dry-eye and lipid layer


Posted by mike mcdade ® , Feb 10,2002,10:51   Archive
am new to BEB and to this board so I apologize in
advance for asking dumb questions. please point me
to any appropriate FAQ pages...

have been told that that my eyes secrete too much
oily fluid onto their surface layers. this oil
seems to have the function of reducing evaporation
of the underlying watery layers. still I have the
experience of "dry eye" and now the involuntary
eye closure of BEB.

have been told to wash around the eyelids and lashes
with diluted baby shampoo to reduce this oid. seems
illogical to me that too much oil would cause dry eye,
seems more like the over supply of oil is an overreaction
to a more fundamental imbalance.

what is going on here? is there some way to manage
"dry eye" that can help BEB symptoms?

Mike M.




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Re: dry-eye and lipid layer

Re : dry-eye and lipid layer --- mike mcdade
Posted by Delaine Inman ® , Feb 10,2002,11:54 Top of Thread Archive
Welcome Mike. I'm a nurse who had never heard of BEB in her 27 years of practice and I've never heard of what you describe. Did you question the doctor to give you more information about your problem? If you haven't contacted the BEBRF foundation, please do so. It makes since that oil repels water, making it run off and not allowing the cornea to be lubricated with tears. What kind of doctor are you seeing? Hopefully there are others who will read your post and know something about the cause of your BEB. One of the symptoms of BEB can be dry eyes and BOTOX has the possible side effect of dry eyes. We are often told to use ointments instead of eye drops to help protect the cornea from drying too much. Covering the eyes will help when you rest or sleep. I hope you can find someone who can treat you medically and give you some relief.



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Re: dry-eye and lipid layer

Re : dry-eye and lipid layer --- mike mcdade
Posted by Sally - in - Idaho ® , Feb 10,2002,13:24 Top of Thread Archive
Mike, strange as it sounds, scrubbing the eyelids at least twice daily with Johnson's baby shampoo and warm water on cotton balls does help a lot. Damp hot cloths also help. There was a tip on here some time ago (I believe from Joyce) to use your crockpot to keep the cloths warm while you are using another one.

It's worth a try for you. Every little bit helps.

Sally in North Idaho




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Re: dry-eye and lipid layer

Re : dry-eye and lipid layer --- mike mcdade
Posted by June in Toronto ® (June Floyd,June in Toronto), Feb 10,2002,16:07 Top of Thread Archive
Welcome to the bb Mike, sorry to hear you have beb, but you've come to a good place to share and learn.

The baby shampoo should help with the oily fluid - as to why you have so much of it I don't know, perhaps it has nothing to do with beb, but a separate issue. You can help manage the beb with continuous use of preservative-free eye drops, preservative-free night time cream, covering the eyes with a washable night-time eye mask as suggested by others.

Are you having Botox injections for beb, that will help dry out the eyes, at least it does for me?

Check back with us anytime. Best wishes

June in Toronto (beb/meige - 7 years)




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Re: dry-eye and lipid layer

Re : dry-eye and lipid layer --- mike mcdade
Posted by Shirley-Arkansas-USA ® , Feb 10,2002,17:49 Top of Thread Archive
Hi Mike. This is a link to some information that is in the BEBRF Main Page located at the top of the bb page. It talks about the type symptoms that you are having and treatment. I think that you will find it interesting and helpful.

http://www.blepharospasm.org/blephar2.html#A1

Hopefully it will help you a little with an explanation of the dry eye condition when your symptoms are of too oily lids. It may be that if you get this under control that your Blepharospasm symptoms might lessen or go away. Dry eyes can cause symptoms of Blepharospasm and if corrected, BEB symptoms can decrease or go away.

I'd certainly give the baby shampoo washes a try (can't hurt) and use the preservative-free drops frequently during the day with a eye ointment at night and see if your symptoms don't improve.

Welcome to the bulletin board and ask anything you'd like and let us know how you do.

Shirley in Arkansas with BEB/Apraxia




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