MG probing by Dr ******

[Lucy]

No, Dr. ****** shouldn't have his patients put their "testimonials" on here. Then any eye doc would have the right to do the same. You know the doc will never pick a bad patient or give you the name of a bad turnout for reference checking.

If we turned this into a testimonial board for any doctor. After that, we could line up Lasik/refractive surgery docs to post their successes and totally ignore the ruined eyes of some of us. If I have scarring from punctal plugs, I'm sure it's possible to incur scarring with "probes" of our meibs. Lucy

[RobLIC]

Also, if anyone has trouble with the above link, the full video can be found here: http://www.rheinmedical.com/onlinevi...7-6040dvd.html

Concerning the debate about whether there's much difference between this and the forcible gland expression many of our doctors use: Dr. ******'s argument is that no amount of forcible expression will enable you to empty secretions if the duct is obstructed.

It will be very exciting to see how this progresses over the next few months.

[RobLIC]

There are good doctors in our midst who think this procedure brings with it a risk of scarring if the probes poke around in there too deeply. A fellow DEZer recently suggested to me that Dr. ****** should have some of his patients post a testimonial here. Dr. ******? Are you out there reading?

[Rebecca Petris]

To be really honest I have no business commenting on the merits & potential of the approach especially considering that (unlike the other participants in the thread) I have not even read the material! So from me, it's a bit of gratuitous raining-on-the-parade due to a couple of things that consistently press my buttons. I hope you guys will continue on with the discussion despite me. Hope is good, and somebody's gotta be among the first to take the plunge after all. Just be careful

[Lucy]

You can tell that Rebecca and I won't be holding our breath. Sorry if I put words in your mouth, Rebecca. You can reprimand me on here. Lucy

[Rebecca Petris]

The proof will be in the pudding as they say. I agree with the doc whose comment was "looking forward to a prospective, randomized double blind study". When I read " Symptom relief is dramatic and immediate" I immediately start having an attitude problem because this is true of so many things that have no lasting benefit whatsoever. Certain recipients of certain surgeries come to mind. Whoops, there's that bad attitude showing up again

[Lucy]

Eye docs have been able to skin our eyes, cut our eyes (PRK), laser our eyes (Lasik) for way more than 10 years now to make it so we "can maybe go without glasses." This is cash up-front, no insurance, big bucks all the way.

How is it possible they have figured out how to mess with our vision like this and they can't figure out how to unclog a meibomian gland? Huh???
There is no good way to fix dry eye, but a few "new" things that cost really big bucks that "may" help some of us. Sorry, but this really p___es me off.
Lucy

[msienkiewicz]

OUCH!

I'm such a wimp...
Melissa

[djb]

The comments by the doctors under the video section in the link below are interesting:

http://www.eyetube.net/videos/default.asp?rederr

[djb]

http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern.../detail/610890

[mike838]

I look forward to hearing from people how this helps or not. It looks like it makes sence and I would love to try it too. anyone here had this done yet?

[RobLIC]

Would love to know, as well, if someone in NY is interested in doing this at all. I can tell you with certainty that neither the wonderful Dr. Latkany nor anyone in Dr. Donnenfeld's office intends to incorporate it at this point - I've asked.

[soxboy]

Where r u?

My doctor is ordering a box of probes. He's going to probe my left lids (driest eye) first and see if there are any functioning glands left. If it's successful, he'll do the other eyelids. My appt should be set up within two weeks. Hope we strike oil!!!!

I hope you do strike oil......Does anyone have anybody in the NY area that will do this....I have had a vision of this procedure in my mind for 20 plus years......Just the thought of the glands being open and unclogged is beautiful. To be able to wake up like everyone else, without looking like you just went 12 rounds with the champ, or were out all night long. What a feeling it would be....If anyone has any info about any NY doctor that will do this please foward... I am in the Westchester county area, and have been to Dr. Latkany about 5-6 times..... How would insurance handle this if at all?

[djb]

My doctor is ordering a box of probes. He's going to probe my left lids (driest eye) first and see if there are any functioning glands left. If it's successful, he'll do the other eyelids. My appt should be set up within two weeks. Hope we strike oil!!!!

[kkahthesea]

It does sound like this procedure (probing) targets severe blockages in glands that perhaps cannot be adequately expressed by the usual manual technique.
I have blockage with hardened keratinized meibum (I think) because my lids don't seem to be improving much with my warm compresses and my weak attempts at expressing the upper lids. I'm actually afraid of pushing too hard on my upper lids (i.e. pushing too hard into my eyes). What's the best way to do this?
I should get a doctor to express them to see if that would work before going for the probe.
None of the doctors I've seen so far seem to do the thorough expressing in the office.
Does anyone have experience with a good doctor that expresses glands in the northern VA area ? Or anywhere.....I'll travel for relief.