MGD casued by medication mess up!

[armyoftwo2007]

Hello everyone. I am 24 years old. I had some lid swelling and they "thought" maybe I had an infection. Well they gave me an antibotic ointment and said to put it in my eyes at night, once a day, for 14 days!
So I did this, and my eyes were burning and watering bad.
After 14 days, I had a feeling something was in my right eye. I went back and the Dr said well know you have dry eyes. She said right is worse than the left. She gave me a liqui gel that had BAK in it. I used that 3-4 times a day for 12 days! I noticed it was making my eyes itch so I stopped it. Well at this point I decided to go to a specialist to see what was going on, since I never had dry eyes or anything!!!
Went to a Dr and now due to this crap, I have Belphartitis, MGD, and Allergies.
Has anyone else experianced this all from medication mistakes?
I am really thinking this is permanent?? Any suggustions would be great or advice?

[Brighteyes]

I had a similar experience. Last year, when I was 25, I had a bleph flare up in my RIGHT eye. The ophthamologist gave me antibacterial or steroidal (not sure which one) eyedrops and told to use them for 10 days. I used the drops in BOTH eyes (for good measure?) and my RIGHT eye cleared up. However, about a week later, BOTH eyes started feeling like they were burning, gritty, and had foreign object sensation. I went back to the ophthamologist and was told that I had bleph/MGD/dry eye in BOTH eyes. Ya!

At first I thought my bleph/MGD/dry eye was caused by the eyedrops. However, now I think that the initial flare up was just the onset of my condition. Your condition may not curable, but hopefully its managable

[armyoftwo2007]

Well they said my tear film is bad from clogged oil glands. I guess I cant see why they cannot get all that crap out??
They have me on Restatis now.??

[Brighteyes]

Its not a matter of unclogging your oil glands. I think what they meant was that your oil glands are "clogged" by oils that are too thick (consistency wise). My ophthamologist used the analogy that the oil produced by my glands is the consistency of toothpaste when it should be the consistency of motor oil. For a better explanation, I suggest you check out the "dry eye for dummies", "dry eye treatments", and "MGD" links in following thread: http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showthread.php?t=3212

[armyoftwo2007]

Thank you! I just think they are clogged with the oil and gel becasue the right eye had more medication and they are saying that is the worst. It is moderatley clogged. Where as the left is mild. Never bothers me.
I have read where ointments can mess your eyes up bad.

[brd888]

hi

Hi there,
I think you may be mistaken - I don't think the original antibiotic ointment caused the problem or is what is clogging the glands. Are you in US? I was first prescribed antiseptic ointment too (I think this is the first option for doctors) which didn't work. The problems was most probably MGD in the first place (maybe caused by allergies). By the way MGD and Blepharitis are the same thing.
It is interesting you are on Restasis so soon - I believe Restasis is for folk with heavily marked red inflamed eyes. I don't think it will benefit yourself.
Cheers.

[armyoftwo2007]

Well the only reason I think the ointment clogged it was becasue my right eye had more ointment! And that is more clogged than the left. If it was just simply MGD then they would be the same.
They lifted my lid up and said I had allergies in the right eye lid. I guess restatis has helped people get their glands un-clogged.

[armyoftwo2007]

Plus the DR told me to use the ointment at night. So it sat in my eyes and clogged me up! I had a dry eye test done prior and I was normal. Then after all this, I was clogged.
They keep saying it is permanent, but I feel it is. I have read from numerous Drs when giving ointments wrong it can casue long term damage to your glands. They thought I had bacteria conjuctities and never did!!!!!!!!

[Rebecca Petris]

Armyoftwo,

First of all welcome!

I would encourage you not to get too hung up on the idea of those products you used for a relatively short period of time having caused any long-term damage.

There are many here like you who had a relatively sudden onset of symptoms after use of some kind of eye product or systemic medication. However, I think that quite often there is an underlying condition (such as MGD) that simply makes one more susceptible to "triggers" of dry eye or other ocular surface problems - like a product you're sensitive to that triggers a reaction and starts things escalating. Blepharitis, MGD etc. don't just start up overnight. They may become SYMPTOMATIC overnight though.

Also note that it is common for one eye to be worse than the other.

The most important thing to focus on is really good diagnosis and what's the best course of treatment going forward.

[armyoftwo2007]

Thank you for the advice......
I just know that they were not sure if I had an infection from my contact and they gave me an ointment & told me to use it once at night in both eyes to prevent a ping pong infection!!!! Well I used the ointment at night and it burned my eyes and stuff. And then 14 days after it I had a feeling that something was in my right eye. Went back to her and she said it was a little dry and gave me a gel! Well ointments and gels are known to clogg your oil glands up and do long term damage if not prescribed right. All the DRs I have seen say my eyes are very healthy, just everything is clogged! I just would think there would be a way to get them unclogged since I told them what was in it. Now they are saying take resatis to see if it can un-clogg it.

[armyoftwo2007]

They also said that oil comes out.. When it is pressed.

[Rebecca Petris]

To be honest, I think you're being rather unfair to the doctors. It is not a very commonly held view in medical circles that ointment "clogs" everything up let alone gels. Many of us have come to believe that petrolatum/mineral oil ointments are not helpful with dry eye long-term, but only partly for that specific reason. And again, I don't think that people's MGs get blocked up that fast unless they were already susceptible. People get treated with ointments of various types all the time without having a sudden dry eye or MGD flare-up like this.

Typical treatment for meibomian gland blockage is any or all of:

• warm compresses and lid massage
• Omega 3s
• oral antibiotics e.g. doxycycline

[armyoftwo2007]

I just know that I have found on here that if you use stuff wrong, it can clogg you up. I didn't use much in the left and they are saying it is good. They are saying the right is moderate clogged.
I have seen very good DRs at John Hopkins, ect and they haven't showed me how to do lid massages.
I have researched this quite a bit, and found that the glands need to be expressed to release this out and for some people that is all they need!!!!
I think I could get this reversed if I see the correct Dr.
I haven't yet.
I am not sure why I am on restatis.

[armyoftwo2007]

Also I was told to use it at night for an infection??
So I put it in and didnt wipe any off. I didnt know I was suppose to clean it. I think it sat in my eyes for 14 days and clogged it up.
Then I had some mild irritation and then they gave me BAK gel drop also!!!

[Brighteyes]

I have read from numerous Drs when giving ointments wrong it can casue long term damage to your glands.

My RIGHT eye is MUCH worse than my LEFT eye. Although, I'm not sure that will make you feel any better about your condition However, I am curious about what you said earlier regarding ointments causing long term damage to your glands. Do you have any links to articles on the subject?