What has worked for you?

Eye care
1

I am on the search for a "cure" for my Blepharitis. I am currently trying hot compress and wet ones twice a day and today is my 7th day and my eye is probably the worst it has been. 

What has worked for you? My main aim is to removed my swollen eye lids. I dont really care about the dry skin or red bloodshot eyes, the swelling is very ugly...

2

I had cataract operation done on both eyes 16 months ago and have had a problem ever since with one eye.  I developed blepharitis and have tried everything.  At present I am using Optrex for SORE EYES (eye drops) I use a tissue to wipe the lashes and then I put one eye drop in about 3 times a day, some days less, some days more and I have found it really helpful.  Initially when I put the drops in my eye they really stung but now they do not.  I think that so far this has worked the best,  I have been doing it now for a fortnight. It contains benzalkonium chloride.    Carol

3

Dear Melissar,

what works for me besides compress and wet ones is aloe vera, which is very soothing. I have a gel containing 90% of Aloe Vera from company LR and put it on my eyelids at night before I go to bed. At first it stings but after a while it soothes the eyes. I have blepharitis 1,5 months, doing wet compresses, cleaning eyes with Blephagel, using wet ones with benzalkonium chloride and putting Aloe Vera on eyelids and it´s so much better, almost gone.

Magda

4

Hi Carol, 

Thank you for that informaiton, I may have to give those drops a try I think. I have had this ongoing since June last year. I am getting very depressed now from it. I need to find a solution!

Thanks again.

5

Hi Magda, 

I hadn't thought about Aleo Vera. Maybe it is also something I can try. I have had this now since June 2014, ongoing. I am desperate to find a solution!

Thanks for your advice.

6

Hi Melissa

I have had Blepharitis for a long time

. It was only diagnosed last year.what worked for me when I had a flare up was

.hot compress

.clean lids with bicarbonate of soda

Maxitrol drops in the eye and

maxitrol ointment on the eye. I

Also use hylo forte drops every day. This normally clears the bad symptoms in a few days.

I was stuck in this cycle every few weeks and was worried about using steroids so often. So I tried the wet ones. I used the pink ones and then the blue ones they helped but didn't cure it. Then I ordered the red ones from the us and bingo!

I use them morning and night after cleaning my face and now my eyes are great! I honestly have to remind myself to do it because I have no symptoms. I am using them about a month now and I so happy with the results!

7

I was told last june I have blepharitis.  Searched for a cure and found Linda's wet one advice.  Wet ones have helped me greatly. BUT one thing I was doing wrong and Linda helped me figure this out. I was washing with baby shampoo and doing hot compresses and then doing the wet ones, one right after the other and my eyes weren't getting better.  She told me I didn't need to do the shampoo if I was doing the wet ones and to spread out the time between doing compresses and the wipes. Too much together was hurting my eyes.  Only do the wipes on your lash line. Try not to touch your lids with the wipes. I do not use any eye drops or any other medication. If my eyes get dry. I use a Q tip and warm to hot water and massage my lash lines with the water. This helps me. I still use the wet ones about twice a week if I need to and only once. 

8

Hi Janmin, 

I have just ordered the red ones so I am hoping that they also have success with me as they have with you and so many others! The blue ones have really hurt my eye.

9

Hi June39139, 

I have been doing a hot compress then wet ones straight after. Maybe this is causing me some issues, I will try and spread them apart now. How long apart do you suggest? How many times a day do you do this?

10

Hi Carol, I have just gone out and purchased Optrex for sore eyes. It has Benzalkonium chloride in them. Lets see how this goes.

11

My eyes got worse once I found out what it was.  My lids would swell.  They were so irritated I couldn't stand it.  In the beginning I would use microwaved water and cotton round pads to soak my eyes.  I would dip and soak for a while.  Doing that helped me both morning, sometimes noon and night. I would wait about an hour then do wet wipes. My swelling would go down in a few days.  Now I don't need to soak anymore. The shower water in the morning is enough for me.  I used the wet ones three times a day for a while. Then two times, then just before bed.  Now I only use them once or twice a week if needed.  This takes a while to get under control and you will figure out what works best for you. Everything is trial and error until you do. My eyes get dry if I read without my glasses for to long. So I will do mini soak with Q tips and let the water do its magic.  I can't say my eyes are 100 percent back to normal but they are at least 90 percent.  Like you, and everyone else who has this, I was very frustrated. I didnt want to use drops or gels. Also about once a week now I will do a baby shampoo Q tip wash on my lashes.  This works for me. I hope I have helped you.

12

What June says about the heat pack first makes sense. I hadn't thought about it before. If you do the heat pack completely separate it might be bette.akdo

13

Sorry I hit reply accidentally .

What I was going to say was some people find that the heat pack actually irritates the eyelid and cold compress brings down the swelling and gives relief. The heat always worked for me, but if it's not helping no harm trying something different!

Good luck and keep us posted !

14

I have stopped hot compresses since yesterday and my eye is less swollen! I have also started Optrex drops for sore eyes and they seem to be helping to. This could be the start of something great!

15

Thanks June, 

I have not done hot compresses today or yesterday and my eyes have gone down swelling wise, which is great. I started taking Optrex drops for sore eyes yesterday and they seem to be helping so far too. I am hoping this is the start of some good progress. 

My wet ones will arrive in about two weeks from the UK, so i will use them once or twice a day and see what affect that has too.

16

Mellissa where are you based? I am not sure but I don't think the wet ones in uk have .3% of the benzethonium chloride. Make sure you check bit out properly. I am I. Ireland/cork and I got mine from the US.

Janet

17

So glad to hear the drops are helping.  For me, I think I have found a solution and it works for awhile (maybe 2/3 weeks) and then I am back with the problem again, it is so disappointing. 

Isn't it wonderful to have this forum to share our experiences and learn from each other.  carol

18

I am in australia. The ones I brought online had .3% of the benzethonium chloride as I asked them to send me the ingredients before I made my purchase I could be wrong about getting them from the UK, maybe it was the US, I will check the details when they arrive and see!

19

It is great to have this forum, you're very correct.

20

Hi June,

do you still do hot compresses or only use wet ones? My routine is in the morning: hot compress, after a while wet ones and in the evening the same. My blepharitis have almost gone but you are right that both at the same time is not good for the eyes. I am from Czech Republic so I use the local wet ones with benzethonium chloride. My doctor told me to use still hot compress even when the eyes are Ok (each morning till the end of my life :-)) but she obviously does not know about wet ones..