After 21 years of agony, I finally have relief. I have suffered with dry eye syndrome, meibomian gland dysfunction and blepharitis in my right eye since an eye injury in 1982. The first 5 years were horrible but then the symptoms subsided and I would have intermittent problems throughout the winter months. In 2002, the problems started to intensify once again. Last winter was awful and by December of 2003 the problem was intolerable for this winter. I have been to clinics all through the country while traveling on business. I have heard many doctors comment on how bad my condition was and some said it was the worse case they had ever seen. I have had every test imaginable. I do not suffer from any hidden diseases and I am in excellent health.

I finally hooked up with a great doctor in Boston. He told me to dump the Restasis, and the other 18 drops and gels that I had used this year alone. He prescribed erythromycin ointment. He said that it is fallacy that ointments clog meibomian glands. He also said to use Reffresh Celluvisc drops only. Then he told me to put a humidifier in my office, bedroom and den. He additionally prescribed doxycycline 100mg 2x day. Additionally, and oddly, he told me to sleep with swim goggles over my eyes. He said that this would act as a moisture barrier. The first night I used a pair of my kid’s goggles and could not sleep. I went out and bought a more comfortable pair and I am able to tolerate them for most of the night.

The result... After three nights the swelling was down and I could touch the outside of my eyelid without causing extreme pain to my eyeball. People were no longer asking what was wrong with my eye! My colleagues commented on how great my eye looked. A few days later I was actually able to read the newspaper. My eye was literally pain free in one week and I could see clearly. At this time I stopped the doxycycline because it was bothering my stomach but my symptoms did not return. It has been three weeks since my visit and I am back to normal. Sure the goggles make me wake up 1 or 2 times a night but I was waking up in agony almost every hour before treatment.

The doctor also said that in about 6 months a new drop is going to be introduced that will revolutionize treatment for this disorder. So look for a drop that will supplement the meibomian gland oils.

Wonderful! so glad you have found relief from your eye problem.

I am now on erythromycin ointment every night and told to use it from now on. Sure would be nice if it will eventually cure my blepharitis. One week off the ointment and oil glands start plugging up again.

Keep us posted on the new med.

It's good to hear you've got some relief. :)

Btw, is there erythromycin ointment for eyes?
Erythromycin is what I was prescribed to treat acne for my skin. I don't think what I have now is what I put in my eyes (of course, it's for skin).

Hmmm, I never knew about erythromycin ointment for eyes. I should ask my optha. doc.. What is the exact brand name for that?

Also, did you take doxycycline with foods or on empty stomach. I'm on doxycycline 100mg/day with foods. I was told that it is most effective when taken on empty stomach with tones of water, but that upsets my stomach.

So, what contributed to your cure? It sounds like it was erythromycin ointment to me.

That new drop is called Diquafosol, and I think it is from Inspire Pharmaceuticals. My eye doctors both (one at John's Hopkins in Maryland, and one in NY) said that they think the FDA may approve it for release by early autumn. It should have been released earlier this year but the FDA wanted another phase 3 trial study. I am anticipating it very eagerly!!!

Really? Diquafosol will be available this year? How nice! I'll even import it if it won't be available in Canada until next several years just like Restasis (damn I should have immigrated to US....lol)

Anyway, I found something yesterday. I squeezed the edge of lower eyelid with index finger and thumb, and some kind of sticky oils got out. It means that my Meibomian gland pores are cloged or something. I was so surprised. I squeezed as much as possible and you know what? My eyes feel a little better today. I used to do just massage gently and nothing came out so I gave up. But, if I squeeze it a little it does come out.

rianny,

I think it was a combination of the ointment and goggles. If I do not sleep with them I notice a big difference in my vision the next day--blurred and irritated. The drops he spoke of were a different name than you mention. I will ask him the name again at my next appointment.

The doxycycline was prescribed by a previous doctor at 100mg per day. The Boston MD said 100mg will never help this problem and added an additional dose in the evening. I took it with meals and drank lots of water. Its effect is diminished if you have dairy products 2 hours before or after a meal. It really bothered my stomach after a few weeks so I discontinued its use. That was over a week ago and I am still progressing fine. I don't think doxycycline was really helping me.

gustone,

I think I get just ask my eye doc. about the ointment. I think it is ok as long as it is the same component, whatever the brand is. So, are you saying that your eyes were really bad before using the ointment and goggles?

I only have a problem with my right eye. It was beyond bad. My vision was so blurred that I could not read. I could barely see, my eyeball was extremely sore, achey, swollen and bloodshot, and some days it was so bad that my eye was barely open. Those were days that I had to force myself to function by literally using only one eye and trying to keep my right eye completely shut. As I stated, I tried numerous specialists and prescriptions, as well as over the counter drops. I even tried some mail order and rather questionable drops. The relief I feel is overwhelming. My life is once again normal. I am at work but I will check the name of the prescription ointment when I return home.

im having a problem with my left eye and i just wanna know if u experienced these symptoms. i have swelling at the inner corner near my nose, rendess and burning.

I'll wear goggles when I go to bed from now on, and see how it goes.
Unfortunately, I haven't seen my doctor yet, so I had no chance to try the ointment you were talking about.

Gustone, do you use the erythromicin ointment or the celuvisc drops or both with the goggles at night? Do you use warm compresses also?

I use 1 little dab of ointment and 1 drop of celuvisc. I went to the doctor and he was very pleased with my progress, however, he said I still have some abrasions and I must clear them up for fear of infections.

Can dry eye syndrome cause blepharitis because tear works as antibiotics, but dry eye sufferers lack that tear?

gustone....i have been told that i have dry eye in my left eye but im still not really convnved and im going back to the opthamologist tomrrow. right now im using celluvisc but sometimes i notice it can irritate my eye. i do feel that its dry. i just wanna know if u were experiencing these symptoms. my left eye burns and when i close my eye it burns even more. the bottom corner of my left eye that is closest to my nose is inflamed, my right is perfect but my left has been bothering me for a about 2 years now and i have tried different drops even steroid drops which i had to stop because they irritated my eye so much.

With me it is just my right eye but it started over 20 years ago with an injury. No, celuvisc does not irritate my eye. I use it 2-3 x's per day but have used it up to 15 per day. I have had other drops bother my eyes however. Yes, my eye was gritty, swollen and painful--just about unbearable. The only way I was able to function was to use my left eye and try to keep my right eye shut as much as possible.

rianny,
I also was suffering from blepharitis due to DES.

gustone i today is my first day using erythromycin and it burned a bit after i put it in. is that normal?

Hi Gustone,
I read your post, and I am very pleased to hear you are doing well, it gives us all hope. You wrote that your doctor mentioned a new medication for DES is coming out in 6 months, did you get the name of that medication? let us know if you find out
Thanks

Isn't the name of the medication is Diquafosol?

The erythromicin does not burn my eyes at all.

The drops are called soothe.

Hi Gustone - who is the Boston doctor that you are seeing? (name, number, city) I am in Boston and need to find another doctor. I've seen two of the top dry eye specialists here but need another opinion & treatment.

I was on doxy 50 mg/day for 4 months but didn't notice a difference, finally I gave up. Disappointing because I was really hoping it would help. My dr said I didn't need a higher dosage because I don't weigh much. I wonder if a higher dosage would have helped.

- Judy

Dr. Jack Greiner, 5 whittier place, boston--do a google search to check him out.

Congratulations on your relief ... I have a couple questions though

I am wondering are you still using the ointment ... what was its brand name and for how long are you plannig to use it ...

Was the doxyxycline a capsule or a tablet (I heard there is a different use for each one) .. any brand name

Many thanks

Just wish there is hope for the rest of us ...

hi,

I just got this dry eye thing about 3 months ago and its making me crazy..i got it from three things: 1. excessive heat and smoke went in my eyes 2. took some ulcer medicines that cause dry eyes 3. some doc gave me the wrong eye drops then my eyes got worse... do u think that i should go to the boston doc that u mentioned? thanks

hi,

I just got this dry eye thing about 3 months ago and its making me crazy..i got it from three things: 1. excessive heat and smoke went in my eyes 2. took some ulcer medicines that cause dry eyes 3. some doc gave me the wrong eye drops then my eyes got worse... do u think that i should go to the boston doc that u mentioned? thank u

Dr. Jack Greiner, 5 whittier place, boston--do a google search to check him out.

hey gunstone,

please give me some kind of advice for my situation. thanks.

I just got this dry eye thing about 3 months ago and its making me crazy..i got it from three things: 1. excessive heat and smoke went in my eyes 2. took some ulcer medicines that cause dry eyes 3. some doc gave me the wrong eye drops then my eyes got worse... do u think that i should go to the boston doc that u mentioned? thank u

john

I've been on doxycycline (100mg once a day) for a little over a year now and it is the only thing that has helped my mebomitis. I also use Patanol drops several times a day. I avoid the upset stomach by taking it right before a meal - otherwise, it really messes me up.

One thing to keep in mind is that it can reportedly take 4 to 6 weeks for one to notice an improvement from the doxycycline. It took me better than a month at least. Likewise, it takes a while after you stop taking it for things to start getting bad again (I learned that the hard way while away on a long business trip without the meds).

When this mebomitis first hit me years ago, the first thing the doctor did was put silicone plugs in my lower tear ducts. At the time, it was like a miracle.

I gave up on the washes and compresses a long time ago - as it seemed to do nothing but further irritate the whites of my eyes - and I'm way too self aware of their redness already.

I'm anxious to learn more about these new drops, so if anyone has information about what it is supposed to do, please post it.

Thanks and good luck to you all.


The doxycycline was prescribed by a previous doctor at 100mg per day. The Boston MD said 100mg will never help this problem and added an additional dose in the evening. I took it with meals and drank lots of water. Its effect is diminished if you have dairy products 2 hours before or after a meal. It really bothered my stomach after a few weeks so I discontinued its use. That was over a week ago and I am still progressing fine. I don't think doxycycline was really helping me.