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New posterior blepharitis diagnosis... help!

Posted , 10 users are following.

girl32479
girl32479

After attending a specialist eye hospital I have just been diagnosed with blepharitis. I had been using chloramphenicol and then fusidic acid as my doctor thought I had bacterial conjunctivitis. These treatments weren't making my eyes better at all, so I went to the eye hospital. The specialist there said I don't have any infection and the drops have caused an irritation in my eyes and I have blepharitis...

My symptoms are as follows:

- eyes more or less feel fine all day, except a couple of days when they were terrible and hurt to blink (before I first went to the GP).

- Sometimes a bit teary

- slight crustiness in the morning (not throughout the day)

- no visible redness - however if I pull down my lower lids, it is very red

- I keep getting styes and/or cysts (one every few days)

- apart from a bit of swelling from my current stye, my lids look fine 

- vision is fine

- not itchy 

I am 20 and have never experienced any eye problems or sensitivity before despite having eczema. I think my eyes are the only place I dont typically experience eczema! I have always worn different eye makeups etc with no problems or soreness at all, even if I wear a lot for a special occasion. I wear contact lenses 3-5 days a week (daily disposables). The only issue I remember ever having is wearing fake eyelashes for a party once a few years back and waking up the next morning with awful, gunky eyes (far worse than this) - the pharmacist gave me something and it was gone in 24 hours. 

I feel totally doomed as my online research ( why did I bother looking rolleyes) has basically told me I will have this forever and it will only get worse.Ive just ordered an eye mask and have started doing the massages/hot soaks etc. I know I definitely shouldnt try the baby shampoo thing as my skin is SO sensitive to shampoos (due to my eczema), even a plain E45 shampoo irritates my face if it comes in contact ... so rubbing it on my eyes sounds like a terrible idea for me. 

Will this ever get better??? If so, when will I see improvement? When can I wear my lenses again? When can I wear eye make up again? If i were to wear a bit of eye makeup now, what would happen? I feel like because it's only just occurred now after using antibiotic drops that it can't be a case of it lasting forever cry i feel desperate! My mum said she was told at some point that she had blepharitis (she has super sensitive eyes and has never been able to wear eye make up because it makes her eyes itch, and the thought of lenses touching her eye horrifies her.. I don't have any of those issues!). My eyes look normal to the naked eye currently.. the main issue is recurrent styes/cysts and crusting in the mornings

It's taken 8 weeks to finally get this (hopefully correct) diagnosis and i'm just desperate to go back to my normal life! i feel so uncomfortable wearing my glasses all the time!! heeellppp...

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • avey
    avey girl32479

    Posted

    I feel for you and know twith time and continuing the cleansing and checking on these sites that a remedy will be found for you.  I've started using capasol, shampoo for my hair, no eye makeup escept a liner for a special occasion.  I'll also now try the blephagel and have used blephapol, and have been using the warm soaks plus baby 1). shampoo for newborns in conjunction with 2).TeaTree Oil (TTO), two or more drops with 3). water to wash my eyes and include my eyebrows and hair around my forehead.  I had itching all over my body and have used an antiallergenic which also helped my eyes.  A larger pharmacy may have the sensitive organic mascaras and the throw-away wands.

    Keep reading these sites to help as they are awesome and we all have individual problems that may solve our own blepharitis.xx

    • girl32479
      girl32479 avey

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply!

      I really hope so. I just hate the fact that supposedly it will take 2-3 weeks to see any improvements from these treatments (thats what the doctor said and a lot of places online). Ive been doing x2 hot soaks a day, x2 clean with bicarb soda and x2 eye massage + drops 6 times a day for 8 days and it already feels like a lifetime. Not really had any improvement in the redness under my lids however I've not developed a cyst for over a week and the one I had is reducing in size and pain! :-)

      Do you think I need to invest in sensitive mascara and makeup etc? I don't think I do as I never had a bad reaction to them and have been using them for 10 years. I feel my bleph is caused by antibiotics/bacterial conjunc. 

      xx

  • david24522
    david24522 girl32479

    Posted

    hi , i've been diagnosed as having the posterior bleph for about 2 yrs now . I'm past the visual symptoms ( so eyes look normal ) but it's the dryness and sensitivity to light which are my big issues now . I did go approx 4 weeks with no bother ( wish i could remember what my routine was then ) . I find viscotears GEL very helpful and soothing especially just before going to sleep . Drops just don't do much for me . Blethasol Gel is safe to use for the lid rims and lashes and doesn't sting if you get in on your eyeball surface .If I do , then i use a flood of drops to wash it away .There are some interesting videos on the web showing how to use light pressure to " squeeze " the glands to extrete " old " too thick and germy naturaly made lube after a good session with an eyemask .Clean the rims and lashes before and after the squeezing or "massage . If you really want to creep yourself out , then investigate the "mites" throught to be the cause of the problem that get into the glands and BREED . They have a short life so have to breed regularly , their dead cells in the glands not helping one bit .

    First thing in the morning I always use boiled water from the kettle , that has cooled enough to safely use , to wash my lashes etc . i multi fold a section of kitchen paper towel ( the better makes that are ribbed in texture ) dipped into the water after test touching it upon my face. It cools VERY quickly and then is ok to use . A great feeling for first thing in the morning .

    So microwaveable face  mask , blepthasol GEL , cotton buds , drops in case of needing to rinse the eyeball , kitchen paper , kettle and viscotears GEL for lubrication . ( small spot of gel during the day , a good sploge at night ).

    Currently investigating the " clamp like gland tweezers " .

    Best of luck .

    • andy22.aj
      andy22.aj david24522

      Posted

      I've got the forceps tweezers David and is the only option that actually work's for expressing the glands. I done massage and hot commpressers for months with none or little visible oils.. 1st time I used the forceps.. it come pouring out.
    • david24522
      david24522 andy22.aj

      Posted

      Hi Andy where did you manage to obtain them and did they take much practice to use ? I can remember you saying that attempting the upper eyelids wasn't as easy as the bottom glands .
    • becky_60526
      becky_60526 david24522

      Posted

      Yes, please tell more about the forceps tweezers.  I can't seem to squeeze out any visable oils either.
    • andy22.aj
      andy22.aj david24522

      Posted

      I got them from win heath.. there a UK company and there called Collins expression forceps.. now they are quite pricey at 150 pounds. But it was a very good investment.. if you go to any eye doctor in London is gonna cost you minimum 250 for them to express your glands.. they are very easy to use. The 1st day they came through I took them out the packet and just tryed them just to see if they feel comfortable and easy to use, I applied a bit of pressure and omg about 3-4 glands poured out with the toothpaste type oils and that was dry, no heat or soaks.. I've never had that toothpaste sensation since that 1st time, my oils are not that thick but it tells me it must of been in there stagnated for Ages. It's very easy to squeeze the bottom rims.. but to be honest I don't use them on the top rims as it is quite awkward and hard to see.. but my upper eyelids are not that bad anyway. Not once before did I visually ever see any oils until I brought the forceps. Works a treat
    • becky_60526
      becky_60526 andy22.aj

      Posted

      I am in the US, so I have no idea how to get them.  I will try Amazon, but the upper lids are what I would like to express the most.
    • girl32479
      girl32479 david24522

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply!

      My eyes that are visible currently look totally normal and fine, however if I pull down my lids it is SUPER red. I guess thats a plus! 

      I am using some drops 6 times a day to help with dryness (however I don't feel that my eyes are dry... but the doctor recommended!). ewww I don't want to think about mites haha. 

      I am doing 2 hot soaks, 2 eyelid massage, 2 eyelid clean, 6 lubricating drops and 2 antibiotic drops per day. I hate how time consuming it is but the hot soak definitely helps me wake up in the morning and settle down at night! I think I might try some blephagel or blephaclean wipes next. I did buy a mask on amazon - it's great. So much easier than a flannel which cools so quickly.

      thank you again x

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