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I'm 70. Testicular cancer in 1999 treated with surgery and chemo. Merkel cell cancer in 2011 treated with surgery, chemo, and radiation. The surgery was on my neck and removed some saliva glands as well as the cancer. The dry eyes came sometime in the middle of this latest cancer bout, so I didn't get serious about it till the cancer treatment was done. I've been seeing some eye doctors who have been treating my dry eyes with tiny plugs designed to keep the moisture in. Last visit, doctor said the lower plugs were still there,but the upper plugs were gone (Upper ones apparently harder to keep in). She proposed this relatively new treatment method called Lipiflow which she says is 85% effective. Not covered by insurance and costs $850 per eye. If it is a one-time procedure and it works, it would be worth it. So here I am on this forum, trying to absorb the accumulated wisdom of those of you who are walking this path. Also reading literature on Sjogrens Syndrome. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi George,Originally posted by GeorgeM View Post
Welcome to the forum, and sorry to hear what you are going through. I'd like to ask you a few questions to get a better idea of what to suggest to you. Have you been tested for Sjogrens? I have a friend who had damage to the meibomian glands (the glands in your eyelids that are supposed to make oil to coat the surface of your eye and keep tears from evaporating--Lipiflow is designed to open them if they are clogged) from chemotherapy, so it could be that. I would not rush into Lipiflow until you are sure of what the cause is. May I ask where you are located? Country and state if applicable would be enough. There are doctors that can do a thorough evaluation and identify the cause. If we know where you are we may be able to direct you to one of them. -
Chemo can destroy your meibomian glands. So you should do more specific dry eye testing such as using Oculus keratography or Lipiview to get a picture of your meibomian glands.
If you still have good gland structure then have your doctor press on the eye or do a manual expression to get oil to come out.
If its thick oil try warm compress twice a day, hypocholoric acid to cleanfor blepharitis, etc.
maybe you did these things already. But yoy need to do and try a lot more before Lipiflow.
It might be a good idea, but need a lot more info.
Read more of this website.Comment
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What have you been diagnosed with as far as the dry eye goes, aqueous deficient, lipid deficient or both and what’s the cause? Is this a result of the cancer treatment? What is your current regimen (meaning, drops, compress, goggles, etc.)?
Edmunder is correct, if you don’t have a solid diagnosis, you need one. I’m assuming the cancer treatments destroyed the glands, lacrimal and/or meibomium. If that’s the case, your treatment will be driven toward compensating for the loss of the glands, reducing inflammation and keeping the eyes moist, day and night. Lipiflow will not help you if your glands are damaged. Well it may help temporarily, but it will not help you log term.
If you haven’t been seen by a dry eye specialist, I suggest you get there like yesterday. Here’s what I think you need to find, a doctor that can give you this information.
Non invasive TBUT
schirmer
lipiview
lissimine green and flourescin dyes
slit lamp exam with pictures
inflammadry
osmolariry
eye pressure
and a great doctor to diagnose and treat you!
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