Developed blepharitis :(

[sparrow-legs]

Hi everyone.

I think i am finally experiencing occular symptoms of rosacea. My eyes and eyelids feel gritty, are itching and burning, and there is debris in the lashline.

The worse thing is I am losing a lot more eyelashes than usual, and it is making me very worried and irritable.

I have been doing warm compresses, massaging the eyelids and trying to carefully clean the eyelashes with a cotton bud, but they don't seem to be improving. I saw my GP in my hometown last week, but she wasn't really much help, said it was probably due to 'winter weather' and gave me some hydrocortisone cream - how i hate that stuff! It doesn't seem to help.

I am going to see my university GP tomorrow morning and see what she can suggest. I take doxycycline every day, so... wouldnt that make infection unlikely? There is not really much to see, no obvious symptoms or inflammation, but they feel just terrible.

Will my eyelashes ever come back? They are falling out easily of late. I seem to lose a couple from each eye every day!

Horrible disease, this.

[Judworth]

Hi everyone.

I think i am finally experiencing occular symptoms of rosacea. My eyes and eyelids feel gritty, are itching and burning, and there is debris in the lashline.

The worse thing is I am losing a lot more eyelashes than usual, and it is making me very worried and irritable.

I have been doing warm compresses, massaging the eyelids and trying to carefully clean the eyelashes with a cotton bud, but they don't seem to be improving. I saw my GP in my hometown last week, but she wasn't really much help, said it was probably due to 'winter weather' and gave me some hydrocortisone cream - how i hate that stuff! It doesn't seem to help.

I am going to see my university GP tomorrow morning and see what she can suggest. I take doxycycline every day, so... wouldnt that make infection unlikely? There is not really much to see, no obvious symptoms or inflammation, but they feel just terrible.

Will my eyelashes ever come back? They are falling out easily of late. I seem to lose a couple from each eye every day!

Horrible disease, this.

I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering.


YES! your eyelashes will grow back, I have MGD due to Ocular rosacea where the glands

are blocked & that caused many of my outer eyelashes to fall out!

I do quite warm compresses followed by eyelid scrubs (even though I have no visible
crusting in the eyelash line) using LIDCARE and also do lid massage.

I take Thera tears Omega 3 supplements & use thera tears eye drops (as they have no
preservatives) when my eyes are sore.

Things will improve, but you MUST keep up your eye/eyelid care even when the symptoms
seem to have cleared!

Sorry that your GP wasn't much help!

J

[Melissa W]

Dear Helena,
I'm sorry about this development but take heart that blepharitis/MGD/dry eye can be managed and treated successfully. It just may take some time but I would recommend gently cleansing your lids/lashes twice a day. Once in the AM and once in the PM and water and a warm compress may work just fine if you find the lid scrubs irritating in any way. I also recommend cool compresses for comfort throughout the day as well as continuing with the warm compresses and lid massages.

I second Judy's suggestion of adding omega 3's to your diet if you can.
Also, if you are experiencing any tearing, dryness, grittiness I recommend adding preservative free tears to your regime. At least 4x a day to provide relief.

What dose doxy are you taking? This should be helpful as well.

Good luck with your doctor's appt and keep us posted.

Best wishes,
Melissa

[kip]

There is a lash conditioner by Talika and I've read some reviews where people who had some trouble with eyelash loss felt this conditioner helped.

[sparrow-legs]

I have been back to the doctors twice now. This time she gave me an antibiotic eyedrop for the daytime and an ointment for night. She says if it doesnt clear up in a week she will send me to the eye hospital.

The whites of my eyes are pink and inflammed, and both eyes and eyelids are very itchy.

Blah! I don't have time to deal with this! It's my final year at uni and I'm too busy!

[Melissa W]

Helena,
I'm so sorry you are still having trouble with this. Besides the addition of the antibiotic drops during the day and ointment at night are you still doing the lid scrubs twice a day and warm compresses, lid massages and cool compresses? Are you also still using the preservative free rewetting drops throughout the day?

Also, (sorry I don't remember) are you taking an oral antibiotic to help with your symptoms? That may help clear it more quickly.

Best wishes,
Melissa