InflammaDry detects MMP-9 Useful Test?

[MGD1701]

Have you done such test? If so, do you find it useful?

I have never done one so I requested it during my last consult but my doctor said it was NOT necessary
since they did not detect inflammation (5 doctors told me so in last 13 months).
However, they just examined if lashes with debris or red lid marigin etc.

Just curious to know if the InflammaDry Test generates precise results??

Still keen to get the test done - just to be sure!

[CharlieGreenEyes]

What's MMP-9? I've not heard of it. Is it to do with MGD - one of the possible causes?

I've heard doctors take swabs sometimes and/or an eyelash to check for infection if they suspect you have it? I'm not totally sure.

[MGD1701]

Dr. Scott Schachter shares how you can use InflammaDry to identify dry eye patients in your practice
(2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTiZ1gWpxoU


Dr. Al Kabat demos the Inflammadry Test (2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkYg7NJ3kVc

[CharlieGreenEyes]

Thanks for the links. Just watching one now (listening more than listening because one of my eyes is particularly bad today). Interesting. Also can't help noticing how comprehensive this doctor seems in terms of dry eye testing. I wish we had more like this in the UK. There really should be more standardisation for dry eye diagnosis and treatment.

Not sure if this test is known about in the UK - I'll ask my opth at my next appointment. Think you're in the States? Be interested to hear if you or anyone else does get this test.

[jewel88]

I am on prednisone taper but when i reduce its back and worse. puffy now, and more red. have immune problems too.

[jewel88]

had been to eye doctor and I was ok. I think they did this test because of Sjogrens and blepharitis.

[MGD1701]

Found this interesting article today. Seems InflammaDry + TearLab Osmolarity tests are now standards for more and more doctors in USA. I still believe InflammaDry test should be MORE accurate than the Slit lamp - what do you think?

''InflammaDry is also a CLIA-waived test. Results are obtained in 10 minutes and are easy to interpret.
A red line is positive (>40 ng/ml of MMP-9) and a blue line is negative.
Results provide a quantifiable value representing the amount of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the tears.
MMPs are proteolytic enzymes produced by stressed epithelial cells on the
ocular surface, and MMP-9 is a marker for inflammation.
The test has been shown to significantly and positively correlate with corneal fluorescein staining scores and abnormal superficial corneal epithelia as seen with confocal microscopy.'' ......By Mark Schaeffer, OD January 1, 2017
http://www.optometricmanagement.com/...ifying-dry-eye

[CharlieGreenEyes]

Would the test simply back up findings already discovered from corneal fluorescein staining scores and the confocal miscroscopy? Or does it add additional info or more detail? Could be worth giving it a go - depends on how much it would cost you?

[MGD1701]

Cost: seems insurance pay in USA. It is unexpensive (since it is NOT an expensive machine??)

You wrote: They told me my corneas were too inflammed and damaged to do the test properly.''
Did doctors tell you the sources of inflammation?? or could you try to find more info?

[CharlieGreenEyes]

If it's inexpensive I wonder if it's also available in the UK. I'll ask when I next see the doctor. No harm in asking if nothing else.

With the inflammation I've got, I don't know the source. Except that it's MGD. Perhaps the corneas are so inflammed because the mgd isn't under control, I'm not sure. Maybe the mgd started because of years of contact lens wear. I'll ask next time I go.

[MGD1701]

Hi Charlie
Just something to share: since you are also not happy with your doctors.
Perhaps it is good to collect more info from them. The more we know, the better we could find solutions.

5 doctors (examined by slit lamp) said I did not have inflammation but I am not sure how ACCURATE.
I asked dr for the InflammaDry test but no luck - they did not detect that I had inflammation.

Also since I used that pure HOCI lid cleanser (like Aveonva), I have no more tearing, discharges.
HOCI normally is for bacteria so no idea why?? Maybe I did have inflammation.
Otherwise, I could only say, the cleanser keeps my glands healthy = stable tear film??? Anyone has an idea?

TearLab's Osmolarity: Do you know this? It detects tear quality etc while schirmer only tells tear production - not so useful, in my view.

[CharlieGreenEyes]

Hi MGD1701 - and thanks for the information/advice. I feel like I get so much better help and advice here than from doctors.

Like you I had several previous doctors tell me my eyes and corneas looked fine and no or little inflammation. The doctor I saw just a few months before my current one told me my mgd looked under control. I believed him and thought the problem must be a different dry eye issue - until I saw the current doctor who did thorough tests including the corneal topography and some other things, and then told me my mgd was pretty bad!

I haven't tried the HOCI lid cleaner yet but will try to buy some. I don't actually get any tearing or discharges so don't know if I need to. I just have the pain, soreness, and burning.

Apparently my tear quality is okay. I think my problem is the TBUT which is 0-1 in my worse eye.

[MGD1701]

Well, I visited more than a dozon dr. a few months ago, one said all glands were ok and no need to do compress, but I still do a bit.
Just 10 days later, another dr said my MGD was still NOT good. Well, at least you have found a better one now - lucky you.

In fact, the more I have learnt/explored new things, the more I have realized that what things doctors told me are incorrect.
They are either not helpful/knowledgable nor solution-driven.
I will demand images of glands/oil next time - so I know exact status.

[MGD1701]

Hi Charlie
Just something to share. I recenlty come to realize:

No matter if we have inflammation or not, good to use lid cleanser:
pure HOCI, like Avenova (for bacteria) + tea tree oil (for demodex). (This is my NEW strategy!)

Why? Because many doctors seem not able to detect inflammation correctly/precisely, dont know why, maybe it is not easy??
HOCI is a magic for me and my eyes are now almost normal apart from increase of GLA/flaxseed oil etc. What do you think?
However, there are 2 postings recently mentioning their doctors do NOT recommend them not to perform lid scrubs, which is new to me - maybe they are special cases??

Perhaps you would find this video useful.
Dr Travis Zigler and Dr. Zigler discuss/show their lid hygiene routins (for Blepharitis) - (7 Sept. 2017)
Both eye doctors.. they do what I have been just trying (HOCI + tea tree oil). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz8LhAh8z5g

[MGD1701]

Just found this interesting article - proves what I have suspected is correct.

''Inflammatory Mediators in the Tear Film and Ocular Tissues
Diagnostics: Some patients will exhibit classic and strong signs of clinical inflammation (redness, edema), which can be evaluated using a slit lamp;
however, clinicians do not generally test for subtle up-regulation of inflammatory mediators that may contribute to the dry eye inflammatory state.

The most specific and clinic-friendly diagnostic test for measuring inflammation is the Inflammadry,
which measures the level of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) in the tear film.
Values greater than 40ng/ml will show a positive result (indicating increased inflammation).^''
by Maria Walker, OD, May 2017 https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/ar...severe-dry-eye

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Hi charlie, I happen to find this. See, it is inexpensive as I assume.


''Dry eye tests need not be exorbitantly costly.
The InflammaDry (Rapid Pathogen Screening), is a single-use, noninvasive, disposable test used to detect matrix metalloproteinase-9, a proteolytic enzyme elevated in the tears of dry eye patients'' by Chris Lievens, OD, 12.2016
https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/ar...ree-easy-tests