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Blepharitis solutions

Posted , 9 users are following.

GroggerLUFC
GroggerLUFC

Had blepharitis now for over 10 years and have had flare ups every few years.

I've read a few threads on here where people have recommended using wet ones as they have an ingredient called benzethonium chloride.

I love in the UK and have bought some wet ones that contain benzalkonium chloride.

Could someone on here tell me the difference between these 2 chlorides? I've read that they are the same thing but have different names depending on wether you're in the UK or the States.

Also could someone please tell me the best way to test blepharitis using wet ones? Do I leave them on the eyelids for a few minutes or give them a quick wipe or scrub?

Thanks

2 likes, 38 replies

38 Replies

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  • martha51654
    martha51654 GroggerLUFC

    Posted

    Dear Grogger I would avoid the cute and fresh and the normal ones because they have alcohol in them.The Be Gently do not have alcohol and can be bought on line from Boots in the UK , presumably somebody sells them in the states too (Amazon?). They should be better since you have cracked skin and don't want to dry it any further.

    Have you been told which kind of Blepharitis you have? the papers my Dr gave me say there are three kinds, a bacterial infection, a dry condition similar to dandruf and a malfunction of the tiny glands that lubricate the eye. I assume I have either the first or the last as I have no scales or dry skin .I hope I have the infectious type which is more likely to go with the Wet Wipes.

    I tend to have all kinds of allergic reactions and so far the Be Gently Wet Ones are clearing my eyes with no bad consequences.

    My very best wishes.

     

    • GroggerLUFC
      GroggerLUFC martha51654

      Posted

      To be honest Martha in the 10 years I've had it I've be we been told what form of blepharitis I have!!

      I don't get the dandruff or scales either. It starts off getting swollen then my eyes water and go sticky I'll then get discharge and crusts round my eyelids and lashes after a few days if I don't treat it.

      I'll have to try the wet ones you've mentioned as the ones I've bought have made my right eye go bad after using them for a couple of days sad

      I'm at the end of my tether with it. The only thing I've not tried is honey! If that doesn't work it'll be back to 3 months of antibiotics again and hoping the summer gives me a break from it

    • GroggerLUFC
      GroggerLUFC martha51654

      Posted

      Forgot to add that I've ordered a heat mat thing for my eyes.

      With that and the alcohol free wet ones I'll have covered the bases for infected blepharitis and also for the blepharitis caused by blocked glands!

      I use anti dandruff shampoo anyway so it can't be caused by that.

      I was always told to do heat compresses and massage my eyes but it never did anything for me.

      If these wet ones don't work then I'll even have to question if it's blepharitis at all and not something completely different

  • martha51654
    martha51654 GroggerLUFC

    Posted

    It seems we have exactly the same symptoms, Grogger. And also my doctor could not tell which type but between us we plumped for infectious as I have no dundruff-like scales on my eyelids and as it came suddenly it is unlikely that the glands are malfunctioning. Apparently it cannot be anything else but Blepharitis.

    I started treatment on Friday night, with Be Gentle and the redness is gone, no tears all the time only about when i am due to treat them again, which I do at least three times a day if not four. It may be that I will have to keep it up for a long time, Lynda says for three month and then cut down slowly to a few times a week, if I remember correctly.

    I will tell my doctor of the wet ones, she doesn't know yet. I am very  happy to be able to work again even if it is in short spurts.I am sure you will soon improve. too. 

  • martha51654
    martha51654 GroggerLUFC

    Posted

    Hmmm... At first I thought that it is too small to be of any use but if you click on it it opens much bigger. A whole new dimension.
  • janmin
    janmin GroggerLUFC

    Posted

    Hi Grogger

    You mentioned somewhere that you are worried that your eyes are cut and maybe too sore to use the wet ones and I was thinking. When my eyes were bad I used the heat pack followed by cleaning with bicarbonate of soda. Then I used maxitrol ointment. This also contains Benzethonium chloride although in smaller doses. But where I'm going with this is when your eyes are improved. Start with the wipes.

    As I said in an earlier post I used the blue for a couple of weeks and they improved my eyes but then I started with the red. The difference is amazing. I am wearing eye liner and eyeshadow and not thinking about getting home to clean it off. I am still using the hylo forte for dry eyes 2to3 times a day but that's all. I use the wipes morning and night. They really do work if u can use them. But I imagine if you have those little cuts on your lids it would be very difficult.

    I hope this is of some help.

    Janet

    • GroggerLUFC
      GroggerLUFC janmin

      Posted

      Hi Janet

      Thanks for the advice. I've used maxi trip in the past it was really good.

      Started using some betnesol ointment last night to give my eyes a chance to get better. It pretty much cleares the sores up straight away. I'm going to carry on with it for a few days then start the wipes again.

      I got to the chemist today and managed to buy a packet of the be gentle wet ones. They don't contain any alcohol so I'm hoping they will work for me!

    • GroggerLUFC
      GroggerLUFC

      Posted

      Meant to say Maxitrol!! It's my predictive text spelling it wrong smile
    • gabriela38171
      gabriela38171 GroggerLUFC

      Posted

      Anything that reduces the swelling? One of my eye lids is swollen and I've tried the hot compresses and cold and still feel the same.
    • gabriela38171
      gabriela38171 janmin

      Posted

      Hello Janet do you just wipe your lid with the wet ones or how do you use them?
    • kathy47874
      kathy47874 gabriela38171

      Posted

      Gabriela, I cannot speak for Janet, but I just use the Wet Ones on the upper and lower lash lines , I massage them back and forth on each eye, using clean strips on each eye. I also use a Lid Scrub over the entire lid which I wash off after using if that helps. (OCUSOFT)
  • GroggerLUFC
    GroggerLUFC

    Posted

    Has anyone on here found that the wet ones don't work for them?

    Last few days I've been using betnovate ointment to clean up my eyes and stop the discharge that I get and to heal up the broken skin on my eyelids that my blepharitis causes.

    I started with the be gentle wet ones yesterday afternoon then used them before I went to bed and once this morning before work. On my way into work I realised that my eye was getting a bit sticky and when I looked in the mirror in the office I saw what I think is a little sore or open cut forming on the upper eyelid near my nose. I can feel it is sticky as well when I try and open my eyelid or move my eye about.

    I've got a heat pad coming through the post today and I'll try and use it with the wet ones but I can't see them working for me.

    People say not to use creams or anything once I've used the wet ones but the creams I use give relief so could I not apply them a few minutes after using a wet one or would it render the wet one useless??

    I'm getting really depressed with it all now

    • kathy47874
      kathy47874 GroggerLUFC

      Posted

      I have noticed on some of the Wet Ones I buy, they seem to have more solution and I have to squeeze a little of the lubricant from them first, but so far they seem to help. I always have a slight film over the one eye that is worse than the other. It also depends on how thorough I manage my treatment each day and/or how much sleep I have gotten the night before, Have you seen a specialist at an eye center and have you been diagnosed as having Blepharitis ? I have not met anyone around here who has it and that is why this forum is so helpful.
    • GroggerLUFC
      GroggerLUFC kathy47874

      Posted

      I've never met anyone with it either and only found this forum recently.

      I was never officially diagnosed with it but have seen specialists and I'm pretty certain it's blepharitis. I don't know what else it could be?

      As for the sleep thing, there's nothing I can do about that at the moment as I have a 3 month old son who wakes up all the time. I'll keep trying with the wet ones for now and my heat pad for my eyes arrived this morning so I'll give that a go as well

    • lynda79
      lynda79 GroggerLUFC

      Posted

      Dear Grogger,

      You can ask the doctor for an antibiotic. If these wipes kill staph on the eye they do too. It is called "an off label use" and is used by some doctors.

      They may not give you enough antibioitics to completely kill it but you can use the wipes after the intial cleaning up and your eyes are not sore anylonger with open cuts, etc.

      I asked my doctor why he had me put the antibiotic in my eye when the problem was on the eyelashes and he said some of the antibiotic gets on that area too.

      I used antibiotics in the eye 3 times.

      Hope this info can help,

      Lynda79

       

    • GroggerLUFC
      GroggerLUFC lynda79

      Posted

      Thanks Lynda

      I've got a prescription of oxytetracycline antibiotics but I'm trying to use the wipes and heat pad method in conjunction with the betnovate ointment I've got first before I start with the tablets.

      Just used the heat pad for the first time ever and done an eye massage. It felt quite nice and I'm pretty certain when I did the massage I could see some of the oils on my eye lashes. Just off to wipe them with a wet one now

    • lynda79
      lynda79 GroggerLUFC

      Posted

      Dear Grogger,

      Sorry, I was talking about a liquid antibiotic that would go on the eyelashes instead of in the eye. That is what was in the article that mentioned the "off label use". That is using the antibiotic in a way that it was not meant for. The eye antibiotics usually go in the eye but off label they would go on the eyelashes.

      I do know that Doxycycline does work if taken internally. I took it for a month and my eyes felt better. How long to be on to kill it I don't know but a month did not do it. It just felt better.

      Doxycycline used in a dental application (liquid in the mouth) had a long lasting effect on the staff. I posted that info on here too.

      That made me think if it was applied to the eyelashes it could perhaps kill the Bleph that way. Something to be talked over with a doctor. Your meds are in the same family (cycline) it seems as the Doxycycline.

      Let me know how you get on with your routine.

      Lynda79

       

    • kathy47874
      kathy47874

      Posted

      You must live inUS I recently purchased m.y WEt Ones from Walmart, as I have done in last 7 mos. But, I too have  had to squeeze some of the solution out It  bothers me, because I feel, I am wasting money. Also, the solution really seems so much stronger At first, I was able to wipe them with this and not clean afterwards, but not now-so funny you'd mention this I thought It was just me. I too have a film always over left eye--sometimes worse than others.
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