Sunday, July 13, 2008

Ophthalmologist or comedienne?

So, I went to the eye doctor last week for a regular eye exam and new contact lenses. I was told that I have meibomitis, which is a clogging of the glands that release the oily components of a person's tears along the eyelid margin. This can cause dry-eye, sore eyelids, and higher chance of styes, among other things. The doctor said to treat it with warm, moist compresses. Specifically, she gave me a piece of paper with more info and instructions for treating. As a busy mom, this gave me a good laugh. Hope you appreciate it as well:
"It is important to be diligent with performing warm compresses. I recommend patient perform them in this fashion: take a potato, heat it in the microwave then wrap it inside a warm moist washcloth. Hold the warm compress over the eyelid and massage the eyelids for about 5 minutes. Do this four times daily or more, then gradually taper as condition improves."

1 comment:

ooolia said...

I feel your pain. It is mildly ridiculous, but works. I found that there are many things that can be done with one hand holding a hot potato wrapped in a drippy washcloth, but changing diapers is not one of them.

Also, you might try washing with dilute mild baby shampoo. I think it was dilute 1:1 with water and swab at margins of the eye with Q-tip followed with damp washcloth.