Blepharitis - a symptom of another cause...

Eye care
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Hi all,

I signed up to this website purely to tell the tale of my personal light at the end of my very grim and depressing struggle with what has been donned by doctors as 'Blepharitis'.

It all started over a year ago when I believed I had conjunctivitis, this conjunctivitis never went away no matter what I did to fight it & would flare up consistently at least once a month... 'Who knew conjunctivitis could ever be this bad?' I thought to myself... turns out, it isn't, and when I went to the doctors (for the second time) I was finally given a few printed sheets of paper all about 'Blepharitis' and was sent on my way...

You can't wear make up for the rest of your life, you should really be cleaning your eyes and using a hot compress at least twice a day... The depressing elements of those print outs were endless... Worst of all: Blepharitis is a chronic condition with 'no cure'. Really fantastic news for somebody who relies on their make up for both their profession and confidence. Needless to say - I was not happy - and it was then and there that the fight to learn everything I could about Blepharitis commenced.

I looked at endless posts from people talking about their own personal experience with Blepharitis - how they coped with it, their own techniques to battle it... glimmers of hope began to emerge within these forums - those being the ideology that Blepharitis is actually a symptom of another issue i.e. an allergy, rather than a disease.

I tried the hot compresses, the eye wipes, the honey (which did help to ease my symptoms FYI... Although it did not cure it)... I spent a ridiculous amount of money purely because my desperation to cure this awful and embarrassing eye problem was so strong, and there wasn't an hour of the day that went by where I wasn't conscious about my eyes in one way or another.

My eureka moment came after about two weeks of dabbling with various techniques and remedies... I even attempted to get a Chinese doctor to take a sample of my hair to check out my allergies (they looked at me like I was crazy... But needs must!). EVENTUALLY I came across a post from a young lady who said she had managed to cure her Blepharitis through changing her diet as she had what is called a candida overgrowth (candida is essentially what causes thrush... But it can form anywhere in your body, predominantly your gut... Although I'm not a doctor so don't quote me on that). I researched into this a lot because I have always thought I had stomach problems, either I had wheat / gluten intolerance or something else.

I love food, and I was not willing to go on some crazy diet with no proof that it works, but what I did do, is this... I went to a pharmacy, I told them I had thrush (which I dont, for your information), yes it was slightly embarrassing, and yes it was a lie... But guess what - that little tablet they gave me CURED MY BLEPHARITIS! My eyes have been back to their normal bright selves ever since, and I am so much happier... There are no words to justify the relief I felt...

So I guess, in short, what I'm writing this post to do is to say that, for me, my Blepharitis was a symptom of Candida in my gut... My eyes were never the problem, it was my inner body... EVERYTHING is connected... And I hope this helps whoever you are out there to not give up and to find the root cause of your own condition! The cure is out there, but unfortunately it is down to ourselves, rather than doctors, to find it X

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and what was this wonderful pill called?

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Please.....what is the name of that little pill?   I'm in U.S. and do

I need a prescription?   It would be worth a try......

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So sorry Faye! Should have definitely included that detail... It's called Canesten (fluconazole) - it is a basic anti fungal tablet they prescribe for candida, they will generally only allow you to buy one over the counter at a time so if you can get a prescription that's great. You can take up to one a week! My Blepharitis which I have had for a over a year disappeared just 4 days after taking one tablet... So it is definitely worth a shot! All the best, Chloe x

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Canesten! Fluconazole x

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This is the exact tablet that was my saviour https://patient.info/shop/pharmacy/canesten-oral-fluconazole-capsule

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This is amazing, I shall try it, and thanks for giving the world this information.

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I looked it up and this pill is know as diflucan in the U.S.  It's the one

you get for a yeast inflection and only one is prescribed.   So

have to see a doc and I'm not sure my Primary guy would be willing

to try it.

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I don't believe this!!! I have 1 of these tablets sitting in my medicine cabinet ! I suffer from thrush. I get a touch if it every month just before my period. I actually have the cure for my bleph all the time!! Mine is more or less under control but it's still there!

I often thought that there was a connection between the 2 but never followed up on it.

Please tell me do I just take one tablet or do I take one a week for a few weeks?

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If you've taken the med before shouldn't your bleph be gone?

Just sayin.......

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No never took it! I got it in anticipation if a bout

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Sorry I pressed reply too soon. I got the tablet but I used the cream instead because I it wasn't such a bad attack. Never thought of the tablet again. I've taken it now though!! I'll keep ye posted ! I'll try anything once! Lol

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Hi, Just wondered if the tablet worked?

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Hi. I spoke to my gp who suggested I take 3 over the course of a week. So I took second one yesterday. She also told me to stop the wipes for a while and just clean with the bicarb and water.to see if it is the solution. My lids a great on the outside. Inside is dry so still using the dry eye drops. Hylo forte. I am afraid to say it worked because so many things seem to work for a while but I def think we are on to something here. GP said it could be yeast in my nose area. And also said that like when you take antibiotics you can get a dose of thrush maybe the wipes clear the infection but leave the area vulnerable to yeast ! That was speculation but made sense to me! Anyway I am happy out! Feeling good and I'll take the 3rd one on Sat and keep you updated!

Janet

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Thanks Janet. Hope it is a permenent cure. Mine is now managable after originally coming across Lynda's advice re wet wipes. I now use a combination of things and wear make up again but it would be great to have a perm cure. Good luck and please keep me up dated.

Alwena

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That's exactly how I feel. I'm grateful I can manage it at last but imagine not having to think about it at all! Fingers crossed that this is the 'cure'!

Janet

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This is very interesting chloefx. Years ago (I didn't have Blep) I saw a homeopath and she told me I had Candida. She told me to cut out yeast, wheat and sugar. I was so ill at the time, I could barely walk beacuse of breathlessness... anyway, 4 weeks later I was like a new woman and in 8 weeks I was cured. I am now wondering if what I have is this Candida again but its showing up in my eyes rather than the previous symptoms. Thank you for posting your story it certainly is food for thought. x

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Hi just an update on my fluconzole treatment. I'm sorry to say it's a great big fail!! On day 7 I woke with the familiar red rimmed eyes. Not flakey but def not looking good! I took the third tablet but I am now back to the full regime of bicarb, and wet ones, and no make up!

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Hi Janet so sorry it's not worked. So disappointing when initially something works for a few days but then it comes back. I'll carry on with my regime which has made it so much better but I'm aware it's still there even if other people don't notice it now. Good luck and thanks for letting me know. I'll keep reading the forums and hope a perm solution is found.

Alwena