What's The Harm ?

[Max52]

Can anyone see a problem with doing warm compresses 4 or 5 times a day? Nothing makes my eyes feel better, but it seems everyone else does this maybe 2 or 3 times. Thanks

[Almondiyz]

Can anyone see a problem with doing warm compresses 4 or 5 times a day? Nothing makes my eyes feel better, but it seems everyone else does this maybe 2 or 3 times. Thanks

Max, it would depend on what you eye doctor says. Lot's of factors to consider.

The temperature, duration, & why you use warm compresses in the first place.
Some doctors are concerned that overuse of warm/hot compresses MAY have negative effects on the cornea.

For me, warm compresses initially soothed my MGD eyes, but increased signs & symptoms of ocular & facial rosacea flushing. What doesn't make sense is what I was told to do by one eye doctor; using cold compresses in between warm. I thought the whole point of warm compresses was to keep meibum soft.

Also, the skin around my eyes are so paper thin & sensitive now from warm compresses. I see an outline of my rice mask! No amount of eye moisturizing products have helped.

[Max52]

Thanks for the reply Almondiyz.. my opthamologist basically dumped me and suggested lipiflow. She said she was out of "bullets"..and I believe she was.. and in 2 weeks I'm going to see the doctor she recommended who can analyze my tears and see if I'm a candidate for the procedure. Still not sure if I would go for it, but at least I hope to find out more info on why I feel like I do. At this point, all I know is that I have blepharitis. I'd been doing fine on restasis for over a year and then for the past few months I'm back to where to I started..very sore, dry eyes and swollen lids. The warm compresses are comforting more than anything else. She never told me how often, just to do it. I have read somewhere that cold can be good too if your lids are swollen..mine are..so for me that makes sense too. So sorry your skin is so sensitive now. I'll take that as warning..thanks

[Almondiyz]

Thanks for the reply Almondiyz.. my opthamologist basically dumped me and suggested lipiflow. She said she was out of "bullets"..and I believe she was.. and in 2 weeks I'm going to see the doctor she recommended who can analyze my tears and see if I'm a candidate for the procedure. Still not sure if I would go for it, but at least I hope to find out more info on why I feel like I do. At this point, all I know is that I have blepharitis. I'd been doing fine on restasis for over a year and then for the past few months I'm back to where to I started..very sore, dry eyes and swollen lids. The warm compresses are comforting more than anything else. She never told me how often, just to do it. I have read somewhere that cold can be good too if your lids are swollen..mine are..so for me that makes sense too. So sorry your skin is so sensitive now. I'll take that as warning..thanks

Max,
Have you read all the CONTRAINDICATIONS for Lipiflow?

Too many doctors are using Lipiflow on people who ARE NOT CANDIDATES.
Desperate people are being targeted to cover cost; otherwise why would a physician do a medical treatment that is contraindicated?


The Lipiflow *machine* costs $100,000.00. Each eye piece costs $350.00.
It would seem that Lipiflow is effective on people with MILD DRY EYE.

If I had mild dry eye, I wouldn't consider a treatment that costs $700.00 per eye that May or May Not help! I think the doctor's are trying to cover the cost of the Lipiflow machine especially if they're a small or solo practice.

The LONG LIST of CONTRAINDICATIONS are here on this link. http://www.lipiflow.com/?page_id=174

P.S. I feel that doctors KNOW how DESPERATE patients are & so they BLATANTLY EXPLOIT us for their financial benefit!

I just read you have active blepharitis! That's an CONTRAINDICATION!

Maybe the Restasis could be the problem? Lot's of people find it stops working. Have you considered asking a doctor about a trial of NOT using Restasis for a test?

[glimmer-of-hope]

The Lipiflow *machine* costs $100,000.00. Each eye piece costs $350.00.
It would seem that Lipiflow is effective on people with MILD DRY EYE.

If I had mild dry eye, I wouldn't consider a treatment that costs $700.00 per eye that May or May Not help! I think the doctor's are trying to cover the cost of the Lipiflow machine especially if they're a small or solo practice.

The LONG LIST of CONTRAINDICATIONS are here on this link. http://www.lipiflow.com/?page_id=174

P.S. I feel that doctors KNOW how DESPERATE patients are & so they BLATANTLY EXPLOIT us for their financial benefit!

I also think it might be effective only for people with mild symptoms. But for the money it’s rather expensive “spa treatment”. I feel sorry for the people who are dragged into this by their doctors who just want their money… But I understand the patients who want to try this because we are all desperate from all this pain and want to try something that can at least ease the pain if not treat it…

[Max52]

Thanks Almondiyz...I'll print off the contraindications and take them with me.At this point, although not diagnosed, I feel I have posterior blepharitis and MGD. This doesn't appear to be a contraindication. Maybe I have more faith in the medical system than I should have, but I want to believe that most Doctors bought their machine because they felt it would help some patients. Yes, it's expensive, but even if I feel half better than now for a period of time it will be worth it. You put your money down and you take your chances. As for restasis...I'm afraid to stop it because for well over a year it was working like a charm. I didn't need any other drops. When I posted the question on the forum, twice, if it had stopped working for anyone else, I got 1 response.

[Almondiyz]

Thanks Almondiyz...I'll print off the contraindications and take them with me.At this point, although not diagnosed, I feel I have posterior blepharitis and MGD. This doesn't appear to be a contraindication. Maybe I have more faith in the medical system than I should have, but I want to believe that most Doctors bought their machine because they felt it would help some patients. Yes, it's expensive, but even if I feel half better than now for a period of time it will be worth it. You put your money down and you take your chances. As for restasis...I'm afraid to stop it because for well over a year it was working like a charm. I didn't need any other drops. When I posted the question on the forum, twice, if it had stopped working for anyone else, I got 1 response.

Max,
I completely understand trying something that may work for relief. About responses, I've posted where no one responded. I really hope Lipiflow works for you!

I'm very interested in what happens when you take the contraindication list with you. I'd save that list for LAST after you're told all the info about your eyes! Please post about your appointment results!

P.S. Are you going to a small or solo practice or a large teaching/research hospital? When I went to the solo practice, I was approved as a candidate for that same day. I was even wearing bandage contact lenses for corneal abrasions!

The second place I went for evaluation was a large teaching/research hospital. I was told I wasn't a candidate because of active blepharitis & severe ocular rosacea. I was told that the blep/ocular rosacea had to be treated & under control before they would evaluate me for a Lipiview.

[Max52]

I'll be sure to post about my appointment. The opthamologist I'll be seeing I think is a solo practice shared with other doctors. At least she's an opthamologist. Around here there are also optometrists who offer it. I live in the Toronto area and as far as I know there aren't any large teaching hospitals where I could go. Do you think "active" blepharitis in and of itself would have ruled you out, or was it the combination with severe ocular rosacea that was the reason? Do you have periods of time when you feel OK?

[Almondiyz]

I'll be sure to post about my appointment. The opthamologist I'll be seeing I think is a solo practice shared with other doctors. At least she's an opthamologist. Around here there are also optometrists who offer it. I live in the Toronto area and as far as I know there aren't any large teaching hospitals where I could go. Do you think "active" blepharitis in and of itself would have ruled you out, or was it the combination with severe ocular rosacea that was the reason? Do you have periods of time when you feel OK?

Max,
There are several types of blepharitis. http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-publ...ns/blepharitis

My blep was diagnosed as MGD + ocular rosacea Chronic Inflammation. My doctor didn't say it was an *infection* just Chronic Inflammatory Blep.


That's why I'm on Doxycyline 50 mg twice daily, to manage the inflammation. I say manage because I still have chronic inflammation but it's not like it was before Doxycycline. My eyelids used to be swollen all the time, now, they swell during flare-up's. Maybe once a week or so now.

Active/Chronic inflammation was my issue. The list of contraindications/precautions also ruled out that I was a Lipiflow candidate because my history (they measure by 3 months period of symptoms/conditions acute or chronic prior to Lipiflow).


The thought was if my chronic inflammation due to MGD & ocular rosacea could be controlled, maybe in the future I could be a candidate for Lipiflow.

However, my lids don't completely close at night as well as incomplete shutting of the eyelids during blinking while awake (lagophthalmos).

MANY people with dry eye don't realize they have Lagophthalmos. Many doctors don't even address that serious problem that increases dry eye.


I was told by a doctor to wear a nighttime eye mask, yet I didn't notice a difference in the morning. Wearing a flat mask wasn't enough for me. Next, I tried another method, something that Dr. Korb, founder of Lipiflow said was a way to find out if someone had incomplete lid closure during sleep.

Dr. Korb suggests to use eye ointment on lids, cover with Saran Wrap cellophane with a mask over eyes & evaluate how morning eyes felt. I use "Glad-Seal" brand because it has a sticky side the sticks to skin without having to slather goopy eye ointment all over my eye orbits to keep the cellophane adhered to my closed eyes.

Have you tried the *Cellophane Over Eye Ointment with Mask at Bedtime* test? It makes the biggest difference!

I noticed an improvement the first morning. Although, there are those mornings that my eyes are still very dry. I try to force yawn as soon as I start to awaken to induce tearing before removing the cellophane to moisten my eyes before getting out of bed.

Forgot to mention I only apply nighttime eye ointment over my eyelashes & just below maybe 1/16 - 1/4th of an inch under the lid margins. I don't put the ointment in my eyes, I use Optive Refresh Plus 1% in my eyes.