Running out of options -- Blepharitis/MGD

[redstudent898]

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?

I'm not too sure, I haven't really felt any new effects from it. It definitely has not diminished redness at all, maybe a little dryness? It's hard to say, if any, it's very slight. I've only been using it since Monday though.

[RedEyeGuy]

I've been following this thread closely but never had time to reply. I'm in a very similar position to you. I'm 22 and was diagnosed with blepharitis although in my latest visit to the doctors there was apparantely almost no sign of it anymore. My eyes started to get red at night time for no apparent reason. They are very slightly red during the day but not too bad, then at 6pm every evening they will go bloodshot red getting progressively worse throughout the night. When I wake up they're back to just being very slightly pink. I've tried every OTC eye drop you can think of, Doxycycline, different diets, nutritional supplements, drinking so much water to the point where I have to go to the toilet ever 20 minutes, but unfortunately nothing has worked so far.

I used to get dry eyes but I've pretty much cured that. My dry eyes seem to be unrelated to the redness. I don't really want to to go into too much details on the dryness but I made a thread about it here.

I know exactly what you're going through, it's effected my confidence massively too. Here's a few things that have helped me stay positive;

1. I had a manager that had a dark red birthmark covering the whole right side of his face. Obviously the first thing you see when you first look at him is the birthmark. After a while, when I talked to him I didn't even notice it. The big massive red thing shouting right at me, I didn't 'see' it anymore. That's how the brain works, unimportant things are ignored. Now with our red eyes, even if people notice them at first, after a while people looking at you won't 'see' it. If that makes sense?

2. Me and my friend went to a restaurant to eat. He said, "my skin has been really dry lately so I put some cream on my face and I think I rubbed some into my eyes, now they're burning." I looked at his eyes, they were quite red and watery. We had been sat for 30 minutes and I hadn't even noticed. What I took from this - red eyes really aren't THAT noticeable. And no it wasn't dark, the lighting was what you'd expect in a restaurant - just normal.

3. My dad also has very red eyes at night - maybe suffering the same thing as me? When I'm talking to him, I don't even notice how red his eyes are. So people talking to you probably don't even notice how red your eyes are.

4. Something I'll always remember - a really cute girl I had just met telling me I had "nice eyes" even though they were red. Another time, at night (when my eyes are worst), I was sat in a group and a girl was staring at me while I was chatting to someone else. I saw in my peripheral vision she was staring so naturally I looked around and looked at her for 3 or 4 seconds. She snapped out of her stare and said, "omg your smile is hypnotising".

So lessons learned? Having red eyes really isn't as big as you make it out to be. Most of the battle is purely psychological. YOU think it's a big problem so you get yourself down. It really isn't. Stay positive.

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread and if you do find anything that helps, please update it Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to PM me

[redstudent898]

I've been following this thread closely but never had time to reply. I'm in a very similar position to you. I'm 22 and was diagnosed with blepharitis although in my latest visit to the doctors there was apparantely almost no sign of it anymore. My eyes started to get red at night time for no apparent reason. They are very slightly red during the day but not too bad, then at 6pm every evening they will go bloodshot red getting progressively worse throughout the night. When I wake up they're back to just being very slightly pink. I've tried every OTC eye drop you can think of, Doxycycline, different diets, nutritional supplements, drinking so much water to the point where I have to go to the toilet ever 20 minutes, but unfortunately nothing has worked so far.

I used to get dry eyes but I've pretty much cured that. My dry eyes seem to be unrelated to the redness. I don't really want to to go into too much details on the dryness but I made a thread about it here.

I know exactly what you're going through, it's effected my confidence massively too. Here's a few things that have helped me stay positive;

1. I had a manager that had a dark red birthmark covering the whole right side of his face. Obviously the first thing you see when you first look at him is the birthmark. After a while, when I talked to him I didn't even notice it. The big massive red thing shouting right at me, I didn't 'see' it anymore. That's how the brain works, unimportant things are ignored. Now with our red eyes, even if people notice them at first, after a while people looking at you won't 'see' it. If that makes sense?

2. Me and my friend went to a restaurant to eat. He said, "my skin has been really dry lately so I put some cream on my face and I think I rubbed some into my eyes, now they're burning." I looked at his eyes, they were quite red and watery. We had been sat for 30 minutes and I hadn't even noticed. What I took from this - red eyes really aren't THAT noticeable. And no it wasn't dark, the lighting was what you'd expect in a restaurant - just normal.

3. My dad also has very red eyes at night - maybe suffering the same thing as me? When I'm talking to him, I don't even notice how red his eyes are. So people talking to you probably don't even notice how red your eyes are.

4. Something I'll always remember - a really cute girl I had just met telling me I had "nice eyes" even though they were red. Another time, at night (when my eyes are worst), I was sat in a group and a girl was staring at me while I was chatting to someone else. I saw in my peripheral vision she was staring so naturally I looked around and looked at her for 3 or 4 seconds. She snapped out of her stare and said, "omg your smile is hypnotising".

So lessons learned? Having red eyes really isn't as big as you make it out to be. Most of the battle is purely psychological. YOU think it's a big problem so you get yourself down. It really isn't. Stay positive.

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread and if you do find anything that helps, please update it Good luck and if you have any questions feel free to PM me

Thanks, your response means a lot and I appreciate the advice.

So as an update: I went to the new ophthalmologist I was referred to, the corneal specialist. He pretty much echoed the same stuff, posterior blepharitis/meibomitis. He said either my glands are producing toxic oils or none at all and that only time will fix that (although I feel as though I've gone through plenty of time with not even a gradual decrease in symptoms). Also he prescribed an increase of doxycycline from 50mg twice a day to 100mg twice a day and explained it would take a couple more weeks for that to really kick in--I'll wait in anticipation. Lastly, he decided to prescribe diclofenac eye drops which should reduce inflammation in lieu of steroids, I don't know if they've made a difference, but they haven't made anything worse.

[RedEyeGuy]

Let us know if the dislofenac works You seem to be going through the medication faster than I am. I get given eye drops or pills then get asked to come back after 3 months...

[redstudent898]

Let us know if the dislofenac works You seem to be going through the medication faster than I am. I get given eye drops or pills then get asked to come back after 3 months...

They seem pretty lost as to what really is causing the inflammation and surprised at the sudden onset of everything with no prior symptoms/complications. Also the steroids were no longer an option so he felt it was apt to prescribe an alternative. I do hope this combination of therapies works out though.

[greeneyes]

Redstudent898, I haven't been on this forum for a long time because, I'm happy to report, my posterior blepharitis/meibomitis is now quite manageable and the whites of my eyes are actually white. (Hope I haven't jinxed myself). After about six years with red, crusty, painful and bloodshot eyes without even a correct diagnosis, but several prescriptions for totally unsuitable drugs for 'eye infections', about seven years ago I did get a diagnosis. Along with the diagnosis I received instructions about twice-daily warm compresses, lid scrubs and preservative-free drops.

It's important to know how to use the compresses. A fresh facewasher soaked in water as hot as I can comfortably tolerate held against the closed eyes (re-dipping to keep the temperature up) three times a day at first, then as the condition improved, twice a day, worked for me. The warmth helps dissolve the oil in the glands, which can congeal. While holding the warm compress against the lid stroke downward on the upper lids and upwards on the lower lids. At first this may make the eyes bleary as thickened secretions mingle with the tear film. This is a good sign because it means the glands are unplugging and the oily secretions can mix with the natural tears to form the film that keeps your eyes healthy and comfortable.

The so-called 'lid scubbing' can be accomplished with a Q-tip dipped in warm water. Gently stroke horizontally along the lid margins, upper and lower, with the eyes open. That removes the expressed secretions that the warmth and stroking have brought to the surface. Use a different Q-tip for each eye, until you know there is no infection.

Follow with non-steroidal, preservative-free eye drops. Don't use more than a drop in each eye so you don't upset the tear film balance.

If your specialist advises against this pay attention, because you may have a different condition and your glands may not be blocked.

Those measures improved the condition of my eyes but the big breakthrough was the addition of flaxseed oil. Twice daily I take about a tablespoon of cold-pressed flaxseed oil. Now, 99% of the time the whites of my eye are white and my eyes are comfortable. Little Omega 3 capsules didn't help me, or maybe I didn't take enough of them, but the straight flaxseed oil has been the answer.

I hope that can help someone.

[RedEyeGuy]

Redstudent898, I haven't been on this forum for a long time because, I'm happy to report, my posterior blepharitis/meibomitis is now quite manageable and the whites of my eyes are actually white. (Hope I haven't jinxed myself). After about six years with red, crusty, painful and bloodshot eyes without even a correct diagnosis, but several prescriptions for totally unsuitable drugs for 'eye infections', about seven years ago I did get a diagnosis. Along with the diagnosis I received instructions about twice-daily warm compresses, lid scrubs and preservative-free drops.

It's important to know how to use the compresses. A fresh facewasher soaked in water as hot as I can comfortably tolerate held against the closed eyes (re-dipping to keep the temperature up) three times a day at first, then as the condition improved, twice a day, worked for me. The warmth helps dissolve the oil in the glands, which can congeal. While holding the warm compress against the lid stroke downward on the upper lids and upwards on the lower lids. At first this may make the eyes bleary as thickened secretions mingle with the tear film. This is a good sign because it means the glands are unplugging and the oily secretions can mix with the natural tears to form the film that keeps your eyes healthy and comfortable.

The so-called 'lid scubbing' can be accomplished with a Q-tip dipped in warm water. Gently stroke horizontally along the lid margins, upper and lower, with the eyes open. That removes the expressed secretions that the warmth and stroking have brought to the surface. Use a different Q-tip for each eye, until you know there is no infection.

Follow with non-steroidal, preservative-free eye drops. Don't use more than a drop in each eye so you don't upset the tear film balance.

If your specialist advises against this pay attention, because you may have a different condition and your glands may not be blocked.

Those measures improved the condition of my eyes but the big breakthrough was the addition of flaxseed oil. Twice daily I take about a tablespoon of cold-pressed flaxseed oil. Now, 99% of the time the whites of my eye are white and my eyes are comfortable. Little Omega 3 capsules didn't help me, or maybe I didn't take enough of them, but the straight flaxseed oil has been the answer.

I hope that can help someone.

How much Flaxseed do you take? I'm taking 4000mg (4 capsules) a day and it helps with the dry sensation but doesn't help with the redness.

[redstudent898]

I might try the flaxseed oil instead of the fish oil.

As an update, I have had absolutely no improvement in any symptom. I'm still on 100mg doxycycline twice a day, omega 3's three times a day, FreshKote maybe three times a day, multi-vitamin supplement, and two warm compresses a day with a microwave bag so it lasts 10 minutes. Not even a slight improvement, it might even be things have gotten slightly worse.

[RedEyeGuy]

I went to the doctors again today and he gave me some more allergy eye drops. I don't think they'll work but I'll give them a go. I've upped my Flaxseed dose to 10,000mg/day instead of the usually 4000mg just to see if it changes anything. I'll only keep it for 4 or 5 days but doubt it will help. Going to Vietnam for 5 months soon, was hoping to get this problem fixed before then but doesn't look too likely. On a positive note, I've been feeling pretty good the last week or two. Not been too bothered about my eyes.

[RedEyeGuy]

redstudent, I'm hoping your recent inactivity is a positive sign! If not, check this eye cleanser out. The reviews are extremely good, even with one guy saying he's had red eyes for years and tried everything under the sun, but this is the only thing that has cured them. I've just bought some similar eyelid cleansers because this product can't be shipped to the UK.

[redstudent898]

Unfortunately, no, my issues have not yet been resolved, or improved. I suppose I could give that a try, although I had used these systane lid wipes and my doctors even said wiping my eye lids probably wasn't necessary as they are perfectly clean. Has anything new worked for you?

[RedEyeGuy]

I'm in the process of putting Manuka honey on my eye lids at night. I tried it last night but no improvement. I'll keep it up for a week or so. It's supposed to kill any bacteria on the eye lids. I've read a few success stories about it online so that's what's made me try it. Tomorrow I'll receive the lid scrubs in the post I linked above so I'll try them out. I'm leaving for Vietnam in 7 days and I'll be there for 5 months so I have 7 days to try everything I have =/

Edit: Also have a look at ocular rosacea. It's the closest 'diagnosis' I have found although I have no redness on my skin however sometimes the symptoms are just red and dry eyes.

[redstudent898]

I'm in the process of putting Manuka honey on my eye lids at night. I tried it last night but no improvement. I'll keep it up for a week or so. It's supposed to kill any bacteria on the eye lids. I've read a few success stories about it online so that's what's made me try it. Tomorrow I'll receive the lid scrubs in the post I linked above so I'll try them out. I'm leaving for Vietnam in 7 days and I'll be there for 5 months so I have 7 days to try everything I have =/

Edit: Also have a look at ocular rosacea. It's the closest 'diagnosis' I have found although I have no redness on my skin however sometimes the symptoms are just red and dry eyes.

Interesting, let me know how those treatments go.
I went for a follow up appointment today and the doctor looked at my eyes for maybe 20 seconds, said they looked better (I think he only said that so that he would look like he knows what he's doing) and to continue the doxycycline/omega which should take effect within the next 4-6 weeks (he previously said they should take effect soon, a month ago) and of course warm compresses. I guess I will, but hope is gone.

[RedEyeGuy]

Unfortunately no luck with either the Manuka honey or the lid cleanser. In fact I felt the lid cleanser made my eyes more dry. Not really sure what the next step is.

[LaDiva]

Hi Red,
My inner lids and eyes looked very much like yours and different reasons caused the problem:

Allergy to some eye medications/drops
Ocular Rosacea
Foods
Insufficient use of warm compresses/expression/scrubs (I need 3X daily to stay relatively comfortable)
General dryness

I am better, but still have flares, which are generally tied to food and stress. I stay away from everything on the Rosacea food list and avoid foods high in histamines as well. (Dairy, nightshades, sugar, chocolate...there is a big list) Too much computer time will definitely get you, but for me, it was more than computer use. Food seems to be the big gun and for me, and food is most likely tied directly to my Rosacea. You are not being melodramatic. All of this dry eye nonsense is the pits. I hope your problem is quickly resolved. Sending good wishes and a hug!

PS- You might keep experimenting with different OTC eyedrops. Different drops work for different people. The only one that helps me is the PF TheraTears. Rebecca has a big list of drops and what each contains. If you find one that really doesn't work, look it up, find out what is in it, and that will save you from buying another with similar content which also won't work. http://www.dryeyezone.com/encycloped...html#ListAlpha