I have suffered for years with dry eye. I've used every drop available, including blood serum drops -- no help. I've had my meibomian glands probed (a little help, didn't last), and been seen by more doctors than I can count, including Dr Tseng in Miami. Recently I saw Dr Tseng for the 3rd time and he looked for mites in my eye lashes, as he has done before. I have had mites previously, and I treated them with the product he had available at that time. But, this time when he checked for mites he found the brevis mite, which he had not found before. The brevis mite lives in the meibomian glands, vs. the lash follicles. It is also difficult to find, and treat, because they don't move around like the typical demodex mite does. According to Dr Tseng the brevis mite can raise havoc with the meibomian glands. I have started a new regimen, partly at Dr Tseng's suggestion, and partly from my own knowledge. Each evening I take a shower and wash my eye lids with OCuSOFT foaming eyelid cleanser. Just before bed I use a Cliradex wipe, per Dr Tseng. Then, and this is my add to the process, I rub about 1/8 inch of Lotemax PF ointment across the eye lids. When I wake in the morning I immediately use a warm compress for about 5-8 minutes. With this regimen I have now reached the point where I don't need to use warm compresses throughout the day. I can watch TV, and even read books, which I could not do before. BTW, sometimes rather than rubbing the Lotemax ointment across the lids I put 1/8 inch into each eye. I do that when my eyes seem to be more irritated than usual.
Dr Tseng told me to use the wipes twice per day, and I did that for a week or so. But, I found that my eyes were getting irritated so I went to once per day. I believe the Lotemax PF ointment is controlling the inflamation, while the Cliradex is addressing the mite problem. Dr Tseng said it could take 4 months to get rid of the brevis mites. I will probably start using the Cliradex twice per day now that my eyes are doing much better.
One other thing I do, periodically, is see Dr Paul Gilwit in Ft Lauderdale. He has a very successful approach at expressing the meibomian glands. For about one week after I see him my eyes seem perfect, no irritation. It does not last, for me, longer than about one week. But, Dr Gilwit says that if I have the glands expressed every 3-4 months, the time it will last will be much longer. I have not done it at that frequency yet because my current regimen has helped so much. But, I do plan to see him again in a couple of months.
Dr Tseng told me to use the wipes twice per day, and I did that for a week or so. But, I found that my eyes were getting irritated so I went to once per day. I believe the Lotemax PF ointment is controlling the inflamation, while the Cliradex is addressing the mite problem. Dr Tseng said it could take 4 months to get rid of the brevis mites. I will probably start using the Cliradex twice per day now that my eyes are doing much better.
One other thing I do, periodically, is see Dr Paul Gilwit in Ft Lauderdale. He has a very successful approach at expressing the meibomian glands. For about one week after I see him my eyes seem perfect, no irritation. It does not last, for me, longer than about one week. But, Dr Gilwit says that if I have the glands expressed every 3-4 months, the time it will last will be much longer. I have not done it at that frequency yet because my current regimen has helped so much. But, I do plan to see him again in a couple of months.
Comment