MG probing by Dr ******

[kdc66]

Have you tried Azasite? I would try that for 3 months. Many doctors are using it for blepharitis and Inspire has a clinical trial for blepharitis. It's currently FDA approved for conjunctivitis

[soulshine67]

Are there any success stories in treating MGD?

After suffering from 'dry eye' symptoms for about a year, I was finally diagnosed with meibomitis about four months ago. Traditional treatment of doxycycline, warm compresses and lid massages haven't helped yet... in search of the underlying cause and other possible treatments for MGD and came across this web site. It's discouraging to hear of so many people struggling with this debilitating condition with seemingly no effective treatments- and suffering for so long! Very discouraging- especially considering I think I'm younger than most people diagnosed with this disorder- I'm 41 but feel most days like I am many years older. I'm cautiously hopeful that the MG probing will be a viable treatment option- but after seeking out two of the leading experts in dry eye and getting no where thus far. I wonder if there are stories of successful treatment out there that aren't found on blogs in cyberspace- after all- if successfully treated- who would spend time blogging about it? I'm trying to grasp onto some strand of hope!

[djb]

ODYDNAS, thank you so much for that info...would you be able to provide a link or contact info for Dr. Toyos so that I could forward the info to Dr Spagnolo. I'm also going to another doctor at the end of Nov. in my local area. She performs IPL for cosmetic purposes mainly and I'll mention Dr Toyos to her as well.

Regards,

djb

[odydnas]

DJB, Dr. Toyos did offer training programs in SF during the Ophthalmology conference week. Whether or not it was part of the program of the Academy of Ophthalmology convention, I am not sure. But during that week, he was definitely in SF, teaching a course on IPL --- it did cost $500 per person to attend though, so it was probably not a part of the convention. Looks like Dr. Toyos is making a nice profit out of IPL from both patients and other docs. Dr. Toyos offers these courses throughout major cities, if your doctor is interested, he can contact him for more info.

[Rebecca Petris]

This will sound silly, but I can not find him through Yahoo! Search. Do you have a phone number? or maybe what group he is associated with?

Not silly at all, it was misspelled.

Brad Spagnolo MD
bweyecenter.com
1.800.495.3937

[djb]

Need more doctors like this one!

My local doctor sent me the following email. He shows a willingness to go above and beyond to help us. Here is his email:

Mr. Barkdoll:

I wanted to let you know that Dr. Toyos did not have any program(s) at the annual Academy of Ophthalmology I attended last month in San Francisco, nor were any relevant programs/courses offered. I will remain vigilant in regards to the evolution of IPL and also open to the possibility of providing this service in the future.

Regards,

Brad Spagnolo, M.D.


If Dr Toyos would offer training in the Northeast, I believe Dr. Spagnolo would be willing to go through it and provide this service to us. If anyone receiving treatments from Dr Toyos would be willing to put in a suggestion to Dr Toyos about setting up a training conference in the Northeast, I would deeply appreciate it.

[judge515]

DJB and I have had the probing by Dr. Spagnola in the Baltimore Area-which is not to far from PA. This was all covered by my insurance so I'm not sure what he charges.

This will sound silly, but I can not find him through Yahoo! Search. Do you have a phone number? or maybe what group he is associated with?

[kdc66]

MG probing

DJB and I have had the probing by Dr. Spagnola in the Baltimore Area-which is not to far from PA. This was all covered by my insurance so I'm not sure what he charges.

[judge515]

Does anyone have a list of Doctors that already do the MG probing procedure? (besides Dr ****** and Lange). I want to do it very badly, but really do not want to fly down to Florida.


Also, for those of you that have had it done. I know it costs about $650 per half of your eye, does this cover the visits after to do the 4mm and 6mm probing?

In one of the two articles below, Dr. ****** states that the effect lasts for about 4 to 6 months:

http://www.ophmanagement.com/article...article=103161
http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern.../detail/610890

[kdc66]

MG probing

I did feel a little relief after the 1st probing with the the 2 mm probes. so far with the 4-6 mm probes the left eye feels really good one-week after the procedure. on the 2nd visit, Dr. Spagnola was able to probe more glands because he had more time than on the 1st visit.

Like I said, I am optimistically reserved here. I think that if I feel really good after a month than I can claim success. The other concern here is that once they have been probed; the glands may be open for a while but could eventually revert back to being closed over time due to the long-term inflamation. I am hoping that now that they are open that with omega 3s, heat and massage that they will stay open. The other possibility is using the IPL laser treatments.

Does anyone know from Dr. ****** that once people were probed that they were able to maintain open glands for a long time?

[Brooke]

Kdc66,
It's good to hear that you've had some initial improvement from the probing. I agree that many treatments seem to have a short initial effect, but hopefully it will continue. You said you had the 2mm probes 3 weeks ago, and now the larger probes. Did your improvement start right after the 2mm probing? Did it last until the time of your 4mm probing session? Did the larger probing session give further relief than the initial?

I've mentioned this to a few doctors who immediately give me a disapproving look. They don't even want to talk about it, not sure why. I really hope we can get more feedback from patients who try it so that other doctors will be more open-minded. At least you and djb have a doctor that is willing to listen. Please keep us posted!

[kdc66]

MG Probing

I just had the MG probing by the same doctor that DJB saw in Maryland. I had the 2mm probes done on both the upper and lower lids 3 weeks ago and last week had the 4-6 mm probes used.

Dr. Spagnola was able to open about 80% of the glands for both the upper and lowers. The remaining ones he couldn't penetrate through using the probes. According to Dr. ****** you don't need to get all of them open but maybe 1/2 to 2/3 to see improvement

I have to say so far my left eye(which is the one that bothers me) feels alot better. I'm reluctant to say that since I have tried various drops, plugs, etc. where I would have a good weeks but than revert back to being in pain. So I will say I think it has helped but will need a month or 2 of feeling good to truly say the procedure has worked.

I do believe this or the IPL can work for folks who have blepharitis/lid issues. I think the MG probing needs more clinical research as well as people trying it and reporting success before you try it. However, if you are desperate for relief I would seriously consider having a Dr. perform it.

DJB, hang in there hopefully something will work.

[djb]

Feeling bummed out today...local doc probed yesterday with the 4mm probes and I don't see any change in my condition. I guess my mgs aren't functioning even though they are open now. I hope that others get better results.

[djb]

I had 2mm probing done by my local doctor four weeks ago. Today, was a followup visit. He was able to express some oil out of my left upper lid today. That was encouraging since I had no oil prior to probing. I go back for a long session of probing on Oct 16th. He'll try the 4mm/6mm then. I think he's going to leave my lower glands alone because he can't see them and doesn't feel comfortable probing blindly. I can appreciate that!

He told me he's traveling to a doctors conference in San Francisco soon. He's going to bring up probing and IPL as discussion topics. We'll have to wait and see if anything comes from that event.