Need Advice about a few things.

[Uxama1122]

Firstly i wanted to know that it is possible to have mgd without Blepharitis.
i am suffering from mgd from quite a while now. but i dont feel even the slightest inflmation. My eyes arent red nor eyelids are red. But i have a very high eye strain and eye fatigue. Its hard to move the eyeball i can feel a stretch in the eye when it moves. My vision is blurry gets blurrier when at the end of the day.Cant really get any computer work done.
Cant say my condition is severe but its moderate.But the strain soreness is getting worse. Artificial tears wont work. Tryed warm compresses no relief.Any thing less i can try?
If i cant control it know it will get worse with time?
Im only 19 male. i know im not even close to what some here people are suffering through. BUt stop it now then it gets even worser
I have Halos and glares as well.
Another thing i wanted to know if Punctual plugs would help?I heard they dont work with mgd.
Again no inflammation. I just need something to reduce the soreness / fatigue.
Even wind dosnt effect me much. Actually cold wind helps a bit eases the eye.
only thing the makes me though the day is sleep and Food. Food really helps.
One thing im really worried about is. please try to answer this if anyone can relate or know anything about.
My vision is a bit shaky. Like its slowed a bit. i can see clearly but its just not right. is this just me or is normal?(For a dry eye person off course)
one more thing. When i touch my eye the eye feels Hard like a rock.
Is it possible that i will eventually develop Blepharitis?

Please try to answer all the above mentioned questions And tell me if there is anything else i can try.
Thank you

[buntbean]

Taken from: http://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/141

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Treatment
What are Meibomian (Oil) Glands?
Meibomian glands are glands that are arranged vertically within the eyelid near the lashes. The force of an eyelid blink causes oil to be excreted onto the posterior lid margin. The oil is the “staying power” of the tears that helps prevent rapid tear evaporation. In a patient with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), vision is affected because there is too much or too little oil in the tear film.

What is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction?
MGD, also termed posterior blepharitis, is the most common form of lid margin disease. In the early stages, patients are often asymptomatic, but if left unmanaged, MGD can cause or exacerbate dry eye symptoms and eyelid inflammation. The oil glands become blocked with thickened secretions. Chronically clogged glands eventually become unable to secrete oil which results in permanent changes in the tear film and dry eyes. Symptoms include:

Dryness
Burning
Itching
Stickiness
Watering
Light Sensitivity
Red Eyes
Foreign Body Fensation
Chalazion/Styes
Intermittent Blurry Vision

What is the Treatment?

1) WARM COMPRESSES
Heating the lids will increase oil production and melt the oil that has solidified in the glands. Use a warm washcloth to apply heat on the eyelids for two minutes. This warms the oil, allowing it to flow more freely, and helps soften lash debris.

2) MASSAGE
Apply light pressure with your index finger or a Q-tip to the lid margin near the lash line. Roll the finger upward on the lower lid while looking up, then roll the finger downward on the upper lid while looking down. Excessive manipulation of the lids can cause additional irritation, so lid massage and scrubs should be performed only twice a day during the acute stage, and once daily during maintenance

3) LID SCRUBS
This helps to remove oil, bacteria and debris. It also stimulates the oil glands. Use a Q-tip or a warm washcloth on the tips of your fingers to rub along the lash line on the top and bottom lid.

4) FLAX SEED OIL
In addition to the above, some people benefit by adding omega-3 fats to their diet which will help with the oil consistency. About 1tsp/day for toddlers or 1Tbsp/day for older children is enough. Mix with juice, smoothies, or hot cereal. Do not take with blood-thinning medication or blood-sugar lowering medication. If your child can take pills, there are tablets that can be taken instead (ex Thera Tears Nutrition).

[buntbean]

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction also termed posterior blepharitis, is the most common form of lid margin disease. In the early stages, patients are often asymptomatic, but if left unmanaged, MGD can cause or exacerbate dry eye symptoms and eyelid inflammation. The oil glands become blocked with thickened secretions. Chronically clogged glands eventually become unable to secrete oil which results in permanent changes in the tear film and dry eyes.[/QUOTE]

Hope this helps. I was diagnosed with MGD for a year prior to my eyes getting really bad. It didn't bother me much so I didn't follow the recommended treatments (warm compresses, lid scrubs, artificial tears). For me, it got really bad. Sadly blepharitis is an ongoing condition with flare ups. Make sure you continuously do what your doctor has told you to keep it from getting worse. Seeing a corneal specialist would be my recommendation.

[Rebecca Petris]

Firstly i wanted to know that it is possible to have mgd without Blepharitis.
i am suffering from mgd from quite a while now. but i dont feel even the slightest inflmation. My eyes arent red nor eyelids are red. But i have a very high eye strain and eye fatigue. Its hard to move the eyeball i can feel a stretch in the eye when it moves. My vision is blurry gets blurrier when at the end of the day.Cant really get any computer work done.

A lot of people here have the same. It's like buntbean said, probably posterior blepharitis. Usually when people (well, doctors, other than specialists) talk about blepharitis they mean anterior blepharitis, the itchy, scaly, obviously inflamed lids kind.

For computer work, don't forget all the practical things:
- Make sure your screen is as low as possible
- Make sure you are blinking frequently (use a blink reminder)
- Make sure the lighting isn't too bright (try justgetflux.com)
- etc.

And if that's not enough use goggles/moisture chamber glasses. They really do help.

Tryed warm compresses no relief.Any thing less i can try?

One thing that's important about warm compresses: There's two benefits and they don't always both happen: 1) Relief/feeling better, and 2) Improving the health of the meibomian glands by helping keep them clear. Obviously you know if you're feeling better. But you can't know if you're improving those glands unless an experienced doctor is examining them. Sometimes it's a slow process to improvement, and sometimes you have to experiment with methods - the heat source, doing lid massage, etc. My point is that you shouldn't base the decision to do compresses just on how you feel.

If i cant control it know it will get worse with time?

I hate to use cliches, but... worrying about that won't help.

I have Halos and glares as well.

What's your diagnosis?

Another thing i wanted to know if Punctual plugs would help?I heard they dont work with mgd.

There are few true absolutes when it comes to what 'works' and 'doesn't work'. What works for one person might not work for another, that's all. It's pretty common advice not to use plugs when there is excessive blepharitis/MGD that's out of control, but probably not very good agreement on when it's OK to use them. All I can say is, there's an awful lot of people in this forum who have plugs and MGD.

Personally, considering how much your vision seems to be involved in this (correct me if I'm wrong, is that really the main problem for you?) then *if* you have a poor tear volume, well, if it were me I would probably consider some temporary dissolvable plugs just out of curiosity. But you want to be really careful with plugs. They can have complications too. So go slow. And if at all possible, use moisture chamber glasses in the meantime for some relief....

[LaDiva]

Buntbean has given you some good information, but I would like to add that I must do warm compresses and expression 3X daily or my glands become blocked. I have been doing this for three years, and find it is a daily necessity. (I have ocular rosacea which keeps the glands inflamed.) Also, flax oil alone does not work for me, so I take TheraTears Nutrition. They do contain some flax, along with fish oil. There are other omega 3s on the market, but I have found this to work best in my situation. Those compresses and lid scrubs are really important and I've found that skipping a session is always a mistake. Best wishes to you. Hope you are feeling better soon.

[Uxama1122]

Personally, considering how much your vision seems to be involved in this (correct me if I'm wrong, is that really the main problem for you?) then *if* you have a poor tear volume, well, if it were me I would probably consider some temporary dissolvable plugs just out of curiosity. But you want to be really careful with plugs. They can have complications too. So go slow. And if at all possible, use moisture chamber glasses in the meantime for some relief....

Thank you everyone for the answers. And Yes Rebecca at this very moment my main concern is the vision. its not blurry. its hazzy/shaky cant really explain it and gets worse till the end of the day.i will try disolvable plugs.

[Uxama1122]

Thanks Buntbean and laDiva for the replys. Helped alot thankyou I will try Fish oil and flux seed. disovalble plugs as well and post the results. Again thank u.

[littlemermaid]

Hi Uxama, Thinking about your vision changes, make sure the ophthalmologists check your intraocular pressures. Also wondering whether you have had a diabetes test?

[cathy8889]

Hey, im sorry youre having a awful time. I wanted to raise this question as Im starting think that maybe there should be more of a distinction between posterior blepharitis and MGD.

I was diagnosed with non obvious meibomian gland disease in August, have been on doxycycline for 3 and a half months, cleaning my lids with wet ones and tea tree wipes and using a blephasteam (I was using warm compress up until mid october but I think they were making my condition worse).

I really feel that I have posterior blepharitis and that my glands were full of bateria which was stopping the oil from coming out and turning it bad. My lids over the last year continued to get thicker and more inflamed. To begin with I was experiencing mild dry eye symptoms in the day (September 2012 - October 2013)which in the night became moderate to severe as I was waking up with my eyes stuck together and a terrible gritty feeling. From the beginning of this year my eyes deteriorated considerably and i was experiencing photophobia and bluured vision and gritty, heavy, tired and dry eyes.

I feel that the warm compresses did not help me because it wasnt that the oil was too thick it was just that the bacteria was making it all bad, and once the lids thickened due to the condition being left untreated the oil could not get out, thus causing meibomian gland disease.

Im going to see another ophthalmologist in December and I am going to ask him about all this. Dry eye terminology is not consistent enough, what one opthalmologist would call posterior blepharitis another would call meibomian gland disease. Does posterior blepharitis cause meibomian gland disease is another question I'd like to ask.

Im guessing all this but I think it is possible to have mgd without blepharitis.

Cath x

Firstly i wanted to know that it is possible to have mgd without Blepharitis.
i am suffering from mgd from quite a while now. but i dont feel even the slightest inflmation. My eyes arent red nor eyelids are red. But i have a very high eye strain and eye fatigue. Its hard to move the eyeball i can feel a stretch in the eye when it moves. My vision is blurry gets blurrier when at the end of the day.Cant really get any computer work done.
Cant say my condition is severe but its moderate.But the strain soreness is getting worse. Artificial tears wont work. Tryed warm compresses no relief.Any thing less i can try?
If i cant control it know it will get worse with time?
Im only 19 male. i know im not even close to what some here people are suffering through. BUt stop it now then it gets even worser
I have Halos and glares as well.
Another thing i wanted to know if Punctual plugs would help?I heard they dont work with mgd.
Again no inflammation. I just need something to reduce the soreness / fatigue.
Even wind dosnt effect me much. Actually cold wind helps a bit eases the eye.
only thing the makes me though the day is sleep and Food. Food really helps.
One thing im really worried about is. please try to answer this if anyone can relate or know anything about.
My vision is a bit shaky. Like its slowed a bit. i can see clearly but its just not right. is this just me or is normal?(For a dry eye person off course)
one more thing. When i touch my eye the eye feels Hard like a rock.
Is it possible that i will eventually develop Blepharitis?

Please try to answer all the above mentioned questions And tell me if there is anything else i can try.
Thank you

[Uxama1122]

Hi Uxama, Thinking about your vision changes, make sure the ophthalmologists check your intraocular pressures. Also wondering whether you have had a diabetes test?

No i havnt chked my intraoculer pressure but that is the first thing on my list in my next appointment. And as far as diabetes go i think thats not the case cuz thy dont run in the family i dont remember anyone having daibetes in the family. Im young and hardly suger person so i dont think thats the case but i will still look into it

Is it possible that high intraoculer pressure can cause vision change?
i thought i was a non symtomtic thing.

[Uxama1122]

Hey, im sorry youre having a awful time. I wanted to raise this question as Im starting think that maybe there should be more of a distinction between posterior blepharitis and MGD.

I was diagnosed with non obvious meibomian gland disease in August, have been on doxycycline for 3 and a half months, cleaning my lids with wet ones and tea tree wipes and using a blephasteam (I was using warm compress up until mid october but I think they were making my condition worse).

I really feel that I have posterior blepharitis and that my glands were full of bateria which was stopping the oil from coming out and turning it bad. My lids over the last year continued to get thicker and more inflamed. To begin with I was experiencing mild dry eye symptoms in the day (September 2012 - October 2013)which in the night became moderate to severe as I was waking up with my eyes stuck together and a terrible gritty feeling. From the beginning of this year my eyes deteriorated considerably and i was experiencing photophobia and bluured vision and gritty, heavy, tired and dry eyes.

I feel that the warm compresses did not help me because it wasnt that the oil was too thick it was just that the bacteria was making it all bad, and once the lids thickened due to the condition being left untreated the oil could not get out, thus causing meibomian gland disease.

Im going to see another ophthalmologist in December and I am going to ask him about all this. Dry eye terminology is not consistent enough, what one opthalmologist would call posterior blepharitis another would call meibomian gland disease. Does posterior blepharitis cause meibomian gland disease is another question I'd like to ask.

Im guessing all this but I think it is possible to have mgd without blepharitis.

Cath x

Hey cath sorry for what your going through. Hope you have better luck with the doctor this time