IPL at Univ of MI - Ann Arbor Kellogg Eye Center

[MGD1701]

Sorry to hear about. Did doctors examine scar tissue, capping or blinking issues?
IPL, LipiFlow expression help but only a knowledgeable/results-driven dr, like Dr L. Periman (in Seattle), who
runs/collects ''all necessary/right'' objective tests/data = detects root causes.

[edmunder]

10 days ago had treatment. Eyes are in bad shape again. Everything blocked up on lowers. Though some uppers express.

Very tough at the moment. Even in goggles pain all day. Tear film just isnt there. I can hear my eyes blink. Like windshield wipers on dry glass.

Will have a manual expression on friday 14th but a week away.

[edmunder]

secretion
I can only see (big & small) oil drops from upper lids with 20-zoom mirror. Can you see from bottom? How?

Actually I had never done a real expression of the top lids. I usually do the finger roll down 10-15 times for each top lid. After seeing this I did a good expression and found a lot of my top glands produced a good amount of Oil.

The bottom ones work the same way. Roll up a few times lightly on the bottom lids. Then gently press below the eyelid line. You should see oil come out of the small gland pores.

[alisonW]

Thanks so much for all of the details regarding your visit.

[MGD1701]

Hi edmunder
that drymaster, Dr Periman, ''measures both osmolarity and Mmp9 at each DryEye visit'', for your info.
I know many doctors apply them to make their treatment plan and monitor if it works. - makes sense, right?

secretion
I can only see (big & small) oil drops from upper lids with 20-zoom mirror. Can you see from bottom? How?

Just lowers - cheeks, nose and lower lids.

i brought it up with the doctor. I may send her the video ftom that dryeyemaster Doctor and her protocol.

I only have one choice. Its already 4 hours.

I will ask if she will consider trying the corneal shields and this new protocol on me though.

I wish you further success man, glad this solutions seems to be helping.

[edmunder]

Just lowers - cheeks, nose and lower lids.

i brought it up with the doctor. I may send her the video ftom that dryeyemaster Doctor and her protocol.

I only have one choice. Its already 4 hours.

I will ask if she will consider trying the corneal shields and this new protocol on me though.

[deep_dry_eye]

So week later results.

Some very positive things. I didnt have goggles most of the day. But at night my left eye felt pretty sore from it.

More oil cones out from warm compress but still not enough.

I do the warm compress, 15-20 minutes, then lightly roll my fingers up on the lids. Then i get some drops from the fridge and drop on my eyes, the hot to cold colors the oils that came out of the glands. A bit cloudy. So i can see what came out. Then i get a q-tip with occusoft foam and clean the lids. Then hypocholoric acid. So far there has been obvious progress. Just not a whole lot.

In a week i will get a manual expression from local doctor. He bought a newer eyelid heating

http://www.heatedeyepad.com/

Its hard to have a good day and then at night realize it was partly a mirage, the dry cornea at night, goggles back on. I only use blood serum drops, drops like retaine make my eyes feel awful.

Your IPL, did they use corneal shields or stickers? i.e., did they do your uppers?

I just chatted w a doctor who just started doing IPL, he claims that doing the uppers is important (he started only doing the lowers) and he noticed a difference in his patients. I am switching to this doctor to my IPL now, i.e., to do uppers and lowers, and use corneal shields .

[edmunder]

So week later results.

Some very positive things. I didnt have goggles most of the day. But at night my left eye felt pretty sore from it.

More oil cones out from warm compress but still not enough.

I do the warm compress, 15-20 minutes, then lightly roll my fingers up on the lids. Then i get some drops from the fridge and drop on my eyes, the hot to cold colors the oils that came out of the glands. A bit cloudy. So i can see what came out. Then i get a q-tip with occusoft foam and clean the lids. Then hypocholoric acid. So far there has been obvious progress. Just not a whole lot.

In a week i will get a manual expression from local doctor. He bought a newer eyelid heating

http://www.heatedeyepad.com/

Its hard to have a good day and then at night realize it was partly a mirage, the dry cornea at night, goggles back on. I only use blood serum drops, drops like retaine make my eyes feel awful.

[edmunder]

Thanks edmunder, seems the oil qualityis the issue. Omega 3/GLA helps but normally takes 2-3 months.
Blood test, I would include heavy metals and iron.
What are your results for MMP-9 & osmolarity??

Ive been taking Hydroeyes for about 2 months which has GLA but not enough so Ive ordered just a GLA supplement. Ive been taking PRN fish oil for 5 weeks but other lesser fish oils before.

Ive had a lot of blood tests but not for heavy metals. My primary care doctor isnt great. She mostly sees me as a problem she cant help.

Osmolarity i cant remember clearly.

Left eye - bad eye - 315?
Right eye - 295

Havent done MM9.

I’m sorry it was a pain in the ass bit happy you got in and felt better even for a short time. When I called, they said they would have to review my medical records before they would accept my case. I’m assuming that’s just their thing, they have to screen patients. I hope you find your root cause so you can end this mess.

[MGD1701]

Thanks edmunder, seems the oil qualityis the issue. Omega 3/GLA helps but normally takes 2-3 months.
Blood test, I would include heavy metals and iron.
What are your results for MMP-9 & osmolarity??

[Hokucat]

Thanks for the update. You’ve had more success than the average person, albeit temporary, with initial LipiFlow, IPL, and gland expression treatments, so that’s definitely promising future treatments can help even more.

I really believe finding the right diet can be key for your glands to continue to produce healthy oil on their own long term. I can’t remember if you’ve had extensive blood tests on autoimmune disease, hormone levels, vitamin deficiencies, etc., but it can be helpful to see a naturopath to help with diet, supplements, and other testing regular doctors don’t order. I had one who also was an M.D., so that was helpful in ordering his own tests and reviewing all my other medical records. I learned a lot from my naturopath, and seeing him was key in my belief and success finding diet was a big part of the long term solution for me.

[diydry]

Hey edmunder it’s great to hear IPL really helped you, at least temporarily. It shows there’s still hope and that if your glands are still capable of producing good quality oils then at some point the effect can be continuous. I have no real feedback since I haven’t done IPL myself but I notice the challenge with all of these treatments (lipiflow, IPL, probing) is that the results tend to be positive initially but it can revert back to old levels. I agree it’s prudent to look into dietary changes, I know you already have a great diet but some kind of GLA (omega 3) supplementation makes sense. I’m also looking into 5 day fast mimicking diets (currently on public library waitlist for The Longevity Diet by Dr. Valter Longo who advocates these sorts of fasting). Hopefully with repeat treatment there can be a longterm effect.

[deep_dry_eye]

Yes its very frustrating and psychologically very challenging. When i had lipiflow it got better then back to blocked. IPL same thing.

Part of me wants to stop doxycycline and try very high levels of probiotics plus probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, resistant starch etc to increase bacterial health of the body.

I also want to try water fasting for 4-5 days to kill all the bad white blood cells and regenerate the immune system in my body.

I just feel like im doing the same e thing again and again. Its not working. Hard to be patient thats for sure.

Personally, I think probiotics is just a marketing scam (although many of the foods that supposedly contain probiotics are naturally healthy and good for your regardless).

Doxy is good, it should help thin your oil long term, azithromycin is better. Next time you do IPL, ask for AzaSite or oral azithromycin z-pack. You can also ask for Prokera (AMT), it costs around 1.5k CAD per eye in Toronto. I definitely have a lot of improvement in the eye I did Prokera. I have my followup on that in a few days time, I'll update on what the dr says as well.

I have like multiple doctors lol, 1 for IPL, 1 for LipiFlow, 1 for Prokear