MG probing by Dr ******

[Gretchen]

The expression that is generally done at Dr's offices target the hardened, keratinized meibium that blocks the MG orifices. If I read the article correctly, this targets deeper obstructions - neovasculature, fibrotic scar tissue - that would not be able to be "squeezed" out. The removal of neovasculature is also what Dr Toyos is targeting with the IPL treatment.

In theory, that is. In reality, who knows!?! But it does sound mighty tempting.

Gretchen

[soxboy]

Dr Latkany

Does anyone know if Dr. Latkany or anyone else in NY area will be preforming this .....hopefully somewhere in Westchester....Thanks

[jenny2008]

I just read the article on this-sounds promising but it seems that the article indicates a person would still have to do warm compresses, antiobiotics, omega 3's to keep up the benefits...?? I do the warm compress and massage daily-I would love to get away from it but it seems that although this new procedure may really open up the glands-that there is still a constant need of warm compresses, etc to keep the open glands open!! Thoughts anyone????

[djb]

I don't believe this procedure is a permanent fix, because the root cause hasn't been discovered/addressed. But even if the procedure works temporarily and became common enough to be done once, twice, three times a year in order to get some relief, I'll be happy!

[Rebecca Petris]

It looks like a neat procedure but my question is is it any more benifitial then the gland expressions that other dry eye drs do?

Well put. This is indeed the bottom line.

I think that really skilled manual expression is not often done but when done is often very helpful. I am in communication with a doctor who is going to be trying Dr. ******'s technique and will post again when I learn what the results have been. Clearly this is being marketed heavily to doctors right now, so hopefully in about six months we'll all have some more solid information to judge from.

There are a lot of things that give immediate relief to people with dry eye. Effective AND sustainable treatment is more elusive.

[djb]

Got a local response!!!

I just received an email from a local doctor who is willing to try this procedure on me. Here is his response:

Dear Mr. Barkdoll:

Thank you for your inquiry and your link to the video demonstrating this fascinating procedure. I would be happy to consult with you regarding your eyelid gland dysfunction. While we have not had an opportunity to try this procedure, technically it looks straightforward and if you would like to try it to see if it might offer you some relief, I will gladly help you in that regard.

How long have you been suffering from this condition?

Please feel free to contact me either by email directly or by phone.

I look forward to meeting you in the hope we might improve you condition.


I realize I'll be patient #1 (guinea pig) to this doctor, but if it works there will be dancing on the table tops!!!

[stephgurl1986]

I work for a pharma company and I just know that some doctors just care about the money BUT to be honest, I don't care if Dr. ****** just invented this procedure in order to gain more money, as long as it helps us, it's fine...and to be honest I'd pay thousands of dollars if there was a procedure that would help me! Pharma companies also just to research because they want to gain money, it has nothing to do with finding medicine for the poor patients...

[mike838]

It looks like a neat procedure but my question is is it any more benifitial then the gland expressions that other dry eye drs do? It would make sense that they are plugged down deep my dr has told me mine are too then he expresses the glands getting what he calls a toothpaste like substance out. So my thought are that for the 200 it costs to have that done is the 2000 of this procedure going to give more results for longer? I too contacted dr ****** about this procedure and I would spend the money if I knew it honestly had a shot of working but I feel I might be getting the same treatment with expressions that this offers? Any thoughts?

[tennisiu]

I think Lucy is correct. I was desperate for help and made the trip to see
Dr ******. Dr ****** has a great website and wrote a very good book about dry eye. I am not going to get into details, but I spent a lot of money and time for nothing to see Dr ******. I might as well went out and bough a boat load of lottery tickets($$$). At least then I would have had a slight chance of getting something for my money. I believe Dr ****** is taking advantage of people that have DES. I feel like I was conned at the county fair.

The good news is that I have learned my lesson. I was brought up to trust doctors. I have lost that trust and will be very careful before proceeding down that path again.

[Lucy]

Nope, it's 10 years experience looking at (for) cures to this stuff. djb sounds like you're doing your homework. I'm always playing devil's advocate. So many os us are desperate for a cure, we don't necessarily think through all the pros and cons. Good luck with yours. Lucy

PS. Diana, don't you have 4 kids to look after? Instead of exposing me on this board?

[dianat]

Aw Luce, you just don't like Dr. ******.

[djb]

Lucy,

Dr. Tseng tested me in 2004 and showed me with his tests that my MG's are 100% 'constipated'. After communicating with Dr ****** and his staff, immediate relief was experienced by the patients who qualified for this procedure. According to the video, some patients needed reopened after 4 months but most were found to be opened after 11 months. If my local doctor could learn this procedure, I'd be willing to pay my copay a couple times a year, if needed, to keep the MG's unclogged. I'm holding off the travel to Florida until I ask some local doctors if they would be interested in this procedure.....djb....

[Lucy]

I'm sure it will bring relief, but for how long???

Me playing devils advocate: How can you be sure it will bring relief? The "how long" question is a gem too. 5 minutes, 5 months, 5 years.

I'd love to hear someone's first hand experience with this procedure. I'd love to have this done but I'm wondering if it really works

Me playing devils advocate: You'd love to have this done, but at what possible cost? I wanted Lasik, too. My bad results are with me 10 years later. "Everybody" was just lovin' their new vision.

I'm just telling people to slow down and have these doctor's prove some of their "new" inventions. As the request for Lasik and other eye surgeries decrease, the docs are thinking up new ways to make money. Sure, it's to help the poor patient with painful dry eyes. After all, that's the doc's line of specialty. Many of those patients started with refractive surgery at the hands of those same doctors. Not all! Some ophths do not do refractive surgery and only treat dry eyes and the like. Lucy

[kkahthesea]

I'd love to hear someone's first hand experience with this procedure. I'd love to have this done but I'm wondering if it really works. Where does the waxy meibum go when he pushes in with the probe? Does he pull the gunk out or does it just get pressed and compacted up into the gland? Does anything in there get damaged or irritated (inflamed) in the process? Does it hurt?
If this really works it would be a huge relief to many, many people.
djb...I sent you a PM

[Gretchen]

I agree. I think that mechanical treatments of the MGs - this and also IPL have a lot of promise. The explanation of deeper MG obstruction really makes sense to me. I heated the heck out of my eyes for 2 years and have seen pretty much no benefit. And for those of us with ocular rosacea, neovasculature obstruction just makes more sense to me than the surface keratinization argument.

This looks good.
Gretchen