DRY EYES & MGD

I agree, they lack clinical experience and knowledge. I be surprised if they even express the eye lids to undercover the eye disease.

Poppy check out the link general optometrist council, on how to lodge a complaint. These optom are failing to carry out their job by misleading/selling

possibly for commission or hitting their targets.

I was not aware that I suffered from MGD until severe problems post surgery.
I consulted an Opthalmic Surgeon who immediately identified the problem.
His comments were "OE are well known for employing staff with minimum qualifications and experience, they probably wouldn't know what to look for".
The reality is, OE failed three times to identify my condition. The screening Optometrist, the Optometrist on the day of surgery AND the surgeon.
This Company needs to be exposed.
They are simply NOT safe.

Fully understand where the viewpoint is coming from. For whatever they are worth, as a specialist in this area, these are my comments:

1) Actually MGD is occurring in epidemic proportions with or without laser eye surgery - nothing causal about laser eye surgery except intervening when the ocular surface is active.
2) MGD treatments do not involve just treating symptoms. There are a number of modalities that are being used with some success - much to do with the patient and whether they follow instructions
3) Laser vision correction can be performed if dry eye conditions are corrected. There are a variety of causes and combinations thereof, Some can be corrected and others not. Needs management by someone with expertise in the area. Alas this is lacking in the majority of centres.
4) Picking up problems is highly dependent on "clinical acumen". Even the best clinicians can miss things if in an environment not conducive to good practice.

To save costs and maximise profitability, OE do not use operating surgeons to evaluate and counsel patients. Optometrists are used and while some are very good, standards are highly variable. OE Surgeons even if they wanted to, could never develop a relationship with their patients and work in their best interests.

Laser eye SURGERY is SURGERY nothing less. As so many of you have suffered have found this out to your horror. This area of medical care, like all medical care needs to be within the control and direction of doctors and surgeons who put patients first. Problems can and will still occur, but hopefully less frequently and managed better by correct personnel.

MGD can be detected with the slit lamp with careful examination. Too many cases are being reported, whereby no MGD was present pre-op and now becoming epidemic. There seems to be strong correlation in numbers where patients undergo laser surgery,

There is no cure for MGD, just treatment plans to help the symptoms.
Interesting why has MGD cases exploded since Laser surgery over the last 25 years. According to one specialist, he has seen a big increase in MGD cases since practicing eye laser surgery.

There is no scientific evidence to state that MGD is NOT caused by Post op Laser surgery.
And if MGD was present pre-op, why was it not detected during the OE initial consultation and the surgeon consultation?

According to one specialist anyone suffering dry eyes or any chronic eye disease, in this case MGD, would rule out laser surgery all together. This has been echoed by OE's Chief Medical Director, as can be seen on his website for eligible applicants for LASIK surgery.

It's common sense really!

Friendly commentary:

Laser eye surgery treats the cornea and nowhere near the lids where meibomian glands are located. You probably always had MGD but not recognised prior to surgery. Laser surgery caused initial dry eye resulting from initial loss of nerves and this resulted in an imbalance unmasking your MGD. Although the nerves are probably back, the relative imbalance has stayed. Treat the MGD aggressively and things should improve.

Hi
I suffer from regular flare ups of blepharitis.....I had never experienced this prior to surgery!!

Sam, you might want to respond to MGD topic posted yesterday
TOPIC: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)

Who else suffers from MGD, also known as meibomian blepharitis?

From personal experience, someone that has been diagnosed with MGD, plugs are the worst possible treatment for dry eyes, stated by an independent dry eye specialist. As plugs close the puctum ducts in your eyes, this stops the fatty acid being cleared away causing more harm and further inflammation.

OE use hydrogel Oasis Form Fit Plugs, which are not temporary and are considered permanent. But for some reason OE state they're temporary!

Once inserted they're virtually impossible to detect even if the person is viewing your eyes with the Slit lamp as they go deep into the canalicular!!

I haven't had plugs but was considering Lipiflow until I discivered it's unlikley to have a permanent longterm result & probable I'd need to repeat it again every 12 to 18 months.
OE didn't mention that when they offered it to me