Do MGD and blepharitis always get worse with age?

[bostoneye]

I just turned 70, still working and mostly active, but over the past 8-10 years the pain from my MGD and blepharitis has been on a slow downhill course. I've had some periods of unexplained relief, and some improvement with treatment (probing 10 months ago, doxy (now 200 mg / day) temporary blephamide, now on Lotemax and Azasite). I'm now in the middle of a bad "flare" unless it's more than a flare and the "new normal." My doctor thinks it's mainly inflammation rather than re-blocking of my glands, but boosting the anti-inflammatory meds hasn't done much yet. So the condition has gone from a minor annoyance to what's becoming a serious quality of life problem.
Many of you have had challenges and successes, better periods and worse, treatments that help and then don't. What I haven't heard is any authority or anyone else saying it's just going to keep getting worse, inevitably, over time.
Any thoughts?
thanks
Richard

[savino]

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[Max52]

Everything I've ever read and been told is that 40mg of doxy will do the trick...more is not better. I'm surprised your doctor would prescribe more, but then again I'm not a doctor. I've had this now as well for many years and have tried most remedies. I don't think things have gotten worse for me, but better. To a certain extent I've learned what to do and what to expect during a flareup.Usually that means riding it out and so far after a few days things just get better. Not good, but better. If I'm going on a trip or expecting a particular stressful few days, I'll resort to lotemax, but try to use as little as possible. What I think has been helping me a lot lately is a good quality omega made by PRN

[LaDiva]

Mine gets worse with inflammation Richard, and all kinds of things fuel that. Food is a huge factor. I am a few years younger, and have had MGD about five or six years. I am not sure that it is getting worse, but it certainly doesn't get much better either. The doctor I saw last week told me to do warm compresses for 10-15 minutes 3X daily, and then pinch the eyelid gently just below the orbital bone and massage back and forth between fore-finger and thumb for about 10 seconds in each spot all the way around the eye. She said this would keep the oil moving through the glands. I am not sure if mine is moveable. We will see. I think part of our problem is dirty air and pollutants. Don't know where you are, but everyone around here is having a little fire in the fireplace. Sorry you aren't feeling well, and hope things improve soon.

[bostoneye]

Mine gets worse with inflammation Richard, and all kinds of things fuel that. Food is a huge factor. I am a few years younger, and have had MGD about five or six years. I am not sure that it is getting worse, but it certainly doesn't get much better either. The doctor I saw last week told me to do warm compresses for 10-15 minutes 3X daily, and then pinch the eyelid gently just below the orbital bone and massage back and forth between fore-finger and thumb for about 10 seconds in each spot all the way around the eye. She said this would keep the oil moving through the glands. I am not sure if mine is moveable. We will see. I think part of our problem is dirty air and pollutants. Don't know where you are, but everyone around here is having a little fire in the fireplace. Sorry you aren't feeling well, and hope things improve soon.

Thanks for your best wishes, LaDiva. The thought of spending the rest of my life like this is hard to accept. The only other major problem I have is chronic back pain, but that's easier to manage and I know how to get relief, unlike with dry eye. The past few days have been slightly better: I've been using the microwave-heated goggles severalmon th times a day with massage, and thought I don't see anything being expressed I think it helps some. Still using lotemax 2-3 times a day and Refresh and Genteal gel often. I'm going to talk to my doctor soon about maybe reprobing the glands, despite the pain and expense.I was definitely better for several months after I had it done in January.
One thing puzzles me - I know dry eye is a big and growing problem, and yet I never run into anyone else with it - except on this forum. I have to explain how painful this is over and over to people, and they never seem to really get it - except for my wife, who has to bear with me.

[LaDiva]

Hi Richard,
I do not think anyone gets it unless they have it. The term "huge bummer" comes to mind, but not even that is a powerful enough description. I am really tired of being asked if I have tried "those drops on TV" (Restasis) or OTC eyedrops. I do know a number of people here in town who are our age and have the same eye problems. They have all had Lasiks or PRK. I think the biggest problem is keeping the oil in the glands moving. I managed to pop a cap loose, only to find it blocked again a few days later. Maybe try the pinching method for expression and add a few more warm compresses per day? Huge bummer. I agree that the possibility of living to a ripe old age does not seem very pleasant, but I guess we just keep going. My social life has really dwindled, but I still have plenty of interests, so while I don't feel very well, I am never bored. Again sending good wishes. Please let us know if you experience improvement.

[savino]

Hi Richard,
I do not think anyone gets it unless they have it. The term "huge bummer" comes to mind, but not even that is a powerful enough description. I am really tired of being asked if I have tried "those drops on TV" (Restasis) or OTC eyedrops. I do know a number of people here in town who are our age and have the same eye problems. They have all had Lasiks or PRK. I think the biggest problem is keeping the oil in the glands moving. I managed to pop a cap loose, only to find it blocked again a few days later. Maybe try the pinching method for expression and add a few more warm compresses per day? Huge bummer. I agree that the possibility of living to a ripe old age does not seem very pleasant, but I guess we just keep going. My social life has really dwindled, but I still have plenty of interests, so while I don't feel very well, I am never bored. Again sending good wishes. Please let us know if you experience improvement.

[AboveOnlySky]

I've been rubbing manuka honey on my eyelids and lashes when I go to bed at night. I had been diagnosed with blepharitis and MGD, but last time I went to an eye doctor, I was told I had no blepharitis and my glands were working amazingly well. I can't be sure that it was the honey that helped, but at the very least it keeps my eyes from getting all crusty and icky in the mornings. It might be worth a try.

[charlotte88]

I've read that it does getter worse with age and also that older people in general are more prone to getting Blepharitis. I just posted about a product that has really help me with my Blepharitis. It's a product called the style'n'clean pen which works wonders in cleaning eyelids of dandruff and scales. I use it every morning gone down from using it twice a day. It also comes with a cleansing gel which takes care of the swelling of my eyelids. I think this could be great help for you.

[lizlou29]

I've read that it does getter worse with age and also that older people in general are more prone to getting Blepharitis. I just posted about a product that has really help me with my Blepharitis. It's a product called the style'n'clean pen which works wonders in cleaning eyelids of dandruff and scales. I use it every morning gone down from using it twice a day. It also comes with a cleansing gel which takes care of the swelling of my eyelids. I think this could be great help for you.

Do you only have anterior blepharitis? I imagine that this device wouldn't be effective for posterior blepharitis and could possibly worsen inflammation of the eyelid. I would proceed with caution using something like this with no supervision.

[charlotte88]

lizlou29 I also have posterior blepharitis and I had the same concerns as you. So I contacted the company behind the product and the doctor who developed it wrote me back and told me that apparently the dandruff/scales you get in your eyes is called dermodex and it gets dissolved by heat which is why the product works so good because the rotating tip heats up. You are right that one needs to be careful using it but it's certainly something i believe everybody can do themselves. I just followed the accompanying instructions and haven't had any trouble.

[bubba66]

A product called Avenova worked for me to help me with my blepharitis issues. Here is their website. http://avenova.com/ Needs a prescription so you will need to ask your doctor to prescribe. It's supposed to kill certain types of bacteria that cause the crust and block glands. The bottle comes with a little sprayer -- but my doctor has me insert a qtip directly into the bottle and gently apply to my eyelids. It's helped a lot.