My eyes are 70% better thanks to nutrition and detox programme!

[runnergirl]

Because of this post, I started a Gluten free diet 4 weeks ago. I feel like it is helping a little bit. My husband told me to stick it out for another month and see how it goes. My eyes are just more manageable. They are not perfect but manageable. I am not allergic to any foods. I may try eliminating milk this go around because I do have outside allergies. I may even try cutting sugar. I love my cookies and eating gluten free cookies are not fun, but as it stands- even a little improvement right now, is better than a good ole chocholate chip cookie. Thank you for starting this thread!

[JJdryeye]

Even if you have the worst MGD ever, why not try some diet changes and see what happens - if anything, you have more to gain than someone with only mild MGD...

I suppose if someone has some kind of irreversible damage to their MG's, then maybe there is a limit to how much improvement is possible... but still, you never know what is possible until you try, right?

For what it's worth, I'd classify my dry eye as severe... freakishly so - and despite that, my dietary changes made a significant difference. Are my eyes normal now? No. But I'll take whatever improvement I can get

I guess I just like to understand the science behind things. Especially when it comes to diets, I'd be more motivated to follow a radical diet if I understood how it could help me. Again, not doubting that it works for some people.

[tealeaf]

[QUOTE=DryLondoner;91646]oh...the no drops at all question, I blink a lot, which helps - so I must have tears but something is going wrong.

My eye specialist said you definitely have tears when your eyes are glossy. Just that the amount is not enough or the tears are evaporative so doesn't stay long enough to soak up the shirmer strips.

[tealeaf]

Dry Londoner,
yes, after putting in eye drops, my eyes got gritter. But if I don't put in eye drops, they will be so dry. After being plugged, at least I don't put drop as often.
With regard to shirmer test, I have the same thoughts as you! I hope with plugs, the results will be better. All the best to your check up in 2 weeks' time.

Many of my colleagues know I had lasik. I didn't reveal to them about how dry my eyes are. So, if I were to wear spectacles, they will come with questions, I am not ready to answer them. Till now, I wear spectacles when I am on my way to and fro work and at windy places.

I had a colleague who did lasik and was dry for 2 years, thereafter, had been good too. I hope we fall in this category. Yes, keep on keeping on and do things that help our eyes.

With regard to your detox programme, how do you keep full when there are no grains and no meat like chicken, beef (Fish is not filling for me). I will feel very hungry.

[DryLondoner]

oh...the no drops at all question, I blink a lot, which helps - so I must have tears but something is going wrong.

Also, as soon as I feel any irritation I close them for about a minute. I also wear glasses everywhere and when it's windy I look down so most of the eye is covered. I really need to summon up the courage to wear proper protective glasses.

[DryLondoner]

I have one eye plugged. That one was always a bit worse than the other.

I am beginning to suspect that it is the anti-histamines and eye drops (I was using Alaway for about three weeks, and then Opatanol and steriods for about 8 days) made my eyes worse. I've been off both of these for 3 weeks and they feel more moist/comfortable. With most eye drops my eyes feel grittier. Is that what you feel?

I've also been taking omega 3 tablets for about 6 months which seems to help.

This morning was amazing! I really hope I haven't spoken too soon and that it wasn't just a fluke. They were still quite a bit red. But I'm hoping that will subside as they get moister. I am so scared to get a schirmer test done, I'm petrified it is all in my head and that actually nothing has changed. I'm having a check up in two weeks.

Tealeaf - keep going!! I was talking to a colleague today who had PRK, she had dry eyes for the first year at least, and was constantly on the eye drops. Now two years later she is absolutely fine.

[tealeaf]

Dry Londoner
so happy to read that you woke up with no dry eyes at all! I have not felt this since 10 months ago.
Do you have your eyes plugged? How do you maintain your eyes with no drops at all? I am using restasis, systane ultra and eye gel at night. Many drops are unsuitable for me.

[DryLondoner]

tealeaf - I am trying the following:

- Drinking 3 litres of water a day - mineral water when I can (the tap water in London is horrid).
- I am taking colon cleanse & gut repair tablets (I started these yesterday - will update you if I feel a difference)
- I am also taking an organic/natural multi vit type tablet
- I am eating more fish (wild and organic if I can get it) more veggies (again, organic) and a little fruit
- Also eating lots of nuts
- I am doing dry body brushing twice a week
- Spending less time on the computer and doing gentle exercise (Pilates) and meditating when I can.
- Drinking organic white tea - no coffee/black tea
- Cutting down on sugar (although still eating a little fruit) but not eating any processed foods/junk food
- Cold compress every evening
- I now need to look at the products I am using and switch to natural alternatives, e.g. deodorants make up etc. Then I will look at the products I am using in my house.

My eyes have caused my to be so stressed in the last month or so. I am calmer this week and can feel a difference - I woke up this morning and they didn't feel dry at all. First time in about a month and a half.

I have also stopped using all eye drops, except Catacrom, unless I really need them (I am convinced I am sensitive to eye drops, I've tried most of the preservative free brands - except theratears, and after about two days they all seem to make my eyes worse).

The above is not scientific at all. But I am just trying to look after myself and hoping my eyes will eventually reflect this.

[tealeaf]

DryLondoner,
what kind of detox programme are you on?

Faith & SAAG,
Did you start with any detox programme or go straight into low carb, low sugar diet? I am willing to try as long as the diet helps in making improvements to my eyes.

By the way, what's the difference between MGD and Blephagritis? My ophthalmologist checked my eyelids and mentioned upper lids are too oily, thus recommeneded warm compress and lidscrub, so, do I have MGD or Blephagritis?
Should warm compress be done 1st then lidscrub? When do we use Q-tip?

Thanks for the advise as I am very new here and still have a lot to learn to help myself

For those on here who've seen big improvements by changing their diet, I'm curious to know how bad your dry eye was to begin with? Is this something that is more likely to help someone with a milder case? A lot of people on here speak of their m-glands having atrophied, I'm not sure how changing the diet is going to reverse something that severe. Not to be a debbie-downer or anything, I'm just curious about where you started?

Even if you have the worst MGD ever, why not try some diet changes and see what happens - if anything, you have more to gain than someone with only mild MGD...

I suppose if someone has some kind of irreversible damage to their MG's, then maybe there is a limit to how much improvement is possible... but still, you never know what is possible until you try, right?

For what it's worth, I'd classify my dry eye as severe... freakishly so - and despite that, my dietary changes made a significant difference. Are my eyes normal now? No. But I'll take whatever improvement I can get

[DryLondoner]

Faith - thank you for giving me hope. I eat quite healthy anyway, but am starting a detox today and going to see someone about food sensitivities.

Great to hear that you are doing much better!!

[Faith1989]

My MGD is very bad. I have a tbut of 3 seconds and my lids are always red. My eyes used to be so bloodshot it was embarrassing. I have been dieting now for about a few months, and my eyes are no longer red. Like at all. My inner lids are still red and do flare whenever I eat 1. Carbs 2. Sugar 3. Drink alcohol but are way way better when I'm eating properly. This meats mainly vegetables, meat, nuts and maybe a little fruit.

A low carb, low sugar diet has helped a lot.... And mine is bad I assure you.

[JJdryeye]

For those on here who've seen big improvements by changing their diet, I'm curious to know how bad your dry eye was to begin with? Is this something that is more likely to help someone with a milder case? A lot of people on here speak of their m-glands having atrophied, I'm not sure how changing the diet is going to reverse something that severe. Not to be a debbie-downer or anything, I'm just curious about where you started?

[DryLondoner]

Hi Desi,

You might check not in here anymore, but if you do may I ask, did the allergy shots cure your redness (if you did indeed have redness in the first place)?

[Desi]

I am so happy for you! I've been following your posts on here for a couple years because I really identified with your struggle, and it makes my heart happy to finally hear good news.

I think the cause of my eye issues was similar to yours, in that something/many things were causing inflammation in our bodies and therefore affecting our most delicate nerves/tissues. I went to an immunologist who got me intense allergy shots and had me go off gluten(he thinks I'm intolerant to the protein) to bring down inflammation and within a month I felt cured within a month and its been a year and a half. Now, even when I slack on my diet or taking my allergy shots, my eyes still feel fine! It's true, the body can definitely heal itself!

I just hope and pray that everyone else on this board can heal, too.