Anyone Suffer from Dry Eye or Blepharitis? - YouLookFab Forum

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Anyone Suffer from Dry Eye or Blepharitis?

Anonymous

I have suffered from mild dry eye for quite some time now (I am now 62), but it has never been too bad and I just use artificial tears when I need to. Last week I had an eye exam with an optometrist who asked me did my blepharitis bother me. I assumed she just meant dry eye and I said it was not bad and used otc artificial tears once in a while. Well by the end of the week my right eyelid started getting very red (almost like a burn) and itchy at times. I assumed it just needed moisturizer, but moisturizer made it feel worse so I just used vaseline thinking it needed to calm down. I called the optometrist's office on Monday and she dd not seem concerned and said to leave it alone and just scrub my lids. She did not seem too keen on coming in to see her and did not offer to refer me to an ophthalmologist.

So now I am checking ophthalmologists in my area who accept my insurance and it is overwhelming. I want to make sure I find someone who deals with my issue so it will be treated correctly. Does anyone here suffer any eye problems and how did you find the right doctor to treat your condition? TY

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24 replies

Latest reply was from

Suz

(website)

Veteran

My husband had a bout of this. It is common as we age and in particular if you are also on glaucoma meds or have had eye surgery for cataracts etc. It's sometimes caused by mites.

https://www.aao.org/eyenet/art.....approaches

There are special lid wipes you can get over the counter (Mr. Suz's doctor told him which ones were right for him) and you need to ensure the dry-eye drops you use don't contain preservatives. Mr. Suz also had to massage the area with warm compresses a couple of times a day for a week or so to get things under control.

https://www.pharmaceutical-jou.....-blepharit

I had a case of it myself years ago and had to use the same procedure. The good news is that it didn't come back.

I would avoid vaseline or heavy creams until it is healed up.

Anonymous

Thanks Suz! Those articles are very informative. I did buy preservative free artificial tears today and they helped my eyes feel better immediately. (it must be the preservative in the one I was using that bothered me) I also bought an eye mask that you heat up in the microwave and will practice lid massages to see if that helps. I will reread these articles and make notes on what else I need to buy and/or do.

Anonymous

I have had dry eye problems since cataract removal but the eye drops for that have helped. They are from an opthmologist. They are called Triple Drops because they include 3 main ingredients including an antibiotic and steroid. I hope you get relief. During allergy season my lids can get swollen, red, and itchy/ burning dry.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

People can develop allergies to the preservatives. I hope you get continued relief!

Staysfit

Veteran

I have rosacea in my eyes which causes dryness and blepharitis. I use eyelid wipes daily and then a moisturizing drop recommended by the ophthalmologist. When it first started I used warm compresses daily, now I use them only a couple times a week as a preventive measure. The moisture drops I use have been fine, but in the past I also used a gel at night. It stayed out and really helped. It may take a little time but hopefully you will find a good combination of tactics.

Anonymous

I called a scheduled an appointment with my regular doctor today since my right lid looks and feels like it is sunburned and has not changed much since earlier this week, The ocular dryness is not too bad and the preservative free drops seems to be helping a bit. At this point I do not want to put anything on my lids (moisturizer, vaseline, etc) in case it makes it worse.

Hopefully my doctor will refer me to someone who is knowledgeable about this since I will probably need a referral to see someone. I have not worn any makeup at all in more than a week and am wearing my sunglasses when I go out. I am that self conscious.

Anonymous

I lucked out at the doctor's office yesterday. It seems that an ophthalmologist rents out office space in the building and was just passing the examination room while I was there. The doctor asked him if he could quickly look at my eyelids and he immediately thought an allergic reaction. He told the doctor which eye cream to prescribe (it is a cortisone/antibiotic mix that I put on my lids 2xs a day) and which eye wash scrub to use. If it is not better by Monday he said to schedule an appointment for next Friday.

While the lid seems to be a bit better today, my eyes still feel dry despite the eye drops. I have asked my DH to turn the whole house humidifier on when he returned from his business trip yesterday to see if that would make a difference. He is ignoring me.

Anonymous

Take a selfie of your eye while it is red. It can come in handy if the eye vclears up ( usually mysteriously) before you get in to see a doctor. This can help show that it is a real problem.

Helena

Veteran

I have had blepharitis a few times; I get it because I get eczema on my eyelids, which causes a chain reaction of problems! You've got great advice here; the only thing I would add is a hot compress (not so hot that you burn yourself of course, but good and warm; I use tea bags) to help it drain and soothe the eye) ... at least this helps for me. Good luck; so hard when your eyes are bothering you.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I just found this. I, too, have blepharitis (it causes dryness, crustiness, eyelashes to fall out). I was told it was caused by an overbloom of demodex mites, which are NORMAL and live on everyone's skin but in some folks, they get out of control. Blepharitis is also apparently common in folks with sebhorreic (spelling?) dermatitis and is sort of like dandruff of the eyelids, and also is more common in folks with rosacea. I gently scrub my eyelids with Head and Shoulders shampoo, and it does help keep the whole thing manageable. I also use a lot of eye drops.

Anonymous

@Nebraskim, TY for the info. I read about the mites online and it stated to use wipes called Cliradex, but it is good to hear that Head and Shoulders works for you.

My eyes have cleared up. I stopped using the ocular medication last week after using it for 10 days. So far so good. But I decided to go to an ophthalmologist this Friday and get properly diagnosed to make sure there is nothing more serious going on. I will definitely ask him about the mites. Luckily, my eyelashes are intact, and today was the first day I have worn any makeup ( I did use eyeliner on the top lids and a powder shadow on my lids, but no mascara.). No problems thus far.

MsMary

Veteran

I had blepharitis a while back. I got a prescription cortisone cream and it knocked it out pretty quickly and it hasn't come back.

Anonymous

Unfortunately, I spoke too soon. My eyelid is red again. Seeing the ophthalmologist on Friday. Hopefully, he can figure it out and give me a solution. I miss wearing makeup!

Anonymous

Well, eye doc is convinced it is contact dermatitis, but it is unilateral. He wants me to continue to use the prescription cortisone eye cream at night for one month and to see him again in late December. Otherwise, blepharitis is extremely mild, no mites (Blephadex),and he complimented me on my eye hygiene.

Scratching my head to figure out what is causing it. The only thing that is new is that I have been letting my hair grow out since May from a pixie to a bob. My part is on the left and I have side swept bangs that touch that right eye. I have not been using anything new to wash and style my hair (I do not use hairspray).

lisaflex

Veteran

i get it in the winter. it feels like my eyelids are on fire. i use wipes and compresses. no makeup during flare up.

neutrogena t gel on eyebrows in shower or head and shoulders

lisaflex

Veteran

ocusoft lid scrub (i couldnt remember the name lol) they do help. i use at night b4 bed and in morn after i use a warm compress.

i also bought one of those microwaable thingies for eyes and sinus issues after reading good things about them - havent had to use yet this season (thank goodness)

there were a few times i did use johnsons baby shampoo on a wet qtip to help with eyelash junk.....

i do have 2 prescriptions for really really bad flare ups (lotemax ointment) and some drops.

but, we have a 6000 deduc and only a RX discount plan - so they are over $600.......so i try to use sparingly.

lisaflex

Veteran

also - the ONLY undereye cream i can use without irritation during a flare up is clinique all about eyes

any other eye cream irritates and makes my eyes burn during a flare up

Anonymous

@lisaflex - I bought the Occusoft eye lid wipes at CVS and they were $17.99 for a box of 30. At Bed Bath and Beyond the same box of 30 was $9.99 and I can use a 20% off coupon. I think it was the same price at Walmart ($9.99).

I have been noticing that the same Skinceuticals moisturizer that I have been using for over a year is stinging a few minutes after I put it on during the day recently. I also have their Eye Balm which has been OK under my eyes, but not on the brow bone recently as well. So either these are no longer as hydrating or I am having a reaction to them. It has gotten very cold and dry very quickly this past month and I am wondering if my skin is drying out too much. My DH has some patches of eczema on his legs which he has not had in over 10 years. We have a whole house humidifier which is helping, but I guess it is not enough.

As for my lids and undereyes I have been using the Cerave PM lotion. I hope to get the Aquafor healing ointment to moisturize around my eyes in the next couple of days. For my face I will stick with the Cerave lotion or use the moisturizing cream tonight to see if that makes a difference.

If my current prescription does not help I think he will prescribe Protopic which is non steroidal.

lisaflex

Veteran

cerave eye cream irritated my eyes something awful! guess we are all different in what triggers it and/or makes it worse.

i havent had a bought yet this winter. although it is quite cold already....and heat is on kinda high. but, i have been sleeping with windows cracked and a bowl of water in room. fingers crossed its working ok so far.

also - change pillowcase daily.

yes, the wipes are not cheap - but, they helped me immensely last year. so no matter the price, i will continue to buy. i ordered some last week from amazon. think i paid 9.99 and free ship with prime.

shiny

Veteran

Yes, I get this periodically and have since my 30s. I am a contact lens wearer (dailies) and when it happens I can't wear my contacts at all. My eyes feel all gritty like there's sand in them. For me the issue is that the ducts in my inner eye lids get clogged. You can actually see the plugs when it's bad enough. To treat:

1. No contact lenses (obviously!) and no eye make up (I only ever wear mascara anyway). I never use special eye moisturizers either but I'd say avoid those as well if you do.
2. Celluvisc drops at night time (do not use at night as they are so thick they make you blind)
3. Gently clean the inner lid with a bit of baby shampoo
4. Warm compresses a few times a day - I just use hot wet washcloth but your eye mask will work
5. Don't rub your eyes!

Scarlet

Veteran

Just wanted to mention that I have in the past developed allergies to products that didn't bother me for years. I don't know for sure if the formulation changed or I changed, but just wanted to mention in case it is helpful in tracking down what is bothering your eyes.

Anonymous

shiny - I stopped wearing contacts in my late 30s for the very same reason (I am 62). I make a conscious effort to keep my eyelids clean and try not to rub. I also found that the more I stare at a computer or tablet screen my eyes feel dry, so I set a timer for every 20 minutes to look away and blink rapidly for 30 seconds. That seems to help. The heat, however, has been running constantly and that does not help. At least at home we have a whole house humidifier and I feel better at home than when I am out of the house.

scarlet - I was a person who wore makeup practically every day of my life since I was 13 and now lucky if I wear any once or twice a week since the eyelid problem started. I also wondered if I had developed a sensitivity to my makeup and skincare products so I have slowly reintroduced products and so far so good with the makeup. The only skin care products I stopped using were my Skinceuticals moisturizers and Paula's Choice Vit C serum. Each time I tried to use them (at separate times) my skin tingled throughout the day. This never happened when I first started using it last year. So now I am just using Cetaphil gentle cleanser and Cerave PM lotion on my face and Eucerin cream on my eyelids. I also bought a Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadow and no problems. So now I will save the makeup for an occasion when I think I need it and go barefaced the rest of the time.

shiny

Veteran

danusia, I swear I'm the only person who's ever been allergic to Cetaphil but sheesh I just cannot use that product at all and I don't get why others swear by it! It's not gentle for me, it makes me itch like crazy and break out in hives. I would recommend cutting that product out just to see.

I only wash my face and body with Aveeno products, and even then, steer clear of my eyes. They just get wet hot water, with baby shampoo if necessary, but not every day.

I haven't worn eyeshadow in 15 years. Just mascara and that's it.

I do use Lancome Re-energie night and day moisturizer every day. I just don't use the Lancome eye stuff, and don't slather anything near or on my eyelids.

As for the heat in the house, I totally get that. What's bugging me more these days is my throat, it's always so so dry. Do you get that too?

Anonymous

shiny, I make sure I drink at least 64 oz of water a day; more if I have a long workout. My skin feels hydrated and no dry throat. If the house is too dry though I get nosebleeds and had one a week ago. I now make sure I use a saline spray several times a day (I also use a saline gel).