I think my IPL is helping.

[farmgirl]

On July 26th I went for my 3rd IPL treatment in the series of 4 that the Dr recommended. Following treatment one and 2 I have to say I didn't feel any different, particularly in my stubborn left eye, although the oils express easier every time he does it. I wasn't expecting miracles, particularly after watching Dr Korbs 4 part video on dry eye that was posted by MGD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSShGZfxiFg&t=7s

As we all know by now it is difficult to quantify, are we really better or are we just having a good day/week. We hate to pronounce that we are actually feeling better for fear that will jinx it and tomorrow we will feel like #$%@#&,....well you get my drift.

So, at the risk of jinxing myself, here is why I THINK I am doing noticeably better. I was up at our farm in northern Alberta, Canada. The weather was warm and I was working outside a lot. One of those days I was shingling a small roof and on that particular day I started at 8:00 in the AM and finished at 9:00 PM. I had gone back to the house for lunch but did not come down for dinner as I knew that if I got off I would not have the energy to get back on and did not want to risk moisture entering the building as our renters had belongings in it. When I got home I realized I had not put a drop in ALL day. In fact I didn't put one in until about 9:30. That is the longest I have ever gone since this nightmare started 8 years ago, 13.5 hours!! unimaginable.

So was it a fluke, I am beginning to think not. The clincher however is even more unbelievable. It is the smoke from the forest fires in BC. Last year I was exposed to forest fire smoke on a 5 day tour in one of our vintage cars and by day 3 my eyes were burning so badly that we had to abandon the rest of the tour and I went home to the Dr because I thought I must be getting an infection. It turns out that the burning was because of the smoke. I discovered that there is particulate matter in smoke that sticks to the eyeball when the tear film is thin and compromised and cannot flush it out.

Flash forward to this year and for 3 days straight I have been exposed to smoke even worse than that from last year. How are my eyes? still OK. I am not going 13 hours with no drops but I am not pouring them in and am not experiencing any burning sensation. I can only conclude that my tear film is definitely improving.

I pray that I don't have to print my retraction tomorrow...lol

[MGD1701]

cong. - thanks for sharing.

Expression
Did dr express with q-tip or metal? I wonder the difference, any idea?

Osmolarity, MMP-9 and LLT: Wondering if dr monitors these?
I remember your LLT are pretty good prior to IPL, right?

[Guest]

I'm really happy to hear those stories...glad you're doing well.

[deep_dry_eye]

I think I required 6 IPL treatments to feel the difference, and I am going monthly-IPL to maintain the effects.

Do you mind PMing me your dr and price?

[Hokucat]

Farmgirl, it’s so great to know that treatments like IPL can still help, especially after so many years you’ve been dealing with MGD! Thanks for the update.

[Rebecca Petris]

Oh farmgirl I am SO EXCITED for you. Just love to hear of some good days and less vulnerability like that.

[farmgirl]

Thanks guys your positive comments.

Deep_dry_eye I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada and the treatments are being done at Clarity Laser Vision but the Dr is from Seema Eyecare Center. His name is Dr. AlGhoul and yes that is all one word. He is a corneal specialist. The cost so far has been $1860 and that covers the 4 treatments plus the lipiview and osmolarity at the beginning and end. It also includes 4 bottles of PRN oils and 4 bottles of hylo gel drops and a bead mask.

MGD my LLT was 71 on one eye and 87 on the stubborn left eye.
Osmolarity was 325 and 326
MMP-9 I don't think they tested.
He does the expression with q-tips

Yesterday I looked at my lower lid margins and I can see the tips of the glands which I could never see before. They looked like a row of little white dots. Oddly enough the glands on the left eye on the lipiview pictures are much longer than the truncated ones on the right but the right eye is much more comfortable than the left....go figure. He will be retesting everything after the 4th IPL at the end of this month.

I had another good day today. I was outside all day and the smoke was worse, the air just looked foggy but I didn't use a drop from the time I got up at 8:00 until the time I left the rodeo grounds at 3:00. Even then the only reason I needed one is because the air was blowing from the AC in the car and I had to ditch my moisture chambers because it was too difficult to see well as the smoke was making everything in the distance look foggy and was blocking the sun. This is day 6 with smoke, and even tonight as I write this I am not getting even the usual computer burn.

[MGD1701]

Cong. again.

You are indeed super lucky to find a dr who cares for patients and results. I envy you!
Your doctor is very wise - dont understand why most doctors miss such profitable business apart from
building their reputation/image as a real expert.

Is it correct to assume that your main issue is inflammation given your high Osmolarity and
IPL also tackles inflammation?? Your LLT are so high - envy you again. so your MGD is not a big issue??

Moisture Chamber
You use 7eye or Ziena or both? Seems Ziean protects better?? Any ideas?

[deep_dry_eye]

Thanks guys your positive comments.

Deep_dry_eye I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada and the treatments are being done at Clarity Laser Vision but the Dr is from Seema Eyecare Center. His name is Dr. AlGhoul and yes that is all one word. He is a corneal specialist. The cost so far has been $1860 and that covers the 4 treatments plus the lipiview and osmolarity at the beginning and end. It also includes 4 bottles of PRN oils and 4 bottles of hylo gel drops and a bead mask.

MGD my LLT was 71 on one eye and 87 on the stubborn left eye.
Osmolarity was 325 and 326
MMP-9 I don't think they tested.
He does the expression with q-tips

Yesterday I looked at my lower lid margins and I can see the tips of the glands which I could never see before. They looked like a row of little white dots. Oddly enough the glands on the left eye on the lipiview pictures are much longer than the truncated ones on the right but the right eye is much more comfortable than the left....go figure. He will be retesting everything after the 4th IPL at the end of this month.

I had another good day today. I was outside all day and the smoke was worse, the air just looked foggy but I didn't use a drop from the time I got up at 8:00 until the time I left the rodeo grounds at 3:00. Even then the only reason I needed one is because the air was blowing from the AC in the car and I had to ditch my moisture chambers because it was too difficult to see well as the smoke was making everything in the distance look foggy and was blocking the sun. This is day 6 with smoke, and even tonight as I write this I am not getting even the usual computer burn.

Thanks! I think we traded notes before, here in TOR, I got mine around ~$700 for 12 treatments (monthly-IPL). I hope it works for u!

Pls keep us posted on your imaging after the 4th IPL, my glands showed structural improvement post-IPL. I am hoping the same can be found in your case.

[PG]

Great news! I had a similar response to IPL, and would recommend it. Now when I go for my annual treatment, my eyes feel better immediately.

[deep_dry_eye]

Great news! I had a similar response to IPL, and would recommend it. Now when I go for my annual treatment, my eyes feel better immediately.

You might want to try monthly-IPL, that's the current regime I am on atm.

[farmgirl]

You might want to try monthly-IPL, that's the current regime I am on atm.

As I recall in our correspondence you only get the IPL but not the expression. I am pretty sure that the expression is essential for me and of course it is more than $900 per year for the full meal deal. For me I'll play it by ear but will certainly pony up if that is what it takes to keep me comfortable long term.

[farmgirl]

Is it correct to assume that your main issue is inflammation given your high Osmolarity and
IPL also tackles inflammation?? Your LLT are so high - envy you again. so your MGD is not a big issue??

Moisture Chamber
You use 7eye or Ziena or both? Seems Ziean protects better?? Any ideas?

I have always assumed that my primary problem was Sjogrens so am aqueous deficient but recently have discovered that almost without exception Sjogren's sufferers also have MGD. It is just recently that the MGD has been addressed. Inflammation is just part of the package that accompanies dry eye syndrome.

My LLT is higher than some but certainly is not within the realm of what would be considered normal for non dry eye.

As regards moisture chambers I have both WileyX and 7 eye. I currently am using 7eye and like the look better.

[deep_dry_eye]

As I recall in our correspondence you only get the IPL but not the expression. I am pretty sure that the expression is essential for me and of course it is more than $900 per year for the full meal deal. For me I'll play it by ear but will certainly pony up if that is what it takes to keep me comfortable long term.

Yes . sorry its actually $700 for 12 sessions of IPL.

Yes -- I don't do expressions after my IPL, I asked for it, but the dr says I don't need it. However, he gives me BlephEx for free afterwards. Since expression takes the same amount of time as BlephEx, maybe he truely thinks I don't need it (as opposed to cheap-ing out)?

[farmgirl]

I would call $700 for 12 treatments a bar-goon, you're lucky