Does doxy help with froth in tears?

[Hopeful2]

Those of you who have used doxy, do you think it has helped with the froth/bubbles in your tear film? I am thinking that it is the frothiness that causes burning, although I suspect there are lots of different causes of frothiness. Do you find that it helps with the burning? Do you think it improves the quality of your lipid tears?

Also, how much doxy are you taking?

Thanks!

[Jenn1]

I started off with 100mg once a day for a month then 50 mg a day for another month. I had to stop the doxy as i have thyroid eye disease TED so my eyes are irritated for different reasons. At first the doxy helped, but then made my eyes more sore, maybe because of the TED. So for now i am off doxy and just keeping my eyes wet with drops until i see the TED specialist and see what he recommends. But once the TED finishes, whenever that is, if i need the doxy for mgd, then i will give it a try again or some other tablet.

I dont have froth as far as i know, mine are blocked it seems and sometimes there is the odd small bubble spot near one of the glands, but that seems to pop by itself or disappear. I do wonder though how much of a difference there will be in my eyes once the TED has gone.

I would however take breaks from the doxy every so often, like use it for a month then or few months followed by a month or two rest period etc..., but you could discuss that with the opth.

[spmcc]

Those of you who have used doxy, do you think it has helped with the froth/bubbles in your tear film? I am thinking that it is the frothiness that causes burning, although I suspect there are lots of different causes of frothiness. Do you find that it helps with the burning? Do you think it improves the quality of your lipid tears?

Also, how much doxy are you taking?

Thanks!

Hi Hopeful2,

This is an "old" website from 2005 (http://www.revophth.com/content/d/co.../1310/c/25226/ ). If you scroll down, Figure 2 shows frothy tear film wrt MGD. The page is all about the latest uses of Restasis. Have you noticed any improvement of froth/bubbles and/or burning with Restasis? If not, perhaps giving it more time will help.

As for doxy - I would say that *if* the froth/bubbles and burning are due to MGD, then doxy would have a chance of helping. I've been told that doxy not only reduces the inflammation that's trapping oil in the MGs, but it also changes the consistency of the oil to allow it to flow better. That's the theory at least.

I have been on doxy for quite a few years. My dermatologist, my periodontist, and my ophthalmologist all want me on doxy. In general, one starts out with a larger dose to get the ball rolling (100mg twice/day). Then after a while, the dose is reduced to 100mg once/day.

As far as I know/have experienced, 100mg pills are prescribed most often. If you insist on a lower dose, then minocycline comes in 50mg pills. Oracea (a timed-release doxy) comes in 40mg pills but it is expensive (it's not available in Canada - you have to get it in the States - even there it's not usually covered by insurance). All the doctors I saw in the States just prescribe doxy 100mg because they think it's kinda ridiculous to pay so much for Oracea.

There is also a doxy formulation called Periostat which is 20mg. I've never tried this one.

Good luck with everything.