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I don't want to use the word triumph regarding my road back to recovery after nearly losing my eye function to Lasik in 2011 because I want to remain CAUTIOUSLY optimistic and view it still as a work in progress. But these are the things that brought me from being completely bedridden and suicidal to nearly fully functional again. I am also including what hasn't worked and things that I am still uncertain about.
Here's What Worked:
MG Probing: My glands were all completely blocked/covered with tissue. So no amount of warm compresses or massaging will help if your glands are clogged
Prokera (amniotic membrane transplant) Restored a sense of tear layer or moisture to my eye that continues to be there. It's for corneal damage so it must have repaired/healed
something from the Lasik damage.
Cliradex: Wow this was a pleasant surprise. I tried these as an afterthought but after a week my eyelid irritation was gone and I now produce much more MG oil
Warm/Cold Compresses: These did nothing until I got probed, now both warm and cold compresses help. Warmth releases a good amount of oil and the cold compresses do a
great job at helping reduce my eye when they are inflamed/sore
Artificial Tears: I still need them but they do keep the eyes nice and moist
Punctal plugs/Cautery: I produce less tears than I used to so plugs do a good job at keep tears in longer.
Humidifers: Buy one for the bedroom or for your office if you use the computer a lot. They do help, especially in the winter.
Vision Therapy: Not all your pain and strain may be coming from just the dry eye,Lasik screwed up my eye teaming ability a great deal and vision therapy helped tremendously
What Didnt Work:
Lipiflow: This may work for people with thick oils but it did nothing for me, especially because my glands were blocked completely. Even if it works for you it is too costly.
Restasis: I tried restasis twice both for many months at a time and I never felt relief from it, only more irritation.
Gels&Ointments : These just made my eyes feel gummy and did nothing for the dry eye. Also I think the ointments may actually clog the MG glands...
Undecided: Supplements: I took supplements for a long time and frankly I really didn't notice any dramatic improvement. I still take most of the because they are good for the body overall...
Doxycyclene/Minicyclene: I tried Doxy back in 2011 and it didn't work. I tried minicycline a few months ago and because now everything is working well I'm reluctant to go off of it
so I cant really tell if it's helping
Day/Night goggles: Sometimes I think they help, sometimes it seems my eyes are actually worse when I wear night goggles or foam sunglasses.
Here's What Worked:
MG Probing: My glands were all completely blocked/covered with tissue. So no amount of warm compresses or massaging will help if your glands are clogged
Prokera (amniotic membrane transplant) Restored a sense of tear layer or moisture to my eye that continues to be there. It's for corneal damage so it must have repaired/healed
something from the Lasik damage.
Cliradex: Wow this was a pleasant surprise. I tried these as an afterthought but after a week my eyelid irritation was gone and I now produce much more MG oil
Warm/Cold Compresses: These did nothing until I got probed, now both warm and cold compresses help. Warmth releases a good amount of oil and the cold compresses do a
great job at helping reduce my eye when they are inflamed/sore
Artificial Tears: I still need them but they do keep the eyes nice and moist
Punctal plugs/Cautery: I produce less tears than I used to so plugs do a good job at keep tears in longer.
Humidifers: Buy one for the bedroom or for your office if you use the computer a lot. They do help, especially in the winter.
Vision Therapy: Not all your pain and strain may be coming from just the dry eye,Lasik screwed up my eye teaming ability a great deal and vision therapy helped tremendously
What Didnt Work:
Lipiflow: This may work for people with thick oils but it did nothing for me, especially because my glands were blocked completely. Even if it works for you it is too costly.
Restasis: I tried restasis twice both for many months at a time and I never felt relief from it, only more irritation.
Gels&Ointments : These just made my eyes feel gummy and did nothing for the dry eye. Also I think the ointments may actually clog the MG glands...
Undecided: Supplements: I took supplements for a long time and frankly I really didn't notice any dramatic improvement. I still take most of the because they are good for the body overall...
Doxycyclene/Minicyclene: I tried Doxy back in 2011 and it didn't work. I tried minicycline a few months ago and because now everything is working well I'm reluctant to go off of it
so I cant really tell if it's helping
Day/Night goggles: Sometimes I think they help, sometimes it seems my eyes are actually worse when I wear night goggles or foam sunglasses.
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