Running out of options -- Blepharitis/MGD

[Guest]

The red eyes are constant, terrible in the morning (no pain whatsoever) bad throughout the day, terrible at night. The dryness I usually don't feel until I go to a dry classroom or its late at night. Right now, though, my eyes don't feel dry at all. Maybe it's the refresh drops, they were dry last night--but they are very, very red.

Have you stopped the ointment now?

Also about the steralid lid scrubs your using - I was wondering if it's making things worse for you. A few people in here have found their eyes have stung after using it, everyone has different reactions to it but just wondering if yours is a bad one? Try a light tea tree wash (diluted) and be oh so gentle round your eye area. It shouldn't be so much of a scrubbing back and forth action just a light wipe across the root of your eye lashes from the inner corner to the out - with your eyes firmly shut of course!

If your eyelids are already 'clean' by opth standards try dropping this down to once every two days and see how you go.

I know how frustrating it is but you will get to the bottom of this. You're being so proactive and that's a real positive. When it comes to your eyes you want to encourage natural stimulation as much as poss.

[littlemermaid]

Could it be remnants of mononucleosis virus (Epstein-Barr)? We have been dealing with the remnants of 2 'events' by 'babying' the eyes and doing all good things and it's taken a while to get back to near-normal with gentle maintenance.

If your immune system needs support after mono, what mineral and vitamin supplements would help? Are you vegetarian? As ClaireW says, you're doing all good things to keep well and happy.

My d. is 17 and although it's a normal part of life, illness is a shock and school is all about performance. At work, you would be able to get cover for time off if needed. However, a lot of people get viruses at college so hopefully they help on deadlines etc. I'm certain you need to look for support in school, doesn't matter who. If this was a sport injury, look how much treatment and attention is available. To compare, ripped muscles and tendons take time and attention to recover.

I would consider going with 'post-mono viral eye trouble' if you need to talk to tutors etc, even if it's not http://www.eyecalcs.com/DWAN/pages/v8/v8c091.html. Please don't read too much into this article - medics relish serious cases, it's what they do, but it gives us wrong ideas about where we are on the scale of how bad and what we've actually got. We're just speculating here about why red eye started. Sometimes there is a gap between cause and effect because there's accumulation, and bugs are opportunistic - it's like a constant battle in there so good plan to treat your immune system like royalty.

You're not doing, and haven't done, anything wrong. You just got sick from an infection and it's a question of healing. We are all here to help as much as we can. I think if you stick with regular Ophthalmology appointments, they check the cornea etc and help try different solutions, like we do, you'll be good in time. As always, we are looking for experience, support and partnerships from our docs not dictators, so we can discuss side effects of meds, possible differential diagnoses etc.

IT workers have started using wraparounds for 'computer vision syndrome' but it's early days on design.

Have you blitzed your room for allergens, especially anti-allergy bedding etc? Could be your eyes are more super-sensitive than classic allergic reaction. We switched to hypoallergenic shampoo, soap etc because detergents are tough on sore eyes. Do you sleep in airconditioning with part-open eyes? Looks like eyes part-open at night is more common than we thought - my d slept on a coach across Europe and many friends had part-open eyes while asleep. Surgical tape fixes that (see Rebecca's http://www.dryeyezone.com/)

Do tinted glasses like sunglasses help how you feel about the conjunctivitis? What do the Ophth think caused it?

[redstudent898]

Have you stopped the ointment now?

Also about the steralid lid scrubs your using - I was wondering if it's making things worse for you. A few people in here have found their eyes have stung after using it, everyone has different reactions to it but just wondering if yours is a bad one? Try a light tea tree wash (diluted) and be oh so gentle round your eye area. It shouldn't be so much of a scrubbing back and forth action just a light wipe across the root of your eye lashes from the inner corner to the out - with your eyes firmly shut of course!

If your eyelids are already 'clean' by opth standards try dropping this down to once every two days and see how you go.

I know how frustrating it is but you will get to the bottom of this. You're being so proactive and that's a real positive. When it comes to your eyes you want to encourage natural stimulation as much as poss.

I have stopped the ointment, haven't used it since Thursday night.

The scrubs don't sting or anything, my eyes are redder after doing them but that's probably unavoidable. I do try to be gentle, though.

littlemermaid, I don't know if it could be related to the mono. I've told every doctor I've seen so far that I had it recently when describing my history, but none made anything of it. I actually just started takinga multivitaminwith A, B, C, D, E, B6, B12, folic acid, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, chromium, molybdenum, choline, inositol, lutein, and boron. And the fish oil of course. I am not a vegetarian.

My friend told me to look into support at school too, I think I might.

I'm going to try to get a lot more specific answers next time I go to the ophthalmologist regarding posterior/anterior blepharitis, MGD, the actual quality of my tears, etc. So far all I've really heard is "blepharitis" and "do warm compresses."

My only question regarding allergens is that there are no new variables to speak of. If I could pin point a new product or bedding that I've started using it would make sense. I can see what I can do though. Also, no one has ever mentioned my eyes being partially open or anything. Is this something that can suddenly begin though?

I don't think I could be the guy who wears sunglasses everywhere (in class too), funnily enough that might be worse.

Every ophth has said blepharitis (no specifics) and the opt said no blepharitis and didn't really give an answer at all other than "sometimes inflammation happens."

[littlemermaid]

All good. I don't understand this stuff but we've got a multivit and mineral supplement with zinc and selenium 'to support the immune system' in short courses. Some people like a tea tree eyelid cleaner or gentle facewash or shampoo, as Claire says, for keeping bugs away. True your eyes look very clean. Hot washing your bedding and towels is a good plan anyway with eye trouble. Hope you can get some useful ideas and ongoing support from your Ophthalmologist http://dryeyezone.com/encyclopedia/coping101part2.html. To give you hope, my d's eyes have improved so much now she barely needs eyedrops unless in a/c, whereas 4y ago we couldn't last 2m without emergency hospital trips. The MGs are still not great but warm compress and cleaning keeps things good. Time and careful attention heals.

[redstudent898]

All good. I don't understand this stuff but we've got a multivit and mineral supplement with zinc and selenium 'to support the immune system' in short courses. Some people like a tea tree eyelid cleaner or gentle facewash or shampoo, as Claire says, for keeping bugs away. True your eyes look very clean. Hot washing your bedding and towels is a good plan anyway with eye trouble. Hope you can get some useful ideas and ongoing support from your Ophthalmologist http://dryeyezone.com/encyclopedia/coping101part2.html. To give you hope, my d's eyes have improved so much now she barely needs eyedrops unless in a/c, whereas 4y ago we couldn't last 2m without emergency hospital trips. The MGs are still not great but warm compress and cleaning keeps things good. Time and careful attention heals.

Thank you for the support. I'll read that article, too. I know that my eyes will eventually get better, I guess I'm just having a difficult time accepting the fact that it's come to me now, at this point in my life, with the things I have going on.

[Guest]

Hi again,

Sorry I should have been more specific, some people find that the brand sterlid can be too harsh on their eyes (there's previous posts about some people having negative reactions to sterlid) if your eyes go redder after then it might be a sign? After a tea tree wash my eyes are fine, see if there's a different brand like ocusoft which is kinder on your eyes.

After warm compresses naturally your eyes will get a bit redder but try and find out why this is happening with the scrubs. Like I said if your eyelids are already said to be clean like the opth said then you can reduce the scrubs to once every two days - might give your eyes a bit more of a break.

[littlemermaid]

Redstudent, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Patterns and Summary Benchmark Guidelines are useful thinking about conjunctivitis, blepharitis, allergy eyes etc, quicker than pouring through the DEWS Report of TFOS. Sorry I can't link, I've installed IOS8 and my iPad has basically stopped working.

[redstudent898]

Hi again,

Sorry I should have been more specific, some people find that the brand sterlid can be too harsh on their eyes (there's previous posts about some people having negative reactions to sterlid) if your eyes go redder after then it might be a sign? After a tea tree wash my eyes are fine, see if there's a different brand like ocusoft which is kinder on your eyes.

After warm compresses naturally your eyes will get a bit redder but try and find out why this is happening with the scrubs. Like I said if your eyelids are already said to be clean like the opth said then you can reduce the scrubs to once every two days - might give your eyes a bit more of a break.

I'll look into ocusoft, but really any sort of interaction with my eyes causes them to get redder, they are very sensitive to that it seems.

Littlemermaid, I'll look into that, thank you.

An update for today: Eyes are as red as usual, dryness has not been much of a problem though. They're a little dry right now, but nothing regular blinking can't handle. I was also relatively okay at walmart earlier, which are very dry. I bought a humidifier there today, too. I have it on my desk right next to me right now, hopefully it does me some good.

I'm trying to own my appearance right now, it's difficult to do. Every time I make eye contact with someone I wonder what they're thinking, and every time they look away for whatever reason I can't help but think it's because they feel uncomfortable looking into my eyes. That could just be me, though. One day at a time I guess...

[littlemermaid]

Was the Naphazoline bought over the counter or on prescription? Might be worth reporting side effects to the US FDA direct or through the pharmacy.

I think if you keep the eye surface moist, things will normalise, but you might have to accept a bit more eye protection to keep a good tear film!

[redstudent898]

Was the Naphazoline bought over the counter or on prescription? Might be worth reporting side effects to the US FDA direct or through the pharmacy.

I think if you keep the eye surface moist, things will normalise, but you might have to accept a bit more eye protection to keep a good tear film!

They were OTC Bausch&Lomb maximum redness relief drops. The longterm effects of vasoconstrictors such as naphazoline are known, but not too widely. When I first started using them I went to my gp after 2 weeks of red eyes and told her I was using them, she even looked at the ingredients and told me to continue use since they were bringing me relief. It's too bad more people don't know about what can happen, though.

[Faith1989]

I used visine for years- not knowing the effects and thought they were wonderful. When I stopped using them, my eyes dried out badly and got MGD.

Very Bad!!

[redstudent898]

I used visine for years- not knowing the effects and thought they were wonderful. When I stopped using them, my eyes dried out badly and got MGD.

Very Bad!!

I wish I had known. Maybe that's the root of my problems.

Today I got the FreshKote eyedrops that I've read so much about. They make my eyes a little redder upon application I think, but afterwards there is very little dryness to speak of. I've had very little trouble with pain/discomfort due to dryness all day. But again, my eyes are still ridiculously red. I don't know if it's possible that the redness and dryness are separate issues, but it almost seems that way with me.

[littlemermaid]

you can reduce the scrubs to once every two days - might give your eyes a bit more of a break.

Totally agree with ClaireW. 4 times a day has to be too many compresses and cleaning and would make even normal eyes sore. An Ophthalmologist did write notes for us in Dryeyezone (can't find it) that she finds people are being recommended compress, cleaning and even gland expression at home as standard cure-all, and may be damaging the glands more harm than good if too much. Dr Latkany (Dry Eye Remedy book) also thinks that we are squeezing out all the good stuff and prefers to recommend just an eye rub in a warm shower for many people to keep the eyes good. Especially since you've had no chalazia or obviously obstructed MGD like we have.

Are you seeing the Ophthalmologist back at College? Really what we all need is some regular help to adjust treatment ideas. We did use ophthalmic saline from vials for a bit (not too much, wrong osmolarity) as an alternative to chemical eyedrops, but interspersed with drops formulated with hyaluronic acid, which they think might have restorative properties on the eye surface. Bit worried that Freshkote is not one of the more modern formulated alternatives (you gotta ask family to help pay for this now - it's a very sensitive eye surface).

It's great to hear that cold compress does help your red-eye. Blepharitis is not really a diagnosis and you're right to talk to the medics about possible causes of inflammation. The key to healing for us has been to work out what makes things better/worse.

Really hope you can get consistent ophthalmology to see you through this so you feel better, and so you can get on with all the good things.

[redstudent898]

Totally agree with ClaireW. 4 times a day has to be too many compresses and cleaning and would make even normal eyes sore. An Ophthalmologist did write notes for us in Dryeyezone (can't find it) that she finds people are being recommended compress, cleaning and even gland expression at home as standard cure-all, and may be damaging the glands more harm than good if too much. Dr Latkany (Dry Eye Remedy book) also thinks that we are squeezing out all the good stuff and prefers to recommend just an eye rub in a warm shower for many people to keep the eyes good. Especially since you've had no chalazia or obviously obstructed MGD like we have.

Are you seeing the Ophthalmologist back at College? Really what we all need is some regular help to adjust treatment ideas. We did use ophthalmic saline from vials for a bit (not too much, wrong osmolarity) as an alternative to chemical eyedrops, but interspersed with drops formulated with hyaluronic acid, which they think might have restorative properties on the eye surface. Bit worried that Freshkote is not one of the more modern formulated alternatives (you gotta ask family to help pay for this now - it's a very sensitive eye surface).

It's great to hear that cold compress does help your red-eye. Blepharitis is not really a diagnosis and you're right to talk to the medics about possible causes of inflammation. The key to healing for us has been to work out what makes things better/worse.

Really hope you can get consistent ophthalmology to see you through this so you feel better, and so you can get on with all the good things.

I'm going to try to go back to the ophthalmologist at school soon. What kind of drops would you recommend with this ingredient?

So I called today to set up another appointment and explained that nothing has gotten better. Apparently the doctor I've been seeing is now referring me to another ophthalmologist in the office. I think the technician said he's a corneal specialist. I'm not sure what the cornea has to do with this, but she said he deals primarily with dryness issues. It's discomforting that the other doctor gave up, but maybe this new one will be able to give more helpful insight into my problem.

[MGD666]

Today I got the FreshKote eyedrops that I've read so much about. They make my eyes a little redder upon application I think, but afterwards there is very little dryness to speak of.

How's the FreshKote working out for you? Are you using it once or twice daily/nightly? It helped me for a bit last year when I was using it, but I wasn't real consistent with my application of it, and from what I've read since, it takes several weeks to begin to notice some lasting relief from using it?