beneath them to do that!

I read your post about heat aggrevating the inflammation which in turn attacts the meibomain and lacrimal glands now that made a lot of sense to me,so I started using the cool moist compresses and so far mt eyes feel a lot better!!My eye problems started when I got the shingles on my forehead and I guess in got into my eye.

I am so afraid that I will never get rid of the zoster virus thats in my eye.
Please don't ever give up on this forum I think that would be a tremendous loss for us,you do such a good job trying to help us!!

Thanks again Dani!
Gary

Hi Gary,

Thank you so much for this wonderful post... Thank you for your appreciation and all the kind words

I understand your frustration with the doctors, I have been struggling with this for a long time myself, and given various diagnoses, which all in the end entail the same problems-- dry eye, ocular surface disorder/disease, deficiency and poor qulity of tear film, inflammation, erosions, ulcers,etc.
So, after a lot of anger, sadness, confusion, I decided-- regardless of what exactly my diagnosis is, I need to focus on treatment options directed at alleviating symptoms and inflammation.

I agree with you ( based on what I have read, my experience, doctors recommendations, and others' experiences), that applying a moist cool (not cold) or lukewarm compress to the eye, like what you do, is hepful.

I am really sorry to hear about the possible cause of your dy eye-- shingles...chances are it would not reoccur in your eyes; however, I would suggest that you keep yourself in as good shape as possible-- healthy diet, minimizing stress, taking a lot of vitamins,esp NAC, vit. C, A, E, minerals; a strong eye multivitamin; alongside your dry eye treatments.

I would suggest you ask a doctor you trust (or a dctor here on the forum), about the risks related to antiinflammatories applied to the eye (like steroids, increased cyclosporin concentratoin preparations,etc.) and potential chances of the virus attacking your eye; as all the antiinlfammatories repress immunity in the eye. Such a risk is quite remote, but it should be discussed in light of adjusting dosages, duration of treatments, regular monitoring, etc.

If you are on antiinflammatory therapy, the doctor might recommend taking antivirals like oral zovirax on a regular basis at least while on the therapy. That should be enough to keep the virus at bay.

Hope this helps.

Dani