For the first time ever...

[No tears in ATL]

I can put something in my eye that Does. Not. Burn.

Got 100% serum today, and it is perfectly comfortable.

For those who have seen me back and forth on this board complaining about how everything stings and leaves me bloodshot, including 50/50 serum-saline, eye drops with HA, Restasis, BAC, backup inflammation from plugs--the WORKS, folks--well, I knew I wasn't imagining this. Apparently I've got the most sensitive eyes ever.

So I tried 100% serum today, no saline diluting this drop, and....aaah. Relief.

Things aren't perfect, but this is a good start. Thought this could be encouraging for those rare individuals like me who claim to be better off without artificial tears and any foreign substances in the eye.

That is all. : )

[Faith1989]

That's great! I also use 100 percent serum as well. I am also becoming sensitive or intolerant to BAK.. Great. Lol Lotemax is starting to leave me bloodshot, where is used to do the opposite.

Is this all you are using at the moment? I am happy you have found something you can use!

[No tears in ATL]

That's great! I also use 100 percent serum as well. I am also becoming sensitive or intolerant to BAK.. Great. Lol Lotemax is starting to leave me bloodshot, where is used to do the opposite.

Is this all you are using at the moment? I am happy you have found something you can use!

Right now, yes. I am also taking doxycycline, small dose, 20 milligrams. Lots of krill oil, too. But I think the serum probably makes the most difference. The doxy probably needs more time before I notice anything.

Lotemax left me bloodshot, too. I think it was the preservative. I used Durezol for a bit, which has a different preservative (not BAK) and it really works well, but...it is very strong and can raise your pressure. I imagine some docs do not want patients to use it, or at least do not want them to use it as often as they recommend Lotemax or Alrex. Sure would be nice if they made the Durezol in a lower strength formula.

[Faith1989]

its weird, normally my eyes tolerate lotemax very well. Lately, i have been having a flare-up of my lids and so my doctor told me to use lotemax once a day for two weeks. This time it hasn't worked as well as in the past! My eyes are extra sensitive too. I also use Restasis, but hasn't really burned lately, but it is irritating.. I have tried to be without anti-inflammatory drops but i couldn't take the pain and swelling.

Are you eyes noticeably red? Is the serum helping with that?

[Katewest]

% Serum Question

I see on here most ppl have 100%...but when I called Moran Eye Center in SLC where I got mine the tech didnt really know what I was talking about and said "well 1 part blood to 3 or 4 parts tears" So does that mean I am only at 25%?? ERRR So when I call back and try to talk to a doc...what exactly should I ask....Is the serum 100% what? Blood only? Thanks! And congrats on being tolerant to the serum!!! One step forward...

[nicolasdu92130]

will get my serum next week, just can't wait for it! but its only 20%, is it too weak ??

[Katewest]

Ok sort of answered my own question but in case anyone else is wondering....Moran Eye Center only does 25% because that is the equipment they have. The tech said there have been no studies showing higher % equals more effective. Who knows but i wish i had 100%~

[Faith1989]

i have 100%, it helps but wouldn't pay what it costs in the U.S. In Canada, i get 65 bottles for 200.00. This lasts me one year! I don't personally think they are worth more than that. But this is just my opinion. If I didn't have MGD, maybe it would be great, but since it doesn't help that, it doesnt help me as much as I'd like it to.

[Katewest]

My insurance covered it but I still had like a 60 or 100 copay cant remember. Faith- I went to a hormone doc today and am getting my blood work back Wed. She thinks I'm deficient in estrogen and that might be making me worse. I'll let you know since it sounds like we have a lot of the same symtoms.

[Guest]

Moran Eye Center only does 25% because that is the equipment they have.

That makes no sense whatsoever. The person telling you that did not know what they were talking about (well-meaning as they may have been). They centrifuge your blood, the serum ends up on top - the pharmacy (or whoever prepares the serum drops), then does the following:

For 25% serum drops - they put 1 part serum (which they have to measure as they remove it from the top layer of contents in the vial of centrifuged blood) into an eyedropper bottle, then add 3 parts saline or artificial tears - shake to mix, and voila! 25% serum drops!

For 100% serum drops - they remove the layer of serum from the vial of centrifuged blood, and simply transfer it into eye drop bottles. Zero special equipment needed. It is LESS work for them, actually, compared to making 25%, or 50%, or 75% since they don't have to measure anything.

Aaaaaand, now that you know that, if you ever decide that you really want to try 100% serum, you'll know that it's not lack of equipment preventing them from making it that strength, but a lack of willingness to do so hehe

[Katewest]

Wow if only I could have said THAT to the tech! Maybe I'll call back hehe. Ok Saag-have you heard about 100% being more effective than 25% or 50%?

[neilw]

Serum % - my wife is thinking about going on to serum so I am trying to research it. I am reading any medical journal articles on it that I can find. So far I have read only 3, but 2 of these have said that about 25% serum is the most effective. One of these, based upon laborotary experiments even said higher concentration led to poorer outcomes. Mind you, this was a very small experimental study.

[No tears in ATL]

Serum % - my wife is thinking about going on to serum so I am trying to research it. I am reading any medical journal articles on it that I can find. So far I have read only 3, but 2 of these have said that about 25% serum is the most effective. One of these, based upon laborotary experiments even said higher concentration led to poorer outcomes. Mind you, this was a very small experimental study.

That's interesting. Although 100% might not in fact yield better outcomes than 25%, it seems that it wouldn't necessarily lead to worse outcomes than 25%. Confusing study...any idea what the problem was?

[No tears in ATL]

will get my serum next week, just can't wait for it! but its only 20%, is it too weak ??

I would just try it and see how you feel. I started out with 50, went to 75, but 100 percent seems to be the sweet spot. Some folks use lower concentrations and do well. I may be the rare case of the super sensitive eyes, is all.

[soaps]

Serum % - my wife is thinking about going on to serum so I am trying to research it. I am reading any medical journal articles on it that I can find. So far I have read only 3, but 2 of these have said that about 25% serum is the most effective. One of these, based upon laborotary experiments even said higher concentration led to poorer outcomes. Mind you, this was a very small experimental study.

Neil how can you try this in Australia ? I thought the dr has to request for the higher concentration and Im not sure if its even within red cross guidelines to do more than 20% serum .
But whenever i ask my Dr about higher concentration or plasma he gives me a puzzle look and says no.

Im going in for another collection very soon so will b interested to hear how u go convincing ur Dr for higher concentration.

The no saline would b good but increased growth factors may b bad for glands ...i really have no idea. ...