That horrible PM salve+blepharitis

[eyeswideopen]

Hi!
I have severe dry eye (sjogrens+lupus). I am using an eye vitamin and drink plenty, etc. But the blepharitis is the true problem and it took forevever to be diagnosed by corneal specialists. Has anyone else had problems with that horrible salve you use at bedtime? Even with extra liquid tears and an eye mask, I wake in the AM feeling as though my eyes were "frosted" with a thick cake icing that has "set" on them during the night; it is just the ickiest feeling! Sometimes I think the salve makes things worse, but all my docs insist upon it. Sometimes I end up doing the scrub and soak 3X a day, just for comfort. And of course there are the eye drops. My doc is supposed to be one of the best specialists, and I tried a few others first. I have used the warmed rice baggies. Any other suggestions?
Thanks!
eyeswideopen

[calli66]

I also have Sjogren's and severe dry eye, and I do get blepharitis occasionally.

Sounds like the "salve" you use is a petrolatum/mineral ointment. Is that right? Or is it the medication ointment used to treat blepharitis? If that's the case, you can get the same therapeutic effect by wiping a very thin layer on the lids only at the lash line---not in the eye at all. I sometimes use the Blephamide ointment this way, but not very often. It does help clear up the bleph. I know that the ointment I have does contain some lanolin and a pretty bad preservative---you might want to check the ingredients in yours and make sure you're not allergic to something in it.

Mostly I use Genteal Gel which is messy and thick (and it does leave residue and stickiness by morning). You just have to get used to it, I guess.

The ointments prevent corneal damage, it's true, but they can also coat the eyes and lids so much that it keeps the natural tear film from adhering to the eye. So this creates a dependency on the salve.

A friend of mine had a really hard time weaning off of the ointments, so if you switch to gel, be prepared for uncomfortable nights (and days) for a few days or more. It takes time for all the residue to go away and the eye surface to become "wettable" again. Tell your doctor what you plan to do, in case there is a reason (like corneal problems) that you have to use ointment instead of gel.

C