What to do next, my tablet HELL

[mvallence90]

Hey DEZ, my name is Matt and I'm 24 from Melbourne Australia.

I've been fighting dry eye for 3 years and my life is at a complete standstill. If I'm able to get at night once every 3 months to see people thats about as good as it gets currently.

I have dry eye syndrome with my issues being posterior blepharitis, MGD, partial blink (worse in my right eye) which also leads to nocturnal lagopthalmos.

I have plugs in the lower part of my eyes and they haven't done a whole lot. I use Hylo-Forte, Poly-Gel, TheraTears throughout the day, have to use warm compresses with a hand-towel at least 5 times a day, use Sterilid in the shower and use Genteal Gel at night.

Now after seeing many specialist in my home state of Melbourne that had no clue at all, I had some progress with a clinic in Sydney were I was diagnosed with the above conditions. For the posterior bleph and MGD I was told to take Doxycycline 50mg once a day in the morning. I was told it would take 3-6 months to take effect.

After a month on the tablet my symptoms and pain were at a 10 when the usually sit at a 7. I've been told there is no chance that tablets will make my eyes drier but I know what my body feels and its the tablets that have made things worse.

I took anti-depressants (lexapro mainly, and a few others) for 2 and a half years from 2010, and my entire dry eye issue started near the end of 2011. I believe its that tablets that have caused my condition in the 1st place and every time since Ive tried a chemical tablet with major side effects my condition has been worse. I suffer greatly from anxiety and depression but cannot treat them like most due to how the tablets effect my eyes.

Now it looks like I cannot treat my meibomian gland dysfunction properly as well due to this issue. I'm at a complete loss as what to do and need some help. Any other treatment options for my conditions that dont invlove tablets is essential for me and any input would be greatly appreciated.

The lagopthalmos makes sleeping almost useless as my eyes are so sore, heavy and tired once I wake each morning. I've tried the OnYix shield and taping my eyes but nothing has really helped. The shield left heavy lines on my face as I'm a side sleeper that would go away all day and I developed discoloration around my eyes and had huge bags after wearing it.

Also I need more options on hot compresses. I tried the Tranquileyes XR with Thermoeye beads which you heat in the microwave but the beads in the left bag almost halved after one go in the mic and then both exploded in the mic after about 2 months.

I'm desperate hear and any help and ideas are sooo needed

Cheers

[L8rgator]

I'd recommend getting the top plugs done also. Also make sure your lower plugs are still in there - I know mine fell out right away (or opened up in the case of cauterization).

When you tape your eye shut, what do you use? I've had the most luck with these bandages: http://www.amazon.com/Nexcare-Cushio.../dp/B001CBDMBU
But they are quite big enough, so I use this tape along the bottom or top: http://amzn.com/B001H54S82
And I soak the cushion with sterile saline.
I make sure no air can get in at all. Which sucks, since your eyes really do need oxygen.
I like the bandaids because I can make a little air pocket over my eye. and they stay put.
I hate the bandaids because I wear them every day, and you can see a red ring where I pull them off whenever I get flush (usually it's not noticeable otherwise, or it looks like a sunglasses sunburn at most).

I've also made my own eye sheild with Dura-Lar sheets and elastic. I think I have .003 and .005. I can make them huge, so they cover all my cheek and alot of forehead - no foam needed, so the edges don't cut in and they stay on better than everything else (which I always ended up wearing around my neck) because they lay flat without any foam. I do line the nose part with the tape from above. Sometimes I lightly tape it to my forehead or cheek for extra hold. I have deep set eyes though, so my eyelashes don't rub. That might not be true for everyone. I used to wear these under my glasses before I got my custom scleral lens. They were much less noticeable than big patches or goggles (especially obscured under my bangs) - at least the kids in the store weren't constantly telling me I looked like a pirate. And I could see, which I couldn't when I was using bandages or foggy goggles during the day.

[L8rgator]

I wouldn't give up on the antidepressants either. There are dozens to try, and they all work differently. They all do have side effects. But SOME are worth it. I know!

[L8rgator]

Also, get a good (goes up very high) humidifier right next to your bed. Unless it is already very humid where you are?

[grant555]

have you been tested for graves disease (TSI/TSH/T3/T4 blood tests)?

have you tried anxiolytics (xanax, ativan)? do they make your eyes worse?

[Sagar]

try some Ayurvedic medicine.use omega 3 supplement.

[DCRdryeye]

Hi Matt, I live near Melbourne and agree there are no real dry eye specialists there. But there are a small few who can certainly treat you. Check out our website at www.australiandryeye.webs.com and send me a private message where I can recommend you more specifically before you waste further time and money.

[mvallence90]

Thanks all for the imput and sorry It's taken me a while to reply.

L8rgator, I've use the best quality shields for Tranquileyes, the OnYix sleep shield and another shield from there range thats also used for hot/cold compresses but to no avail. My eyes are completely covered at night but they still are in horrid shape when I wake up. My right eye is worse and is very red and bloodshot lower in the eye. The only gels that have provided any relief at night are Genteal Gel & PolyGel.

I feel the anti-depressants may have been what caused all this as I didn't have dry eye, just Kerataconus, 3 years ago. Every time I try and long-form heavy chemical tablet they make me feel worse. I've been told countless times that this is impossible and it's just my anxiety but I feel more pain clearly in my eyes, its not just me being anxious.

have you been tested for graves disease (TSI/TSH/T3/T4 blood tests)?

have you tried anxiolytics (xanax, ativan)? do they make your eyes worse?

I haven't been tested for Graves disease. I've done some research and my eyes don't buldge out like most with this condition. The inflamtion problem is with my eyelids as I have Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Posterior Blepharitis.

I can take pain medication like Nurofen Plus and that doesn't make things worse, Is that like xanax?

I've been off my Doxycycline 50mg for about 2 weeks and the pain from the dry eyes is less but they still look completely red and bloodshot and my eyelids are puffy and inflamed. My right especially hurts to touch and feels like the glands underneath are blocked.

I'm really not sure what my next move should be as I'm scared getting back on the Doxy will set me way back pain wise but will help the inflamtion. If I leave my MGD/Posterior Bleph for too long untreated can something major occur?

[L8rgator]

I know how you feel. I tried the tranquileyes and onyix shields too, but was absolutely miserable in the morning. The onyix were just too small for my eye. I actually used to wear them during the day too, with tape around it to keep it put. Must say, not something I should have been driving in (but fortunately it was only one eye - I removed the second one). I looked like a total idiot. Very embarrasing, I remember.

If you want to stick with night goggles, the ones I had the best luck with before I started making my own were these:

But they would often crack after a couple of weeks, and they wouldn't stay on my head even taped on.

For a single eye, I really a particular patch that happens to be really cheap (like $11USD if I remember right) from richmond products:
http://is.gd/RXcg6J

They are completely clear, and the company actually listens if you make suggestions -I told them I was allergic to latex but liked their patches the best, and they test me a new trial patch to test. My eye surgeon used to give them to me for free when I asked - so you could try asking around.

I see they make some in full goggles now, but I have never tried those.
http://is.gd/z6XNYz
I still needed some of that blue tape (used to be sold in the shop but was out of stock last time I looked late last year?) to held them in place overnight.

Having said that, NONE of those solutions was good enough for me. As I've said before, I was ready to have the eye sewn shut. Now that my eye is kept healthy and happy during the day, the soaked bandage method I use overnight now works well and my eye feels good in the morning. But the peeling off of the bandage, and the pink areas it sometimes leaves are a definite downside to using bandaids. Also with a bandage on you can't put drops in, because as soon as you peel up an edge it won't stick again. I'll add tape if necessary. And you can't rub your eye very well under a bandage. So I'm really glad I only have to do it at night now.

[grant555]

xanax treats anxiety. it is much different than anti-depressants though - will not likely dry your eyes out like those. do you not have xanax in australia?

in regards to graves, the bulge you see in pictures with graves disease only happens at very advanced stages. if you have lagophthalmos, it could be a cause. not saying its likely but it could be. lagophthalmos can also be caused by anxiety as well though, which may be your situation. however, if you are successfully using tranquileyes at night and still not feeling better in the morning, then lagophthalmos may not be your primary problem.

have you been tested for sleep apnea?
have you been tested for allergies?

your diagnosis was the same as mine - MGD, blepharitis, partial blink (particularly in the right eye), and noctural lagophthalmos.

[mvallence90]

Having said that, NONE of those solutions was good enough for me. As I've said before, I was ready to have the eye sewn shut. Now that my eye is kept healthy and happy during the day, the soaked bandage method I use overnight now works well and my eye feels good in the morning. But the peeling off of the bandage, and the pink areas it sometimes leaves are a definite downside to using bandaids. Also with a bandage on you can't put drops in, because as soon as you peel up an edge it won't stick again. I'll add tape if necessary. And you can't rub your eye very well under a bandage. So I'm really glad I only have to do it at night now.

Can I ask how you keep your eyes happy and healthy throughout the day, I'm at the point were everything I'm trying is failing so any ideas on how others can function happily throughout the day is always welcome. As for my night time struggles again my biggest issue is finding out if I have nocturnal lagopthalmos, are there any tests you can have or is it really only someone viewing you as you sleep.

No matter what I try, my eyes are constantly red, veins bloodshot, the outsides of my eye almost go a yellow colour. My eyes haven't improved at all single getting my lowers plugged. Ocular Rosacea is something I read often about on here, is there a possibility I have this?

Again tried the Doxy 50mg and already I feel my eyes are more sensetive to the usual discomfort they are in. Any other treatments that help posterior blepharitis that isn't a tablet. Azasite is another word I've seen popping up in regards to treatment for MGD

[rm14dp]

Azasite for MGD

Can I ask how you keep your eyes happy and healthy throughout the day, I'm at the point were everything I'm trying is failing so any ideas on how others can function happily throughout the day is always welcome. As for my night time struggles again my biggest issue is finding out if I have nocturnal lagopthalmos, are there any tests you can have or is it really only someone viewing you as you sleep.

No matter what I try, my eyes are constantly red, veins bloodshot, the outsides of my eye almost go a yellow colour. My eyes haven't improved at all single getting my lowers plugged. Ocular Rosacea is something I read often about on here, is there a possibility I have this?

Again tried the Doxy 50mg and already I feel my eyes are more sensetive to the usual discomfort they are in. Any other treatments that help posterior blepharitis that isn't a tablet. Azasite is another word I've seen popping up in regards to treatment for MGD

Hello I to have posterior MGD ( 3 years since eye surgery ) and severe dry eyes. My glands are completely blocked and have been manually expressed but soon block again. I to tried Doxy for 3 months, but my eyes felt worse. Since then I have had 3 courses ( month at a time ) of Anthramycin eye drops - to you known as Azasite - they really help. Anthramycin also comes in 500g tablet form, one tablet a day for 3 days, and I have had good results with these as well - 2 courses. If tablets are a problem for you try the drops, but they do sting. I also use several different drops during the day depending on how bad my eyes feel. Systane UD, Systane Ultra, Lubristil Gel all preservative free. I use an MGD eyebag once a day, and Blephaclean wipes before inserting drops. I have tried lower plugs, but my puncta became inflamed, so just went back to drops. Its just a case of trying different things and dont give up. Good luck.