MG probing by Dr ******

[sazy123]

I honestly think that Inflammtion stops then from working as well as blocking them.. otherwise you would get a huge buildup and fat eyelids.

Also, the oil may be thick- but should come out like toothpaste.

So id say the first thing could be your prob- you have alot of inflammtion going on.

[djb]

All I know is what my doc told me....the probing pushed through the obstructions and no oil would come out. ******'s video of probing shows oil coming out, if I remember correctly, after the procedure. The fugo blade video in India shows oil coming out after the procedure. If I have mgs and they are working, then oil should have come out after the procedure.

[cristiandryeyes]

How do you know if your glands are atrophied? Did your Dr. try a meibography? Because that's what tells you if MGs are present or absent.

I took Accutane 3 years ago and it took a long time before I could notice dry eyes (months after treatment). Then I developed blepharitis and finally obstructive meibomianitis.

When exactly did your eye problems start ?

[postrkdryeye]

a bit of clarification

Also, I wanted to clarify that for me I was hoping the probing would not only make my eyes feel less dry but help me tolerate my contact lenses better. I have trouble with them fogging up while I wear them. It was this in particular that did not respond, but some of the tenderness I felt in my dids did improve some. Others may find their dry eye improve with the procedure.

[postrkdryeye]

Yeah, my mgs are totally atrophied from taking accutaine as a teenager - the root of all my problems in fact. The probing was still supposed to help because it helped rid my lids of some of the chronic infection.

[djb]

Sorry that the probing didn't help! I had it done locally and the doctor told me before he did it that he was worried that my mgs were atrophied and not producing anything. He was right and he couldn't express anything out after the probing. Even though most doctors don't agree with me, plugging up the sink (punctal occlusion) is the only thing that has saved my eyes. My problem is that the stopper keeps coming out even with cautery!

[postrkdryeye]

I tried Dr. M's probing - no help

Hi, just thought I'd let you know about my experience. It was the most painful thing you could imagine. I had such hope it would make a difference, but honestly, it didn't - not one bit. I suspect my glands blocked up pretty quickly, too. It cost $4000 along with related tests and the exam - plus travel expenses. And I agree that repeated treatments would probably make your eyelids all stretched out.

[cured]

Dr. Latkany in N.Y. doesn't believe ******'s procedure is necessary

Hi Everyone,

I posted here two years ago under the name "Cured." I've since regretted choosing that moniker. I was exuberant at the time because, after washing my eyelids with Dial antibacterial soap, I had a hiatus of symptoms. Unfortunately, they came back with a vengeance -- so it was probably just a remission, which I have occasionally. I apologize to anyone whose hopes I raised.

I recently saw Dr. ******'s video on YouTube and was immediately skeptical. Not only does the procedure look as if it could make one's eyelids flaccid over repeated treatments (not a medical opinion of course) but it doesn't address the underlying cause of dry eye.

I contacted Dr. Latkany, in N.Y., who is also a highly regarded specialist in dry eye to ask his opinion about the procedure. He said he thought it wasn't necessary. Although I know there may be competition between the two specialists, my feeling is that he's right. Even if the procedure provides temporary relief, the glands will clog again and/or close up, since they're mucous membranes. And I wonder too whether bacteria can enter the glands while they're artificially opened. Just speculating.

I'd like to know whether anyone has any experience with Dr. Latkany. I've had dry eye and blepharitis for 18 years, and it's ruining my life. I'm considering shelling out big bucks to travel to N.Y. and see Dr. Latkany, but would like to know if anyone here has tried that route and what the results were.

Thanks a lot.

Not Cured

[Susie28]

Cool, the world is small:-)
How many trials did you need to find the perfect pair of sclerals for you? I'm considering to travel to Ken and try a different pair of sclerals. (My actual pair doesn't work for me). But a trip to England would be very expensive and a new pair of sclerals, too :-(

Hm now I'm really inseruce if I should get the MG probing. I think I'll start a new thread here about the risks of this procedure:-)

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Are you this Philipp?:-)

Oh yes indeed, that's me. Ken Pullum has basically saved my live with these sclerals as they allow me to operate normally despite my shabby tear film...

With regards to your 2nd question: I just think poking around somone's glands involves a great risk of destroying tissue or causing other damage. But you should be clear about what you are doing to your body yourself and make up your own mind...

[Susie28]

You have great success with your sclerals? Ken Pullum told me about a Philipp who wears his sclerals all day long with great success. But this Philipp needed severals trials until Ken found the perfect pair of sclerals for him. Are you this Philipp?:-)

So do you think MG probing is risky? Puh, you made me insecure.... What could happen in the worst case?

[Philipp_from_Germany]

I haven't done the probing so far. First, out of lack of time. Second, I consider the procedure to be in an experimental stage. I wanna see some statistically significant large trials on that first because it is rather invasive (poking around in your meibomian glands with some needle device...)

I'm doing fine with my sclerals in this cold / windy winter. Seems saver for me than anything else at this moment...

[Susie28]

Yeah you're right, Prof. Geerling is quite difficult. He always tells me that I have just mild dry eye symptoms, that I don't need sclerals and all the stuff. Sclerals are just for severe dry eyes which I don't have.
Hm, when this what I have is called "mild drye eyes" then I really don't want to know what real severe dry eyes are!!!
But I don't care if he takes me serious. he can do the probing in Germany, I don't have to travel far and that's all that counts.

How are your eyes doing? Didn't you get the probing, too?

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Hi!
I got an appointment for MG probing on 23th March by Prof. Geerling in Germany. I'll post here when the procedure is done.

I have one question to all non-Germans here: Does your insurance company pay for MG probing? Prof. Geerling told me that I have to pay 270 Euro for MG probing and the insurance doesn't pay anything of this amount:-/
Thats so frustrating because I've already spent 1000 Euro for (at the moment) not successful scleral lenses and soon I have to spent lots of money for my moisture chamber googles (MEGS) with high prescription:-/ the German insurance companys nearly pay for nothing :-(

Hi Susie28, I went to see Herrn Doktor Geerling back in 2004 while he was still in Lübeck. I wanted him to check on my scleral lenses which I got from England and which have basically saved my life and his suggestion was:" Do not wear them, you do not need them. Just use artificial tears." So I think this guy is pretty much zeitverschwendung and probably geldverschwendung as well. But, maybe he's better at probing? Who knows...

[pbeinetti]

I'll post if Medicare does pay. One other person who goes by the user name 'pete' was able to get insurance to pay for the whole thing. It wasn't Medicare. It was a hassle, but they finally paid.