Just a question

[acarol]

Thank you for that - i was actually speaking with my Optician today - he rang me to arrange a follow up appointment so i said here is my chance to quiz him - i asked about the glands been blocked and he looked back on my records and said this most definately seems to be the problem - i really don't know why he couldn't have explained this to be before. Anyway he said to continue with the cleaning of the lids with baby shampoo and the flax seed oil etc for the moment.

When i came home from work i done the 'Eye Spa' and i could clearly see a while 'pimple' on the upper eyelid but no matter how much i massaged it it didn't 'erupt', maybe i need to try again. I will try again later - maybe they are just soo blocked it will take a while to free them. BUT at least i know now that they are the main problem and i can focus on unblocking them.

I was using 'Celluvisc' drops but i found they really stuck to my eyelashes and eyelids and made my eyes burn and sting even more. I use them now at night time only. During the day i've started using 'Systane' and 'Minims' drops. Thanks soo much for your offer of the drops - i will see can i get them here in Ireland and let you know. The ointment i was prescribed is called 'Chloromycetin' - i only use it along the lash line. The first night i used it i put it all along my lid margin and it all got in my eyes. I learn from my mistakes!

[bernmee]

Hi,

Just be careful with the squeezing or massaging...infact I would say leave it to an expert.

And after being told I have MGD I noticed two white pimples on teh inner yelid close to my nose. A large on on the bottom and a samller on on the top.

Read teh section at the bottom of the homepage about MGD to give you more details on the condition. I have only know I had this for 5 days so i am very new to this also. howevcer i did suspect as my face flushes easily. But write the questions down and then ask, that way you won't forget what you wanted to know. I am compiling a list a questions for my Dr. for the next visit. Thank God he is a caring one who understand dry eye. i feel i have a chance! iTas interesting that me both experience pain along the bottom inner eyeld...taht will be a question for my Dr.

I have plugs in and they provided ALOT of relief. i read a post taht plugs may not be a good idea for someone with MDG, so that is something I need to ask. However if they are ok then I would tell you to go get one in, and a second if need be.

As for the drops you are using, I really don't know them, but I do know that the pres. free eye drops made no difference to me, I needed something more gel like. I was using Systane but never got any relief from it, I am into using Dwelle and Genteal gel at night, though to be hoest i am going to wean myself of the later as the eye pain i not as intense as it used to be.

When things were bad a hot shower was the ONLY way i could find relief. Other then that I was using a wet facecloth wrapped aroound a warm "pack". Rebeacca's rice baggy is easier and nicer to use. I'm ur if you rang around you could find on in a natural food store or order on from a site that ships to ireland. it is worth gettting one. i enjoy using it.

And my pimples are still there. But I'm not touching them either. i am on the Doxy and I'm sure they will naturally go away.

So thats it...i am glad you are starting to get some answers, but remember...keep writing down those questions in order to get those answers.

B.

[bernmee]

And about the other tests. Now remeber I am a novice at this MGD thing so this is what i think they mean.

The Schirmrs test will aloow you to know that you are producing tears, some pople onhis site aren't (such as those suffereing from Sijorns.. Spelling?). I think you are lokking for a 5 or more.

Teh Tear break Up Test applies to MGD (I think!!) Its measures how quickly your tears evaporrate. the evaporaaion rate depends on how much oil is in your eye (I think) so you are looking for rate higher then 10 (I think!!)

So there you go, these are all questions you can ask. I am not 100% sure of The Tear Break Up test, maybe you can ask that at your appointment. I have it listed on my questions. But I do know you should know where you are on both these tests so you have an idea of where you are at.


Let me know how you get on...it seems we might both have the same thing!!

B.

[acarol]

Thanks for your reply, i am been careful with the massaging. I done the eye spa this morning again as illustrated in 'The Dry Eye Remedy Book' - no matter how much i massage (and i do it gently), i don't see ANY oil whatsoever coming from glands - does this mean i'm doing it wrong or not using the warm compress long enough. What i use for a warm compress is one of those eye masks - i know there is holes for the eyes but i pull it down over my eyes. Is this ok? Are we susposed to squeeze the 'pimples' till they 'erupt' (sorry i know horrible question).

You say your face flushes easily - that doesn't happen to me, i'm actually very pale (too pale!). It is interesting though that we both experience dryness along the lower eyelids - i think when my Optician put the dyes in my eyes the last time all along there showed up stains.

I asked the Eye Specialist i went to about plugs and he said no plugs they are not the answer for you and 'i don't know who told you this'.. I said i read about them.

As for the other tests - on my last visit to the Opticians my Tear Break Up for 2-3 (very bad i know). She said normal was about 8. This was the Optician that told me 'theres nothing that can really be done about Dry Eyes'. The Schirmrs test i don't think i've ever had done.
I'll will keep you informed - ket me know how you are doing too.

[bernmee]

Thanks for getting back to me about the plugs...my iutation may be a little different from yours as I believe I at teh start had dry eye as a resutl of losing my tear reflex from the Lasik surgury, but now I am producing tears again, though i am a little concerned about upper and lower plugs in a MGD eye...next question for my Dr.

And no I have never had or felt any oil come out, but as it is my Lasik eye I am not going near it incase I damage the "flap"....more then the Lasik did!

I will continue to watch your posts to see how you are getting on. Its great that we can help each other like this...thanks rebecca.

B.

[acarol]

Ya i will keep you informed of progress (hopefully good progress...), i can feel dryness now at the minute along the lower inner eyelids on the sides mainly. I just hope i don't have inflammation again (as the inflammation had cleared up). It seems with this problem one thing will clear up but something else will take its place - thats the way it is with my anyway. Will it ever end for me??

Its great we can support each other. I'll send you my e-mail adress if you want to contact me there. We Irish can stick together...... ha ha!

[bernmee]

How do you/the Dr. know that the inflammation had cleared up?

Were your eyes red looking, if so I never had that.

Thanks for the email, I will send ou a mesage

B

[acarol]

On my last visit to the Opticians he said the inflammation that i had seemed to have cleared up. My eyes can get red at times, i have good few prominent red veins that never seem to go away but i had those before i had dry eyes.