Dry Eye Doc in NJ?

[Katewest]

Any improvement browneyes?

[browneyesblu]

Believe me you will read it in the Triumphs forum if it works. He told me 4 - 6 weeks. Sorry, no magic bullets for us. Also the pharmacy had to order the meds and they weren't in till Tuesday.

[Katewest]

I feel like I might have a similar diagnosis. I have ocular rosacea but all the usual treatments don't help....i.e. hot compress, drops, restsasis. My doc gave me a sample of Lastacaft so I'm trying that too. I am also expressing my lids which might be helping...but its a fine line because too much makes them worse.

[browneyesblu]

To Katewest

I don't think I ever mentioned, Dr. Latkany referred me to an allergist. Have you seen one? Maybe they can pinpoint the allergy. How are you expressing your lids? I don't understand how to do that.

My tests from the allergist were all negative so I may be back at square one. Good luck with the Lasticaft. Let me know if it helps you.

[Katewest]

Yeah, I've gotten tested for allergies and had the patch test...came up neg for everything! Every office job I've had (east coast and west) my eyes get red and dry. If I am allergic to something its probably office air. I'll let you know if the Lastacaft helps. It doesnt burn like Restasis or dry them out worse like Freshkote. I express my lids once or twice a day after a hot shower. I can't do the hot compress. I have a 15x mirror and just use my fingers to push downwards on the lid margin. Sometimes I see clear oil sometimes its just capped off.

[browneyesblu]

Sounds simple enough, I'll try it. Thanks. I have trouble with the hot compress also & find that if I heat it about 10 secs. more than I would if I were using it as a compress and hold it up to my eyes, with no pressure on them I can do it. Otherwise the pressure irritates the ocular surface & I'm in pain the rest of the day.

[Katewest]

Browneyes- did dr l mention plugs or supplements? And what do your eyes looks like? Red all over or just veins?

[browneyesblu]

I have plugs which he wants to remove once the MGD is under control. He says I have no aqueous deficiency, it's all the MGD. The only supplement he recommended is Omega-3, I'm already taking Lovaza. My eyes usually aren't that red, in a 15X mirror I can see some small inflamed vessels, that's all, unless I do something that irritates them temporarily, like a too-hot soak. Do you notice the Lasticaft making your eyes drier?

[Katewest]

I have not noticed a difference with the lasticaft have you? How long have you had dry eye symptoms?

[browneyesblu]

My symptoms have diminished but are not gone. I really can't say why. I did the detox, stopped everything for a week then started adding meds back one at a time. So most likely candidates are the Lasticaft or Azasite which I added about 2 wks ago. Also I finally mastered expression with a Q-tip and frankly that seems to be doing more than anything. Most if not all of my glands are no longer blocked. They are still inflamed but I can see the meibum pouring out whereas when I first started there was very little.

I've had MGD for about 6-7 years with the occasional flare-up but never anything like this. When the MGD is under control my eyes are almost normal, just a little red with no other symptoms. So i'm not content with this improvement, I want to be asymptomatic again.

What's your story? What else have you tried? Ever tried NAC?

[Katewest]

I have had ocular rosacea/ MGD for about 5 years maybe longer. I tried NAC and it didn't help and I don't think the lasticaf is either. Glad to hear you are doing better! Do you use heat pack for the expression? I just do it after the shower.

[browneyesblu]

All I do is take a paper towel, fold it into a small square and soak it in water that is just hot enough but not too hot to scorch, then hold it to the eye for about 30-40 seconds. I repeat that about 2-3 times, just until I see clear oil, then I use the Q-tip and it gets out the thicker stuff. I do one eye at a time so one of them doesn't get too cool.

At first I had to press pretty hard, but in the last day or two it comes out easily. I started NAC a few days ago and that may be why.

[Katewest]

how many times a day? I think i may be overdoing it... a few times a day and probably pushing too hard

[browneyesblu]

Personally I don't think frequency is an issue, although some might disagree. But I think you can push too hard. I do it 3 times a day whenever I can and I was pushing pretty hard for awhile, now I am taking it much easier and seem to be doing a little better.