For many months my eyes tended to be a little itchy especially the right side but not tearing. I’ve had dry eyes for years and use cyclosporine eye drops. During a time of stress: my husband’s surgery and his car accident I developed a stye inside the lower lid. Optician prescribed drops and hot packs to eyes. After about a week stopped drops and eye flared up again. The optician wasn’t clear about how long to use the drops. I decided to see my ophthalmologist. Said I have eye allergies and had me resume drops for 2 weeks. Antihistamines eye drops dried my eyes to become painful. Went back to the md and he recommended “low dose doxycycline” for 90 days. After 6 days my belly acted up. I’m not taking this for 90 days! He also recommended otc tea tree infused eye wipes and continued soaks. Meanwhile I talked to my sister who never had PMR- she had had this problem in the past for years and went through the same routine without success. She was cured by simply using salt water hot eye soaks 4 times a day— and allowing some of that salt water to enter her eyes.
Can anyone relate?
(Karenjaninaz on the Patient Forum).
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Karenjaninaz
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I think I have probably learned more from your post than I can contribute but I am responding to say that I have developed the same problem that appears to have become chronic. I had a 7 day course of antibiotics and it did disappear completely, only to return several days later. I have a nasal infection that is behaving in the same way. I have been on Prednisalone since February 2016. I have been diagnosed with GCA for a few months. I am still on 10 mgs of Prednisalone plus Ro-Actemra injections. I have also seen an Opthalmologist who was more interested in the exopthalmic appearance of my eyes ( prominent with eye whites showing above the lower lid) this contributes to the watering eyes and infection, I had active Grave’s disease in the 80’s ( thyroid).I have come to the conclusion that years of taking immuno - suppressants have taken their toll and I am prone to little break through infections that are hard to get rid of. Like you I use eyewipes, Theoduo eyedrops for dry eyes and artificial tears. There doesn’t appear to be anything else, except heated eye masks.. I just look forward to the day when I am done with Pred and later with Actemra that is also an immuno-suppressant. Of course, especially with COVID dangers, I am being very strict about hygiene.
I seem to have a chronic sinus infection going on at the moment. I have had it for about 6 weeks with one course of antibiotics. What else are you doing for yours?
I suspect that the nasal rinse is the way forward. I take antihistamines, I sleep propped sometimes. Nothing really seems to help. My nose if often totally blocked. Not sure if it is infected or if this is some sort of narrowing/ swelling of the airways.
Dry eye/blepharitis is another of those joys for which there isn't a cure but needs careful management. Cleaning of the eyelids, heat pads, drops are only things we can do ourselves. Blephex treatment also helps but Covid stopped that. I was due to have appt for Blephex replacement next week. Not sure if it is on or off now!
I got a few styles and had the tea tree wash and hot pack from optician - didn’t really help - they cleared eventually and I now use Optrex Intensive Dry Eye Drops which help
Yes, I have blepharitis, but I’ve lost my heated mask right now! I was told to wear the heated mask for ten minutes each day, etc etc, but I just don’t find the time. Good news is that I’ve ill treated it for 3 years & it doesn’t appear to have worsened. I know it won’t go away...for me it has peaks & falls, & during the peaks it gets a bit of attention! Good luck. Oh & doxycycline makes me very sick if taken on an empty stomach...but there are other antibiotics you can try.
Blepharitis - I gently clean my eyes with micellar water every night. Works a treat. Recommended by new optician some time ago. He also gave me a leaflet on blepharitis which is issued by the NHS. I would think you could get this online or, maybe, from your local GP. The Blepharitis doesn't bother me at all now - result!
Interesting. I use Garnier micellar water as a cleanser and Blephasol Duo for my blepharitis. I recently accidentally used the micellar water on my eye by mistake, was worried for a second, but pleased that it was soothing and didn't sting. In fact, I've just looked at the Blephasol duo box and see it's described as 'micelle lotion'. I'm going to save myself some dosh and use the micellar water for my eye in future.
It's Garner Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water bought from any chemist, supermarket, pharmacy. Not very expensive and also useful for skin cleanser etc.. I get mine from Morrisons Supermarket online. Fantastic stuff. Treat yourself!!
Thanks very much PMRpro and Borednow. I had never heard of micellar water. Watched the video and will get some. I have stopped using disposable makeup removers and now use reusable pads. Maybe I can use them with the water. I have had blepharitis for years.
I've had blepharitis a few times in the past. About 15 years ago was the first time and my GP recommended mixing a small amount of bicarb into some warm water and bathing my eyes using a separate cotton wool pad for each eye. I have used this remedy for years and for me it works each time. I use an 8oz mug of boiled water to 1tsp of bicarb.
Recently I've had shingles in my eye and after treatment with drops and anti-viral was advised by the consultant to use moisturing eye drops for the rest of my life as my eyes are dry.
So I've been trying a few different ones to see which is best for me. So far it's A.Vogel moisturing eye drops and optrex actimist moisturising eye spray that I find work for me. The spay is easier to use discreetly when out and about.
I was diagnosed with Blepharitis in the 2nd year of getting PMR. My eyes had discharge and I could hardly see out of them. My doctor prescribed eye drops (but I don't have a record of which drops they were). I also used a face mask heated in the micro wave and wore it while I had my afternoon nap. I later used Brolene eye drops if I had a recurrence of irritation. By soaking a cotton wool bud in very warm water and gently stroking around the upper and lower lids every night for the last 4 years, I haven't had any further problems. If you use a moisturiser on your face, make sure it is for sensitive skin, otherwise you will be blinking madly for most of the day.
I think the truly effective action is scrupulous eye hygiene ongoing. The underlying cause remains there - and even weeks of abx only works until the next time. If it is any consolation - it isn't any different for people who are not on pred!
My blepharitis developed early this year, beginning with a stye which cleared but I now have several small styes along the lower eyelid of my left eye. I've tried a few cleaning lotions to no effect so will now try the bicarb and warm water remedy. water .
Just in case anyone is foggy on this point, for blepharitis, you gently rub a cotton bud that has been dipped in your choice of the above-mentioned solutions ON THE MARGIN OF YOUR EYELIDS. That is the little flat area between eyeball and eye lash. It is delicate work at first but you will develop the ability to do it without bumping your eyeball in short order! Mostly because that hurts!
I have been doing this twice daily for months and it makes a huge difference! I actually went 50 years with on and off blepharitis, itching, putting in a whole spectrum of drops, tearing and the very occasional sty. I thought it was all due to dry eyes. Not. My eyes rarely get "dry" any more.
This subject comes up on here now and then and that was how I learned about the condition. I love this forum!
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