Eyelid hygiene procedure

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a06812@gmail.com - 14 May 2007 12:15 GMT

Hi all

I wonder if someone can please clarify the procedure for cleansing the
eyelids in order to manage blepharitis (assuming hot compresses and
massaging eyelids has already been done).

The instructions on the box of LidCare (Novartis) seem to be saying
this:
1. With eye open clean upper eyelid inside lid margin (underneath the
eyelashes)
2. With eye open clean lower eyelid inside lid margin (above the
eyelashes)
3. With eye closed clean over both eyelids

However, the instructions for Blephagel seem to suggest only doing the
last of these (3). Is this sufficient? I am in particular wondering
how well this can clean the lower lid.

Obviously the Blephagel procedure is a lot more convenient and reduces
irritation from the cleaning solution, but that would be no good if
it's not doing the job properly.

Many thanks
Richard

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Neil Brooks - 14 May 2007 14:48 GMT

On May 14, 4:15 am, a06...@gmail.com wrote:

> Hi all
>
> I wonder if someone can please clarify the procedure for cleansing the
> eyelids in order to manage blepharitis (assuming hot compresses and
> massaging eyelids has already been done).

Take a look at:

http://www.agingeye.net/otheragingeye/blepharitis.php

Neil

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a06812@gmail.com - 15 May 2007 21:49 GMT

> Take a look at:
>
> http://www.agingeye.net/otheragingeye/blepharitis.php
>
> Neil

Thanks! It's agreeing with the cleaning of closed eyelids so that's
good to know.

The page also describes the eyelid massage, which it also says to do
with eyelids closed. Again, I am surprised that this adequately hits
the lower eyelid but it obviously must be enough.

I try not to press on too hard though because I read that too much
pressure is a risk factor for keratoconus.

Cheers
Richard

Reply to this Message

Neil Brooks - 15 May 2007 23:15 GMT

On May 15, 1:49 pm, a06...@gmail.com wrote:

> > Take a look at:
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> I try not to press on too hard though because I read that too much
> pressure is a risk factor for keratoconus.

Yeah, you've got a delicate balance to strike with KC.

Incidentally, how well is it managed in your case? Do you get good
vision??

In January of this year, I was fitted with the "Boston Scleral
Prosthetic Device" (scleral lenses) [1] for my ocular surface
disease. While there, I met quite a few people with both keratoconus
AND keratoglobus whose sight and lives were dramatically improved by
this lens.

There are people fitting versions of this lens on both sides of the
pond [1, 2]

[1] www.bostonsight.org
[2] http://www.sclerals.com/

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a06812@gmail.com - 17 May 2007 15:55 GMT

Well I don't actually have KC confirmed yet but it is good to hear
that there is effective treatment. I was meaning more about preventing
it. However, KC was suspected by an optometrist I saw because my
prescriptions had moved around a bit in apparently a strange way. So I
saw an ophthalmologist who said my prescription changes were normal -
not enough astigmatism which has only ever been 1.50 at most.
Apparently I could have subclinical KC but it's nothing I should be
concerned with yet. He said it wasn't worth doing the proper tests to
find out for sure (I think they can map the cornea shape if they
wanted to). I feel that my corrected vision with a new prescription
has been getting slightly worse, but it is still better than 20/20.
With a 6 month old prescription however, it feels like my eyes are
screwing themselves up to see properly sometimes.

As for the blepharitis, it is actually very mild but put a stop to me
wearing contact lenses after a successful period of about a year
wearing them (focus then dailies from ciba). In one eye I had a very
slight irritation or a milky feeling after a couple of hours wear.
Although it was only a slight irritation it was amazing how impossible
it was to keep wearing them.

Richard

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