Almost giving up...

[Paulq]

Hi All

First post here so am looking forward to being part of the community, hopefully helping others but also getting some help myself.

My eye problems started around 10 years ago - from being a bright blue eyed guy I became, and I don't know how, a tired red eyed monster. I have tried many of the leading eye surgeons in the NW of England and the only diagnosis I seem to be able to get is Blepharitis and the associated treatments of lubrication and good lid hygiene.

I have tried every single drop and lubricant known to man, tried steroids, doxycycline to eliminate rosacea and nothing has worked. Of late my eyes are very very bad and seem to be more so when I awake in the morning - and I mean REALLY bad to the pint where I have to wait an hour or so for them to calm down before I go to work.

Work is another issue for me as they are so bad people are beginning to comment and asking why I look so tired. I am never a great sleeper and spend probably far too long in front of PC screens than is good for me but the symptoms are the same even when I don't.

I have thought about going back to my GP but am afraid I'll just get another 'no idea what's wrong' and another round of Consultant appointments that lead to nothing.

I realise that this is a lace where people have a similar problem but I would REALLY appreciate any help, guidance, advice on what I can try that I haven't already and also different interventions or specialists in the NW who are slightly more sympathetic in finding answers that are not always immediately apparent.

Thank you in advance for any help.

[charlotte88]

Hi Paulq

I know exactly how you feel! Blepharitis can be so debilitating and really suck all your energy and spirit out of you. Fortunately I found a product that really works for me and maybe it can for you to. Let me just say I also spend years trying baby shampoos, mask, drops, you name it, I tried it but like you experience nothing really seemed to do the trick. Recently I found this product called a style'n'clean pen which I use to clean my eyes with and I haven't been this relaxed in ages. Basically I started out using it twice a day (now I'm down to a couple of times a week) in the morning and the evening. It's kind of like and electrical electrical cotton swap but it heats up and rotates which is great for cleaning eyelids. It also comes with a really good cleansing gel that use during and after and which really helps relieve soreness, dryness and redness. I hope this can be of help and don't give up, it really can get better :-)

[Paulq]

Thank you so much for replying Charlotte88. I will take a look at the product you mention as I am really at the stage where I will try anything at all.

I guess my fundamental question here is - do I actually 'just' have Blepharitis or something more? As I mentioned my eyes are really very very bad in the mornings and also evenings - how can I get such irritation when my eyes are closed for 8 or 9 hours during the night?

Is there anything else it could be? Allergies or anything at all?

Thank you again.

[runnergirl]

Hi Paulq,

Allergies sure do play a part in irritated eyes. Especially during seasons where there is a lot of blooming. Everyone is different with regards to what will work for them. I have seen so many eye doctors that I really am just sick and tired of going. I actually get a stomach ache when I have an appointment because they say they have given everything to me to try in their "bag of tricks". I have hit the bottom of the bag. However, I just try everything I can and I just keep on trying and keep on. Actually I may try charlotte88's new tool too. That is something I haven't tried. I have had this for 3.5 years now and I am so done with it.....but I wake up each morning with it smiling back at me again. ugggggh. Just keep reading others posts and hopefully you will finally find something that works for you. I like to read the triumph section because these are people that found their little secret that worked. Take Care!

[savino]

...............

[Paulq]

Somebody mentioned to me that Chinese Traditional Medicine may be worth trying. Is there anyone who has tried it and with any success?

Thank you for all the replies so far.

[savino]

............

[charlotte88]

I've read a lot about blepharitis and found out that in most cases of blepharitis you get something that is called demodex which is actually tiny creatures which are the crust in your eyes, so in that regard I don't think it matters whether you are asleep or not. Maybe it's even easier for them to procreate when you are sleeping...

[Paulq]

That's both horrible and interesting and I am going to explore that further. On first reading it appears that, if it is that, then it responds well to treatment with something as simple as Tea Tree oil which, ironically, does seem to make a slight difference to me.

Sounds awful though.

[elliemee]

That's both horrible and interesting and I am going to explore that further. On first reading it appears that, if it is that, then it responds well to treatment with something as simple as Tea Tree oil which, ironically, does seem to make a slight difference to me.

Sounds awful though.

I just saw a video of demodex mites crawling on someone's skin on youtube.. it is pretty scary. When my dry eye started I had crusting etc. and it seemed to be conjunctivitis at first. I still get that now but not as bad and I wonder if the drops are contributing to that or if it is really demodex mites too?

I found that I have to wash my hair everyday with dandruff shampoo( just use regular shampoo now since the ds is irritating for me now) and I use avenova eye wash, a new eye wash my current eye doc gave me. It seems more effective than than ocusoft eye foam.

I also wonder about the meibography.. I don't think I've ever had that done because I was diagnosed with ocular rosacea and a steroid is the main way of treating it. It did help me tremendously when I used it.