IPL with Dr Toyos

[msienkiewicz]

Still have my fingers crossed for you Autumn.

Lucy, for you and I here in grand old Michigan, Dr. Berkowitz of Accents Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa, was familiar with Dr. T's work, and said that he would treat my facial rosacea along with my eyes if all else fails. He still has some tricks up his sleeve apparently. I plan to have my facial rosecea done anyway, and maybe I will gleen some results from that. His number is 1-586-254-7692. He is the medical director of the spa as well as an opthamologist and occular plastic surgeon on the "other side" - the Vision Institute of Michigan. They are connected and housed in the same building. I know I posted all this already, but thought you might like to know of an option closer to home. I don't think he has ever done the procedure yet, but he was very interested, and told me he would do it.

There's always hope,
Melissa

[autumnn]

Of course Lucy, I will ask him, I will be there in three weeks.

[Lucy]

Hey Autumnn-

Will you ask Dr. Toyos how the IPL treatment works with Sjogrens patients? I have Lasik eye, too, but am wondering what it might do for Sjogrens patients. Thanks, Lucy.

[autumnn]

Hi Autumnn -

I am wondering how your "downtime" was with the 2nd treatment - since I believe that he increases the intensity of the 2nd treatment. Did the treated area turn red? Swell? If so, for how long? Did he prescribe any antibiotics or steroids (he has stated that he sometimes prescribed Xibrom). Just wondering how the effects of the laser worked on the delicate eye tissues.

Again, you're awesome for posting all of this.
Gretchen

He didnt turn up the intensity for me as he stated that I responded to the first treatment and that intensity. He prescribed me Lotemax (for two weeks) and then Xibrom (for two weeks) but only one drop a day. I didnt notice any swelling in the treated areas.

[autumnn]

I just talked to another client of Dr. Toyos and he said that his eyes feel great. However, he didn't see results until 2-3 weeks after the fourth treatment.

[sazy123]

Sazy,

The one guy I know who did this went to the Rosacea Institute and he hardly had any facial rosacea that you could see. Mostly ocular Rosacea but they did his whole face anyway. He said it really helped and cleared him of his Ocular Rosacea that he had for well over 17 years. It changed his life. You know with Rosacea there is always alot going on under the skin that you can't see cause it is a vascular disease.

I have facial rosacea as well so I would want IPL for my whole face. My case was really mild for the first 5 years or so with my face so you really couldn't tell I had it. I didn't even know what was going on cause it would come and go and really was not consistent at all. I would flush under extreme cold or hot and if I was talking in front of a group that's it.

Than my face started burning. When that happened is when I got the severe dry eye involvement. An Opthamologist diagnosed my rosacea but I was already suspicious I had it. Fortunately I flushed in his office when he said the pressure was up in my eye due to the TBUT of 3 in both eyes. He sent me to a dermatologist. He did not even want to treat me at all. He was very uncompassionate.

But when I first went to a dermatologist they said my facial rosacea was mild. My eyes really bothered me alot more than my face and I tried telling them that but they didn't really pay that much attention to it. I had to do alot of research myself and like you I read about Dr. Nase, Dr. Bitter and IPL alot. Many Many articles.

If I can get some improvement at all that would be great. If it totally gone that is better and if I have to do touch ups that is a small price to pay. But I do think that this is our best alternative yet. Also that guy I know has to do touch ups about 1 time a year.

Laurie

Well from what your describing this treatment definitely seems like it would help you. Your dry eye got bad when your face started burning, clear connection there.

Like you mine has been mild the last few years, i have started to get svery slight redness either side of my nose and when i get out of hot shower my face burns, and when i eat alot of crap- sugary stuff etc. It varies tho, face is usually worse when eyes are bad tho. But if face is burning etc eyes usually abit better (same with everything else- when theres something else going on), im getting some pustules (sp) at the mo to, im not eating great.

The main culprit tho with my eyes seems to be the inner eyelids- so i really hope it can help that- i assume its ocular rosacea (just of the inner eyelids- not eyes).

Actually your case sounds very like mine.
You mentioned inner eyelid vascularization too? Can you see blockage of your glands?

Did the guy you know have dry eye as well as ocular and did it get better? mite be a silly question because ocular is bound to have dry eye imo.

I have read online somewhere the same thing about some ones ocular rosacea improving at the rosacea texas institute. Last year i was going to go there, but im glad i didnt and am going to dr toyos now

[happygirl14]

Friends who had IPL for Ocular Rosacea

Sazy,

The one guy I know who did this went to the Rosacea Institute and he hardly had any facial rosacea that you could see. Mostly ocular Rosacea but they did his whole face anyway. He said it really helped and cleared him of his Ocular Rosacea that he had for well over 17 years. It changed his life. You know with Rosacea there is always alot going on under the skin that you can't see cause it is a vascular disease.

I have facial rosacea as well so I would want IPL for my whole face. My case was really mild for the first 5 years or so with my face so you really couldn't tell I had it. I didn't even know what was going on cause it would come and go and really was not consistent at all. I would flush under extreme cold or hot and if I was talking in front of a group that's it.

Than my face started burning. When that happened is when I got the severe dry eye involvement. An Opthamologist diagnosed my rosacea but I was already suspicious I had it. Fortunately I flushed in his office when he said the pressure was up in my eye due to the TBUT of 3 in both eyes. He sent me to a dermatologist. He did not even want to treat me at all. He was very uncompassionate.

But when I first went to a dermatologist they said my facial rosacea was mild. My eyes really bothered me alot more than my face and I tried telling them that but they didn't really pay that much attention to it. I had to do alot of research myself and like you I read about Dr. Nase, Dr. Bitter and IPL alot. Many Many articles.

If I can get some improvement at all that would be great. If it totally gone that is better and if I have to do touch ups that is a small price to pay. But I do think that this is our best alternative yet. Also that guy I know has to do touch ups about 1 time a year.

Laurie

[sazy123]

Gretchen, yeah your right, thats why i want to go to Dr toyos as he was the inventor of this technique and he gives you loads of time. Did he say he was the first to do it or he was one of the first? Dr coad could have just been doing it for rosacea before or he may be quoting dr toyos.

mary kenny badami, you dont need to have rosacea or ocular rosacea for this to help- just MGD. Dr toyos said this in an email to me.

Happygirl: did your friends have IPL and it improved their dry eye, or do you mean they had IPL and it improved their facial rosacea?

I will let you know about inner eyelid vascular improvement, did you see my post above? but i will find out more when i see him.

Autumn, people will take different lengths of time to respond id imagine, its a time thing you wont notice it straight away- well unless the dry eye is mild.

[autumnn]

I know that the question as been asked- Autumnn/Erin how are your eyes doing? I have to say that they are definitely moister (so if that is a problem for some of you- I am definitely already seeing that change). I am wearing my Wileys a lot so I can protect my eyes and progress through this the best I can. But, I am fogging the Wileys up- again, must be the moisture. I played tennis on Saturday (hadn't done that in years) and have not been in bed except at night to sleep. There are times where I forget about my eyes. The right often feels perfect, the left still has a dull burning but I didnt realize how much duller it is until last night when I picked an eyelash out of it and irritated the eye- the familiar intense burning came back and I noted to myself- ok, the burning I still have is definitely to a lesser degree than before. Once in awhile it is gone- those are rare and blissful moments. I am curious to see how I do as time goes on- of course I don't want to be wearing the goggles but I feel bad for my corneas- all those years with 90 percent blocked glands- I am trying to help them heal

I know many are considering this treatment- please remember that we all respond differently and at different paces. Dr. T said to reserve judgment until after the 4th treatment. So, technically I should be relaxing about this and biding my time. It is hard to not over analyze though

A DEZ friend pointed out that it is interesting that Dr. Toyos spends so much time with his patients and doesnt use techs do do half of his work and then see you for 15 minutes. I agree. And, as I recall back to all the specialists and heads of eye centers- they had techs run tests, etc and then spent 15 or 20 minutes with me (besides Dr. Carver and Dr. Jacobs- who cared). Dr. Toyos is in complete control of his treatment with you and puts in the needed time even if his schedule is busy.

I think with Dr. Toyos us DEZ people have found a doctor who is really interested in treating dry eye and MGD.

[Gretchen]

Post-Treatment

Hi Autumnn -

I am wondering how your "downtime" was with the 2nd treatment - since I believe that he increases the intensity of the 2nd treatment. Did the treated area turn red? Swell? If so, for how long? Did he prescribe any antibiotics or steroids (he has stated that he sometimes prescribed Xibrom). Just wondering how the effects of the laser worked on the delicate eye tissues.

Again, you're awesome for posting all of this.
Gretchen

[Gretchen]

Dr Coad

That is strange that Coad is not yet doing IPL since he clearly had a PR person send out a press release regarding IPL, dry eye and quoting him. Chelsea Eye (his practice) also has posted that they do IPL for dry eye. In addition, on his web site he says that he is the first to do this procedure. I find this all very odd. I have to admit that I am suspect of Dr's that do press releases before they start doing the procedure. And why do a press release on the wire instead of presenting it at a peer reviewed forum?

Toyos first presented this procedure in 2003 and has been presenting and publishing on this since. If you look at 2009 ASCRS symposia schedule, he presented just this year on it. And he received an ASCRS grant to do further research on it.

IPL is serious, as is the condition of MGD. If you are going to take the plunge to have your lower eyelids lasered (and that is what this is) you better go to the most experienced, above board Dr that you can find. Just as a scalpel is only as good as the surgeon, the same logic applies to lasers. IPL can achieve its' intended purpose but it can also lead to hyperpigmentation and burning/scarring.

I would do the research and then make the choice based on what Dr is best and most experienced. You may have to shell out some extra for travel and room so worth it for a good outcome.

Just my 2 cents.
Gretchen

[mary kenny badami]

IPL = Intense Pulsed Light
. . . just in case anybody is showing up late into this conversation.

I don't have rosacea, facial or ocular, but I have several "dry-eye-buddies" who do have such a diagnosis and struggle with its management,
so I must say that this ongoing thread is a matter of enormous interest to me.

A big thumbs-up thank-you to autumnn and to the others who are participating.
Me, I never wanted to be the very first to try any treatment, but I do admire
(a) your courage in doing so, and
(b) your willingness to share this journey with us.

My thumbs are up AND my fingers are majorly crossed for you-all!

[david2404]

I called Dr Christopher Coad's office in NYC last week. I'm over there at the end of May and thought I might try and get an appt squeezed in. I know it's early days with this but there's definitely hope with this one! Well, they haven't quite got their act together with the IPL treatment. They'll begin the treatment shortly but probably won't happen in time for my visit. I also have an appt. with Dr latkany so hopefully I'll come back with something to work on.

Great thread, and good luck to everyone trying this over the next few weeks.

[sazy123]

I just want to make it clear that Dr. T's IPL's are $375 but your initial consultation is free. If you like what he has to say and he decides that you are a candidate then you pay for the treatment. He does not charge you for the visit- or anything else- just the IPL.

Thats great, how are your eyes feeling now autumn?

recieved my patonoptx from the dry eye zone, now hoping that the optitions can put my rx in them, they think they can. But wont be in time for the first trip so will have wear them blind on the plane lol.

[autumnn]

I just want to make it clear that Dr. T's IPL's are $375 but your initial consultation is free. If you like what he has to say and he decides that you are a candidate then you pay for the treatment. He does not charge you for the visit- or anything else- just the IPL.