New poster but longtime browser...

[EyEcU]

Hello all,

I have to admit, after reading some of your posts, especially the regulars, I realize I don't have it even remotely as bad as many of you here. I am almost embarrassed to type what my "situation" is...I'm here so I guess I'll do it anyway.

I started wearing contacts in the early 1990's and had worn them over the years until last year when I finally got Intra-Lasik surgery. I opted to get surgery as my contacts were so uncomfortable and I developed GPC and some sort of white mucous discharge that would collect in the corner of my eye closest to my nose (the white gunk started coming maybe in 2002 or so). This white gunk is always there, when I clean it out it can reappear pretty fast or it may take a couple of hours to come back so there's no real timing to it.

Well, I was very fortunate with my Intra-Lasik surgery as it was a success - both in correcting my vision and in eye comfort (no real dry eye syndrome aside from ever present scratchiness). Weird thing was, the white gunk that collects (in both eyes) was and is still there (surgery back in January 2007).

Fast forward to the last few months. The GPC was treated with Lotemax (according to my Optometrist it has cleared up pretty well) and he also has me on Restasis drops twice a day for the gritty feeling in my eyes and to help the mucous discharge (which he says is a result of a lack of tear production). Even with the Restasis, my eyes always felt gritty and irritated and the white goo was still coming.

So after much internet searching, I stumble across eyelid scrubbers (Ocusoft) last week. I figure, what the heck, I'll give it a shot. OH MY GOD!! Those scrub pads made a HUGE difference in both removing the gritty feeling in my eyes (at least for a few hours or so) and reducing the amount of white mucous discharge considerably. Sometime there's still a small amount of white discharge but if it's within three hours or so of cleaning my eyes with the lid scrubbers, it's not too bad. I mean my eyes feel FRESH!

So I'm thinking maybe I have a mild case of blepharitis as the only relief I've found that works so far are the lid scrubbers (6 times a day ) in combination with the Restasis (which I am unsure if I truly need). I also do a warm eye compress twice a day and upper and lower eyelid massages to get those glands going (thanks to this website!).

So there's my story...my problem is aesthetic as I cannot seem to completely get rid of the white mucous discharge. Does anyone else have this problem (and I am not talking about long, stringy mucous, that wraps itself around the perimeter of the eye; mine collects only in the inner corners of both eyes and it's not liquid but not a solid either...gooey is the best word)?

I am really thinking blepharitis due to the following:

1. The lid scrubbers work SO well for a few hours.

2. The white mucous discharge for the past 4 or 5 years.

[Lucy]

Delilah is one person on here who has a lot of trouble with musous strands. You might do a search using her name.
Lucy

[EyEcU]

Hi Lucy,

Thanks for your reply. Actually it was Delilah's posts that allowed me to find this forum via Google (and I really feel badly for her as I've followed her struggles with dry eye and stringy mucous).

I think because my post was long winded, the fact that my mucous discharge is not stringy nor wrapped around my eye lids in any fashion got lost. My white mucous collects (or pools) at the interior corners of my eyes.

But I have to admit, today I woke up feeling pretty darn good. I really think it has to do with the Ocusoft eyelid scrubs more than the Restasis. I've also been extremely diligent in not putting any facial lotions around my eyes. I've only scrubbed my eyes once today and they still feel great (3 hours later)!

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi EyEcU and welcome!

Just curious, which kind of scrub are you using? (Original, PLUS). The latter is anti-bacterial, the former is not. I'm kind of wondering whether it's the actual cleansing, or the physical massaging (e.g. getting the oil in your MGs moving) that seems to be temporarily improving your symptoms. I know you're doing massaging separtely also, but I was just wondering. 6x a day is a lot of scrubbing to have to do, but hey, if it's working!!

Also curious, any luck with doctors and diagnosis? This can take a lot of persistence but when you do find an eyelid savvy optometrist or ophthalmologist, they can give you more solid information to help take some of the guesswork out of the equation.

At any rate, great to hear you're making some progress!!!

[EyEcU]

Hey Rebecca,

Nice job with the site albeit not much information comes in once you've browsed all the older posts.

I am using the original OcuSoft pads. I've got the eye wash on order and it should be here soon. I did scrub my eyes six times yesterday but today I've only done it twice and they feel fantastic (I did it the second time as I was about to go out in public and wanted a "fresh start" just in case). My skin around my eyes is feeling the effects of cleaning so much but as long as my eyes feel good, I can deal with a lil' dry skin.

I went and got the lid scrubbers on a whim. I think I may have gotten the idea from this forum or somewhere else online (I, and I'm sure the rest of you, have spent countless hours scouring the internet). Now that I think about it, I was picking up a prescription at Walgreen's and I saw them in the aisle and said what the heck! Nothing else was working very well.

My optometrist gave me the prescription for Restasis and he's seen me a couple of times. I like him because he doesn't just say, "oh that's normal" or "not much we can do about that". He's willing to try different things and answer my questions. I don't know if that necessarily makes him the best qualified but at least he tries. I know I've read some posts where the eye specialists are worthless so I think I've found a good one.

I will probably continue to take the Restasis for a while just in case along with daily eyelid cleansing as needed. Just like you said, as long as it's working!

I just recommend that everyone who hasn't given eyelid scrubs a shot to give them a try. It's a fairly inexpensive method to at least try for a couple weeks. It has been absolutely wonderful for me. I'll probably try out Sterilids too to see if they work and are any milder.

[stella]

I'd like to report a real improvement in my eyes since i started "eye lid scrubs"(I dont like the word scrub - cleansing is a better description)
I have never used ocusoft but would be very interested in giving it a try
I use baby shampoo --- pretty diluted ---- about 6 to 8 drops into approx 100mls boiled water
I apply this on lid margins and lashes with a Q tip and leave a minute then rinse well with boiled water
I do this at least once a day - at night , then if my eyes are not too good ,again in am
I have only had to use it at night now for 2 weeks - and there is a definate improvement
It is early days ,but i am hopeful this simple procedure may be a major factor in my management and comfort
I tried the shampoo away early in my condition and must have had it too concentrated 'cos i did'nt seem to be able to tolerate it ,also i did'nt rinse it off

[EyEcU]

OK, I've been using Sterilid foaming eye wash in lieu of the Ocusoft pads as after the first couple of days of eyelid scrubbing, my eyes were kinda sensitive to all the extra attention they had been getting. The Sterilid seems to do a pretty good job although my lids don't feel as clean as they did when I first started cleaning them with Ocusoft pads (I'm thinking this is more a result of me getting used to the "clean eye feeling" than the Ocusoft performing better). My mucous production is nearly negligible after the past week or so of warm compresses (5 minutes), eye massaging, Restasis drops, and lid scrubbing. I do this after I awake and before I go to sleep.

As I noted before, my greatest improvement came with the lid scrubbing, eye massage, and warm compress combination. I had been on the Restasis for about 2 months now so I don't think it had much to do with my improvement. I'll be getting the Ocusoft foaming eyelid cleanser in the mail soon and will post my results with that brand as well.