How is hypochlorous acid supposed to help dry eye sufferers?

[hannsho]

(I've started this new discussion because it is does not specifically concern Natrasan First Aid Spray.)
I think to answer this question requires first to outline how posterior blepharitis, meibomian gland deficiency (MGD) and dry eye symptoms are connected to each other. MGD has often been called posterior blepharitis because they are very closely related to each other. Posterior blepharitis is basically a chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins. This inflammation in time leads to the inflammation of the meibomian glands within the eyelids and to the deterioration of the oil (meibum) the glands secret. Healthy meibum covers and stabilizes the tear film preventing it's aqueous part from evaporating immediately. However, as the meibum thickens due to the inflamed glands it provides carbon for commensal bacteria that feed on it on the eyelid margins. This in turn leads to an overgrowth of the bacteria, for example of staphylococci aureus. Different types of bacteria fight each other for this source of this carbon and generate toxic proteins to attack each other, which may also harm the host tissue. In addition the bacteria generate enzymes, such as lipases, that break up the oil (meibum) of the tear film. Without the protective layer of the meibum, the tear film starts to evaporate much more quickly than would normally be the case, causing irritation and inflammation of the ocular surface i.e. dry eye symptoms. What's more the body's own response to these irritants can cause it to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that further irritate the ocular surface. Please note that this is a simplified and shortened description of a very complex process.

So how can hypochlorous acid (HOCI) help?
First, HOCI destroys bacteria on the eyelid and eliminates any overgrowth. Second, HOCI inactivates the harmful enzymes released by the bacteria. Third, it suppresses the pro-inflammatory cytokines released by the body's own cells. All this is really phenomenal - it means that hypochlorous acid has an anti-inflammatory effect! Logically, it should also help to stabilize the tear film, which is no longer destabilized by harmful enzymes. In terms of dry eye symptoms this should translate into less inflammation, less irritation (foreign body sensation) and perhaps a lesser need to use artificial tear drops. Further, HOCI does all this without creating any bacterial resistance! I would summarize this by saying that hypochlorous acid represents an excellent and exiting new form to combat the symptoms of dry eye. I believe in it, and have started to use it 10 days ago.

[okhuskerfan]

Very interesting and thanks for sharing your findings! I didn’t know why it works but just know that it does work for me.

[farmgirl]

Very complex process thanks for the simplified explanation. Obviously you have a medical or chemical background of some kind. I expect that something like IPL would than be recommended to express the old congealed oils and get the system working again.

So I just went back and reread your former post on NatraSan First Aid Spray and realized that I have in my arsenal some Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleanser which I have not been using because it didn't seem to be doing anything. Having just had IPL a week ago I am very excited that this might help push me over the edge toward a permanent resolution of the MGD problem. Like you, I will monitor it for a couple of weeks and let you know if it helps any...thanks so much for sharing.

[hannsho]

Hi Farmgirl

Until the first of June I was on Doxycycline 100mg, which I had taken for 6 weeks, and had also been using 0.05% cyclosporine eyedrops twice a day for the past 9 months. Now I am just using the Natrasan first aid spray twice a day to clean my eyelids, in addition to a daily intake of Omega 3. Like you I am hoping that this might control my eye condition. Dr. John Sheppard seemed to indicate that possibility when he said in a webinar that he is now used less oral doxycycline because of treatment with HOCI. From what Dr. Sheppard said in the video it seems that using only a HOCI spray and Omega 3 food supplement may well work to control MGD / blepharitis at least at the initial stage. I don't know if this treatment will be enough to control more serious cases. But, I'm trying that out anyway, and really hope that it will also work for you. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for both of us!

PS: I don't have any medical background, but I think that there a some very well informed participants in this forum and that we can all learn from each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wmetMN92SM&t=2s

[hannsho]

MY EXPERIENCE WITH NATRASAN FIRST AID SPRAY - GOOD RESUTLS!

(I have posted this info. also on the Natrasan thread, because I think this is of general interest)

After having used Natrasan First Aid Spray for 5 1/2 weeks I wish to report my experience. My aim was to see if I could use the spray to maintain a stable situation without using Restasis. The reason for this is the following: Restasis is not available in Spain and I had to import it form Andorra, which is inconvenient and costly. Ikervis is also not available in Spain currently.

Presently my situation is as follows. I am now able to control my eye condition relying solely on artificial tear drops. (Tough I also take Omega 3 and use an eye pad to warm my eye lids for 8 minutes once a day which I am thinking of discontinuing soon.)

I now hardly ever experience a foreign body sensation, stinging in my eye or itchy eyelids. My eye no longer goes red, specifically I no longer suffer from constantly recurring ocular surface hyperemia. I no longer have trouble opening my eyelids in the morning, which was associated with pain and photosensitivity. I believe this improvement came about using Restasis eyedrops. However, before using Restasis eyedrops my I was almost constantly red, and I had to use eyedrops containing a powerful corticosteroid almost continuously to control the situation. Note, that this constant redness had nothing to do with infection but rather with an underlying inflammatory process caused by ocular rosacea. Shortly after I started to use the Natrasan First Aid spray I stopped using Restasis. (More correctly 0.05% Cyclosporine eyedrops made up for me by a local pharmacy.)

So far, the spray has not only maintained the situation but has led to some improvements. I do not need to use as many gel drops during the night now and on waking up my eye feels more comfortable. In addition, I find I must use fewer artificial eyedrops during the day.

An interesting point. After using the spray for 25 days my eyes suddenly became a bit red. Therefore, I started to use the spray only in the morning and stopped using the spray for 5 days on my right eye which is usually better than my left one. Reducing and stopping the use of the spray immediately improved the situation, which went back to normal. This suggests that any possible negative effects will disappear as soon as the use of the spray is stopped. MGD 1701 also found that it is not good to overuse the Natarasan First Aid Spray once the eye has stabilized. I now use the spray on both eyes, only once a day in the morning. In summary, so far, the Natrasan First Aid spray seems to do what I had hoped for.

I will stop here as otherwise this post will get far too long. However, I will gladly answer any questions that members of this forum may have.

[Guest]

Very complex process thanks for the simplified explanation. Obviously you have a medical or chemical background of some kind. I expect that something like IPL would than be recommended to express the old congealed oils and get the system working again.

So I just went back and reread your former post on NatraSan First Aid Spray and realized that I have in my arsenal some Heyedrate Lid and Lash Cleanser which I have not been using because it didn't seem to be doing anything. Having just had IPL a week ago I am very excited that this might help push me over the edge toward a permanent resolution of the MGD problem. Like you, I will monitor it for a couple of weeks and let you know if it helps any...thanks so much for sharing.

Just beware that some hypochlorous acid sprays have different PHs and are only stable for a short time. Avenova basically turns into water 30 days after you open it. That's why I get two, 40ml bottles a month and each on me lasts two weeks. These are factory sealed and sterile bottles and pumps. The heydrate cleanser is great, but you have no idea how old it is when you buy it and it's not sealed well. I bought a bottle and that bothered me, that something I'm putting on my eyelids isn't tamper proof.

So you may want to buy another bottle as im sure your old one is basically water and salt at this point.

Avoid any hypochlorous acid spray woth with sodium chlorite, which is a chlorine species that's toxic to the cells. You don't want to put sometime toxic on your lid for years. There's a company called oculys that makes a spray that has that bleach product in it. I used the product and liked it but stopped after I realized it wasn't pure. That's why everyone pushed avenova specifically, because it's pure hypochlorous acid, no left over reactants or chemical changes for a month.

[hannsho]

Hi Dowork123

You may have a point about Heyedrate if there is no expiry date on it, and this is certainly something Farmgirl ought to be aware of. However, Natrasan First Aid spray is pure hypochlorous acid and a saline solution. Further, the manufacturer claims the spray is good within the expiry date, and it does not contains a preservative.

[Guest]

Hi Dowork123

You may have a point about Heyedrate if there is no expiry date on it, and this is certainly something Farmgirl ought to be aware of. However, Natrasan First Aid spray is pure hypochlorous acid and a saline solution. Further, the manufacturer claims the spray is good within the expiry date, and it does not contains a preservative.

Yeah, the length of time the product is good is dependent upon weather the manufacturer buffered the PH. It's too much chemistry for me to care to know lol...but if you find a product that's pure and stable you're good to go.

[hannsho]

Hi Farmgirl,

It is now a little more than 3 months that I have used hypochlorous acid (in the form of Natrasan First Aid Spry) to clean my eyelids. Two days ago, I went to my ophthalmologist to get him to tell me how my eyes were doing in order not just to rely on my subjective impression. The result of using Natrasan during this period has been very positive, and I reported it in the ‘Natrasan Thread’. I was wondering if you could also tell us your experience with using hypochlorous acid. I think this could be valuable information that many of us would find interesting. At any rate I hope you have achieved some positive results and got some relief from all the things you have been trying.