Whats been working for you guys most for your DES?

[TRiBaL]

Whats the most helpful thing you have done for your DES problems?

[kitty]

Get plugs. It has not cured me, but it has improved my symptoms about 30%

[sparrow]

I'd say everything seems to help about 25% - Restasis, plugs (upper and lower), Tranquil eyes at night w/ Genteal ointment - so they do add up to helping quite a bit all together.

[stella]

Doxycillen for me about 50% improvement
It seemed to reduce inflamation in the eye lids which in turn helped the burning and light sensitivity of DE
I have MGD
I know i have inflamation in the lids 'cos they prickle and itch and hurt
Im not sure that it helps allergy issues mind
I find i try not to use any drops in my eyes unless i have to because of allergy
I yawn to create tears and massage the lids and use hot /cold compresses-anything natural before i resort to eye drops except at night
I DO USE CLARAMIST SPRAY INSTEAD OF DROPS you spray it on you closed eye
It claims to stabalize the tear film by being absorbed through the lids
I like it and use it as neccesary
Stella

[Cindy]

I have done a lot of things over the years that have helped me greatly. Not the least of which are my beloved NutraTear and Harley goggles. The latest thing that has made a very noticeable difference is that I stay off my computer, sometimes for days or a week at a time. As soon as I go back to it, my eyes feel 'full' and strained and itchy and so much drier. I blink a lot so it's not that. I believe computer use is simply too much for my eyes to take.

It was hard to make the break from my computer but it's so worth it for me. I miss reading the boards like I used to. My eyes are really bothering me right now and I've only been on for a half hour or so. So...adios until next week .

[GeorgeT]

Get plugs. Lower and Upper maybe ...
Eyelid scrub, massage....
Restatis- I can tolerate it only once a day at bedtime..
Doxy
Recently I got moisture chamber glasses.....
Clarymist -water mist
Omega 3-Fish oil

All best !

[D.Trendiea]

it seems strange that no one mention Fish oil.... so omega 3 didn't have any effect on no one then??
so, everywhere we hear that omega 3 is important and people start to take omega3 capsules with no effect, but the research that have been done, have been made on EATING fish... (am I right ??).. so anyone here had eaten fish daily and had any effect?

[WineLady24]

it seems strange that no one mention Fish oil.... so omega 3 didn't have any effect on no one then??
so, everywhere we hear that omega 3 is important and people start to take omega3 capsules with no effect, but the research that have been done, have been made on EATING fish... (am I right ??).. so anyone here had eaten fish daily and had any effect?

Omega 3 helped me but it gives me diarreha so I had to cut back on my dosage and it doesn't help as much. I also started taking flaxseed which helps some also.

Laura

[sazy123]

it seems strange that no one mention Fish oil.... so omega 3 didn't have any effect on no one then??
so, everywhere we hear that omega 3 is important and people start to take omega3 capsules with no effect, but the research that have been done, have been made on EATING fish... (am I right ??).. so anyone here had eaten fish daily and had any effect?

It does help some people, but personaly i am not convinced about it being anything amazing, its just another thing to try becuase it cant do any harm. but dont expect miracles. That said I think its a better preventative of dry eye (harvard study) than a cure.

[liz56]

It does help some people, but personaly i am not convinced about it being anything amazing, its just another thing to try becuase it cant do any harm. but dont expect miracles. That said I think its a better preventative of dry eye (harvard study) than a cure.

I have been on fish oil for three weeks and do not notice a difference. I am going to keep using it, however, because it benefits the nerves in the brain and the tissue in the heart. So, I will continue it in the long term.

Another thing that I have been doing for the past five nights (and I happen to have gone the last three nights without a corneal erosion!) is using the rice baggy at night. I feel a noticable difference with it, and I am so glad that I learned of the product and the idea of warm compresses on this discussion board. (Thanks, Cindy!) I don't know if it is helping with dry eyes (glands) or my "waterlogged" (to use Dr. Holly's word for my condition) epithelium or both, but it seems to be helping a lot.

[Eli]

Liz-
The most common therapeutic reason for applying heat the eyes is to loosen meibomian gland (in the eyelids) oils. This can help with evaporative dry eye. Also, the Eyeeco site (they make the TranquilEyes goggles) claims that heat helps stimulate tear production too. I haven't seen this claim anywhere else, but if it seems to help you, then great!

[liz56]

Thanks, Eli.

I've been keeping a log since all of this started, so I am trying to be sensitive about every change that I can think of. I'd say that the warm compress and drops have made the most difference for me. I'm really grateful to all of you here for the advice.

--Liz

[TRiBaL]

Cleaning the bacteria on my eye lids have helped me greatly I think its the best thing that work for me . Now just got see if anti bacterial stuff will help me better.

Does anyone know if over washing can be harmful to the eyes?