I can hardly believe this myself, but here goes...I was diagnosed with Dry Eye in my right eye last fall by an optometrist, who told me there was no cure, it would be there for the rest of my life, etc. About four weeks ago, I started putting castor oil (hexane-free, cold pressed) on my eyelids between my brows and lids and a bit under my eyes (I used it on both eyes, just to prevent left eye from also becoming dry). A week ago, I noticed that my eye had not been tearing at all, and I had not used eye drops for at least a week. Today, as I write, I still have had no tears streaming down my cheek. I do not claim that CO is a cure; all I can tell is what I have experienced.
Did your opthalmologist say that your Dry Eye had anything to do with Demodex mites? I ask because Castor Oil kills the mites. You were smart to try CO! If your ophthalmologist doesn't know about Demodex, I'd change doctors, and would definitely get a second opinion anyway. If you have Meibomian Gland Disorder that would also impact your DE. Good luck!
FYI, if your DE is related to Demodex, have your (new) doctor prescribe Xdemvy. It's a 2x/day eye drop treatment that absolutely kills them. It did for me. 1
PS. One way to know if you have Demodex is if you have any "crusties" on your lashes in the morning. They are called collarettes. Ask your new or old doctor if you had/have them.
Hi Nancy,
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. This is awful and gross to say the least. My eyes don get itchy but I do get the crust that you described and they feel irritated a lot. Will check out Facebook. I will definitely push my eye doctor on this. He’s affiliated with Will’s Eye - a top eye Hospital in Philadelphia. This has truly been an eye opener!
My doctor is also in Philadelphia, but at Scheie Eye Institute, which is now part of Penn Medicine. She only does dry eye and is the person who prescribed Xdemvy for me, but never used the word "Demodex" when she prescribed it. I read it on my way home from the appointment in the exit papers. That's when I started doing research. Now, when I see her we talk Demodex. She said there hadn't been a cure before Xdemvy and there was no sense in scaring people if she couldn't do something about it other than ease symptoms. I'm assuming she now tells people.
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Thanks, glad it worked for you. I am going to try it.
I am tempted to dry castor oil the same way Janie did, but it concerns me that it’s not sterile. I have it but I use it only on my skin right now.
Did your opthalmologist say that your Dry Eye had anything to do with Demodex mites? I ask because Castor Oil kills the mites. You were smart to try CO! If your ophthalmologist doesn't know about Demodex, I'd change doctors, and would definitely get a second opinion anyway. If you have Meibomian Gland Disorder that would also impact your DE. Good luck!
FYI, if your DE is related to Demodex, have your (new) doctor prescribe Xdemvy. It's a 2x/day eye drop treatment that absolutely kills them. It did for me. 1
PS. One way to know if you have Demodex is if you have any "crusties" on your lashes in the morning. They are called collarettes. Ask your new or old doctor if you had/have them.
Good luck!
My doctor is also in Philadelphia, but at Scheie Eye Institute, which is now part of Penn Medicine. She only does dry eye and is the person who prescribed Xdemvy for me, but never used the word "Demodex" when she prescribed it. I read it on my way home from the appointment in the exit papers. That's when I started doing research. Now, when I see her we talk Demodex. She said there hadn't been a cure before Xdemvy and there was no sense in scaring people if she couldn't do something about it other than ease symptoms. I'm assuming she now tells people.