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blepharitis
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Posted by: Barbara Ann ®
12/16/2009, 15:31:16
Just learned that I have blepharitis compounded on blepharaspasm. 1) How common is this? 2) Does anyone have any great ideas that help your eyelids feel less heavy? 3) Any suggestions for relief? Thanks. BARB



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Re: blepharitis
Re: blepharitis -- Barbara Ann Top of thread Archive
Posted by: judith k ®
12/16/2009, 16:44:32
Hi BarbaraAnn,

Sorry to hear this!
Blepharitis can be very troublesome; it is for me, though not for everyone.
Shirley has posted that she has had a lot of success in keeping it at bay.
Part of the bottom line includes using warm compresses and lid scrubs. I am sure she and others will write more.
I would get a good doctor NOW to monitor this. (My neurologist is not the same doctor as the one who now treats my blepharitis, but that's partly because for me it's become such a problem. I've been to 4 'external diseases of the eye' specialists.)
I did the warm compresses, and cleansing (baby shampoo, lid scrubs (like Ocusoft makes), or just the lid scrub foam (which I really like, also made by Ocusoft but maybe also by others) etc., and for a while it was under control, then I began to have more and outbreaks.
I was given RX eyedrops to use when I had outbreaks (red eyes, feeling of irritation and burning, sometimes flakes that looked like dandruff on the eyelids, etc.). Then another doctor said 'hasn't anyone told you to use a systemic drug?' and put me on doxycycline. After that, I had a pretty good year. Then it got worse again.
Last year I had cataract surgery, and the kinds of cataracts I had are often (though not inevitably) a fast-growing kind associated with eyedrops that contain steroids.
Since last April I've had another doctor, and now am trying a different regimen. I did well over the summer but now he's switched the meds (partly because the new antibiotic wasn't working, and we went back to doxy; but I'm going to stop everything soon, and see how I do.)
When I first went to see him he said 'you're doing everything right (lid scrubs, compresses, etc.) and still having problems. So something else has to be tried.'
Don't want to scare you, because some people do have long-term success controlling this. For whatever reason, I haven't.
It's important to try to avoid touching the eyes (which I can't always manage to do), to wash them (baby shampoo) or use lid scrubs a.m. and p.m., use warm compresses (or a sock filled with rice--heat it in the microwave).
Are you sure it is blepharitis? I wouldn't say my eyelids ever felt heavier than usual because of it. But maybe that is something else, or someone only some people with blepharitis experience.
People who don't have blepharospasm can get blepharitis, but those with BEB are more at risk. So it is not uncommon.
Sorry, I have to run now; otherwise I would write more..... Also, you have to keep those oil glands from clogging (the tiny ones at the base of the eyelashes). Did your doctor give suggestions for relief?
Good luck!

Judith K (PS I also wrote about blepharitis recently on lizlid's 'Eye Infection' thread.)



Modified by judith k at Wed, Dec 16, 2009, 18:49:24

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Re: blepharitis
Re: blepharitis -- Barbara Ann Top of thread Archive
Posted by: kaba ®
12/16/2009, 18:58:17
I have had Blepharitis for a long time, before I got BEB. My opthalmologost first gave me an opthalmic ointment called "Neomycin and Polymyxin B" which I was told I should use only for 5 days. It cleared up pretty soon and I was put on this cleaning regimen every morning, either the pads - Ocusoft, or a mixture of Baby Shampoo and warm water, which is much less expensive. I use the pads whenever I travel.
I have had a couple of recurrances, but have always been able to handle them increasing the cleaning, or using the ointment for a short time..
I sure wish I was this successful with botox.
I have read that Blepharitis is suspected of sometimes triggering BEB, but don't know if it could work the other way around also.
Klara from Central Texas where we are getting tired of the gloomy and cold weather.



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Re: blepharitis & dry eye
Re: Re: blepharitis -- kaba Top of thread Archive
Posted by: judith k ®
12/16/2009, 20:19:34
This is from the doctor I currently see at Baylor. I went for an appointment on Nov. 20, and took notes. He had done the Schirmer Test (with the paper strip) and said I had only 50% of the tears I should have. He said:

"Blepharitis and dry eye go hand in hand.
They exacerbate one another (and also blepharospasm)."

In my case, I have overactive oil glands (the ones at the base of the eyelashes) and the oil is so thick it doesn't mix; that exposes the tear film which then evaporates even more. (That's one reason for the importance of warm compresses and doing the lid scrubs.)

One of the reasons the blepharitis (and my eyes in general) may have been better in the summer was because it was both temperate ( usually about 65-70o) and very humid (the monsoon in India); and also I had just started the new antibiotic, which was working well then.

Judith K
(Staph bactertia are involved in blepharitis, and there is more than one version of blepharitis.)




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Re: blepharitis & dry eye
Re: Re: blepharitis & dry eye -- judith k Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Judy from Toronto ®
12/17/2009, 17:04:02
I was diagnosed with blepharitis at least 2 years before I got blepharospasm. I used the compresses and the scrubs for about 3 months, then forgot about the whole thing. When my eyes started shutting (I do not get any rapid blinking) 4 doctors told me all that was wrong was blepharitis. Since I was diagnosed with bleph, I have had blepharitis several times. I have leart that I can keep it under control if I use the compresses and the eyescrubs regularly even when I do not have blepharitis. Judy C.



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Re: blepharitis & dry eye
Re: Re: blepharitis & dry eye -- Judy from Toronto Top of thread Archive
Posted by: judith k ®
12/17/2009, 21:34:50
You are lucky! I use compresses and eyescrubs even when I do not have blepharitis, but after awhile I get it again.
Once I finish the current course of medication, I will be on an 'as needed' basis, and hope that compresses and eyescrubs will keep it under control, at least for a good long while.
But as the doctor said, the conditions peculiar to my eyes (unusually thick oil; poor tear film) make it harder to control.

Judith K




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