I've seen and felt a drastic improvement over the past three months and even more improvement over three weeks..here is what has helped me:
Diet - I ground flaxseed and put two tablespoons into something each day. I also eat loads of veg and fruit. Loads of lemons and limes (and other vit c containing foods) and generally try to avoid processed foods, sugary drinks. It's not super strict - I still have dark chocolate and cake occasionally, but I eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day if not more. Here are some blogs which have helped me make 'good' food exciting (I hope I'm allowed to put these on here...I don't know these people, it's just that their blogs have really inspired and helped me to eat well: http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/recipe-index/ and http://deliciouslyella.com/ and http://www.hemsleyandhemsley.com/.
Exercise - I try and do 20 minutes everyday. I feel the best when I do this. So do my eyes. In reality I manage 15 minutes three times a week. I am doing yoga and running at the moment. My eyes look better after exercise and my body feels much better.
Plugs - for the first week these killed my eyes. I have umbrella plugs. They made my eyes angry and red. After that week slowly they made them feel much better. A friend who didn't know said "oh, your eyes look much better". They've helped me so much. I think I've had them in for three months now.
Blinking exercises - Whenever I remember I do ten or more blinking exercises (just making sure I am closing both eyes fully).
Cleaning - I always cleaned my eyes carefully. But over the past three weeks I've been cleaning closer to the the base of my lashes. Well, more like in the base of the lashes if that makes sense. I use a tiny amount of coconut oil on a cotton bud, and really get in there. Gentle, but firm. When I rub, I get little white flecks, which I then wipe away. I suspect I have bleph and have had for a while, but you cannot see anything until you rub between the lash bases as it were. I have a very steady hand - if you try please be careful, and don't do it if your eyes are sensitive. It works for me - so I thought I would share.
I have also moved to a humid country - and this of course will have helped too. I also have less stress in my life (a job with less responsibility) and more leisure time (which is why I moved). I also stopped using all drops 4 months ago. I went cold turkey. At first it was hard, then gradually they felt better without them. The plugs obviously helped with this process.
My eyes are not as red now, although they do get redder after a long day at work in the AC and in front of the computer. They aren't as red when I wake up, which is a real improvement. It no longer feels like scraping when I blink. It feels normal. Pain has subsided drastically over the last three weeks. I experience pain maximum three times a week now, and then only for 20 minutes and only when I neglect my eyes (e.g. stare at the computer in a room with AC and forget to blink). About 5 months ago I'd get pain in both eyes for at least three hours a day and would have to go to sleep to get through it.
Recently I spent two weeks travelling in Australia without too many issues. I drive everywhere. I drove for 4 hour stretches in Australia. I finished off my dissertation which involved spending 6/7 sometimes 8 hour stretches on the computer. In August 2014 I had to take a week and a bit off work because my eyes felt painful when I walked down a street, or if the breeze from a door being opened caught them. I had to wear sunglasses everywhere to protect them.
I am not posting this under success stories because they are not 100% healed yet. But I'd say 60% healed. I'm going to keep going. I'm sure there is more I can do. I hope this helps someone, as the many stories on here helped me.
Diet - I ground flaxseed and put two tablespoons into something each day. I also eat loads of veg and fruit. Loads of lemons and limes (and other vit c containing foods) and generally try to avoid processed foods, sugary drinks. It's not super strict - I still have dark chocolate and cake occasionally, but I eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day if not more. Here are some blogs which have helped me make 'good' food exciting (I hope I'm allowed to put these on here...I don't know these people, it's just that their blogs have really inspired and helped me to eat well: http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/recipe-index/ and http://deliciouslyella.com/ and http://www.hemsleyandhemsley.com/.
Exercise - I try and do 20 minutes everyday. I feel the best when I do this. So do my eyes. In reality I manage 15 minutes three times a week. I am doing yoga and running at the moment. My eyes look better after exercise and my body feels much better.
Plugs - for the first week these killed my eyes. I have umbrella plugs. They made my eyes angry and red. After that week slowly they made them feel much better. A friend who didn't know said "oh, your eyes look much better". They've helped me so much. I think I've had them in for three months now.
Blinking exercises - Whenever I remember I do ten or more blinking exercises (just making sure I am closing both eyes fully).
Cleaning - I always cleaned my eyes carefully. But over the past three weeks I've been cleaning closer to the the base of my lashes. Well, more like in the base of the lashes if that makes sense. I use a tiny amount of coconut oil on a cotton bud, and really get in there. Gentle, but firm. When I rub, I get little white flecks, which I then wipe away. I suspect I have bleph and have had for a while, but you cannot see anything until you rub between the lash bases as it were. I have a very steady hand - if you try please be careful, and don't do it if your eyes are sensitive. It works for me - so I thought I would share.
I have also moved to a humid country - and this of course will have helped too. I also have less stress in my life (a job with less responsibility) and more leisure time (which is why I moved). I also stopped using all drops 4 months ago. I went cold turkey. At first it was hard, then gradually they felt better without them. The plugs obviously helped with this process.
My eyes are not as red now, although they do get redder after a long day at work in the AC and in front of the computer. They aren't as red when I wake up, which is a real improvement. It no longer feels like scraping when I blink. It feels normal. Pain has subsided drastically over the last three weeks. I experience pain maximum three times a week now, and then only for 20 minutes and only when I neglect my eyes (e.g. stare at the computer in a room with AC and forget to blink). About 5 months ago I'd get pain in both eyes for at least three hours a day and would have to go to sleep to get through it.
Recently I spent two weeks travelling in Australia without too many issues. I drive everywhere. I drove for 4 hour stretches in Australia. I finished off my dissertation which involved spending 6/7 sometimes 8 hour stretches on the computer. In August 2014 I had to take a week and a bit off work because my eyes felt painful when I walked down a street, or if the breeze from a door being opened caught them. I had to wear sunglasses everywhere to protect them.
I am not posting this under success stories because they are not 100% healed yet. But I'd say 60% healed. I'm going to keep going. I'm sure there is more I can do. I hope this helps someone, as the many stories on here helped me.
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