Warm compresses make it worse, also fish/flaxseed oil?

[eyes78]

Hi,

It's been years since I posted and I'm sorry about that. It's just that my eyes have been fine up until very recently.

A little background - wore contacts from age 13 to 31, but dryness and irritation caused me to stop. Got PRK and dry eyes got worse (surprise).

Have prominent eyes with naturally low lower lids, so an oculoplastic surgeon thought that surgically raising them would help. Three surgeries later, it did help.

Also had lower puncta cauterized but one has opened up recently (right eye).

About a month ago, I had strange tearing in my right eye (maybe after the punctum opened?) and an ophthalmologist diagnosed a blocked tear duct and also mild posterior blepharitis. He put me on doxycycline and warm (well, he said HOT) compresses.

I dutifully did the compresses and within 24 hours my eyes were in so much pain I couldn't stand it. I didn't go TOO hot (I thought). And the whole thing was weird because before I went to the Dr, my eyes felt FINE except for the tearing (or, as it turned out, the tears not draining).

After a couple days, it occurred to me that the only thing in my routine that I had changed was the warm compresses (and the doxy). I stopped the compresses, and voila, about 36 hours later, my eyes felt FINE again.

Also, another Dr, in fact the Dr. who would later perform an upper blepharoplasty a week ago, confirmed that the tear duct had spontaneously opened up. Thank goodness.

Ok, so fast forward to my upper bleph surgery. It was to create a new, higher crease, because my eyes were all droopy at age 36. That was a week ago, and understandably, my eyes are a bit uncomfortable. I'm getting that 'foreign-body' sensation in my right eye . . . and stupidly, I thought "hmm, maybe I should try the warm compress - not too warm, just a little" . . ..

So I did it once. Yesterday. Eyes felt SO much worse all day yesterday and I went back to cold compresses, which I was doing anyway for the blepharoplasty swelling. Finally starting to feel better.

So what's up? Am I the weird blepharitis patient who responds the opposite way I'm supposed to to the standard warm compress treatment?

Also, anyone have anything to say about supplementation with fish and/or flaxseed oil?

Thanks all.

[grant555]

if you are immediately post-surgery, there is a lot of inflammation going on. warm compresses would not help this and it seems to me you should stick to cold as long as your eyelids are still healing.

also, if you have allergies/ocular rosacea, dr latkany always recommends cold compresses instead of warm compresses. this could be why cold compresses benefit you more even in normal times. do you have facial rosacea? have you been checked for allergies?

[eyes78]

if you are immediately post-surgery, there is a lot of inflammation going on. warm compresses would not help this and it seems to me you should stick to cold as long as your eyelids are still healing.

also, if you have allergies/ocular rosacea, dr latkany always recommends cold compresses instead of warm compresses. this could be why cold compresses benefit you more even in normal times. do you have facial rosacea? have you been checked for allergies?

Thank you so much for your response, Grant555!

Yes, I'm 6 days post-op so still very early.

As for rosacea & allergies: I have seasonal and animal dander allergies for which I am receiving allergy shot therapy. It is helping immensely. At this point when everyone around me is sneezing, I'm pretty much unaffected.

Rosacea - I'm glad you brought this up! I'm very suspicious that I have it. I'm very, very fair, and all of my life have been extremely prone to blushing, and sometimes have that redness across my upper cheeks and bridge of nose. No issue with pimples, though.

I've taken an online quiz for helping to diagnose ocular rosacea and all signs seem to point to "maybe/probably" . . . I will definitely be asking my ophthalmologist about this. However, I'm reluctant to go back to the one who told me to use HOT (his emphasis) compresses . . . he was really adamant about that. I'm wondering if I should call around to find an opth. who is familiar with ocular rosacea instead. I just don't want to spend another $400 to go see him if he doesn't take me seriously that I will NOT do hot compresses ever again.

[Eileen510]

Dear eyes78 - I'm writing because it is interesting to compare the symptoms: I wore contacts from age 15 to 30. I cannot use hot or warm compresses. I am highly allergic to grasses - when grasses start to dry out. I have fair skin - no problems with rosacea on my nose and cheeks. I took flaxseed pills - they didn't seem to make a difference. I have been taking fish oil 1000 mgs/day - I'm not sure if it helps at all.

just a little more information: However - I do have adult acne - seems that it's not just my lid glands that clog up! a bit of background: I was diagnosed with MGD and Bleph at about 52, I'm 56 now. Dr's will not diagnose me with Ocular Rosacea tho it seems I have the symptoms. It has been a long haul to learn that I must use cooler water - I do have to use warm water to help loosen debris - but only on cotton balls and no compresses. No baby tears shampoo - only water. I only use eye drops in emergencies (like a stuck eyelash) any drops are bad for me; it helps to wash eyes with cotton ball after the drops - but I still have redness that takes days to calm. Before learning these things. I listened to Dr's and wasted a lot of life hiding from the world with antibiotic goo in my eyes. My husband is a saint for standing by me during those times (which still happen - but at least it's every few months and not every few weeks!) This site is the best for learning what routines work for us - if it wasn't for this site I would have never known that that warm-hot compresses were making my eyes worse and some people can't use baby shampoo. I always have red in my eyes - but it's a least not "hide from the world" red.

[CharlieGreenEyes]

Just wanted to say that you're not the only one who found hot compresses made it worse. I've just stopped doing them because my eyes were worse afterwards (and I haven't had surgery so it can't be because of that - although maybe it is why it's made them worse in your case).

I don't think I have rosacea but have worn contacts (rigid gas permeable) for years (started wearing them when I was 14 and I'm in my 30s now).

If you think it might be rosacea I guess it would be worth checking that the specialist you see does have experience in ocular rosacea. I've had several appointments with ophalmologists that don't seem to know anything about MGD (which I've been diagnosed with) and definitely want to make sure the next one I see has got the experience and expertise. Especially if you're paying for it (are you in the US?).

Don't think this will be much help regarding fish/flaxseed oil, but I'm a vegan (occasional vegetarian) so have been taking flaxseed oil. I really hope flaxseed oil does have as much benefit as fish oil because I haven't had fish for years. It hasn't made a difference to my eyes yet but I'll keep taking it because I want a vegan source of omega 3 (not just for my eyes). Sorry I can't help more with the oil advice.

I think I might try the cold compresses. Maybe hot compresses just aren't the best answer for some of us?

[dominorose]

I have the sensation it worsens my symptoms too but am afraid to stop: what if the glands get even more clogged?