Concretions

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I seem to be in some kind of flare that is going for my eyes big time. On my second course of steroid drops since November but in all honesty they don't seem to be helping that much.

Saw an opthamologist the other day and he said that he would remove some concretions from my lower left eyelid. None in the right eye apparently.

I've been coming to this board for a lot of years now but ' concretions' I haven't encountered although I could easily have missed a post here and there.

Anyone else bothered with these? The eye does feel easier with them removed.

Take care - Scottie 

[Carolina]

Scottie, I hadn't heard of concretions either, but they are real, and removing them can only feel better.

https://www.aimu.us/2016/11/30/conjunctival-concretions-diagnosis-and-management/

On a separate eye topic:  My eye lashes are disappearing, with the lower lashes almost gone, and the upper just short stubs.

This seemed to happen over night.  I've stopped wearing mascara because there's really nothing to put it on!

Ack.

Now I appear to have itty bitty eyes.

But no concretions so far.

Regards, Elaine

[Scottietottie]

Hi Carolina 

Thank you. That was interesting. Another bit of me degenerating! Fun isn't it?  My eye has felt better since they were removed although I was warned they may come back.

My hair is thinner than it used to be but so far I still have eyelashes. sorry yours are jumping ship!

Take care - Scottie 

[Skylar]

I too had never heard of concretions - but I'm glad you had yours removed. Hopefully they don't come back. From the link you posted, it seems we're all at risk for developing them.

I wonder if these concretions would be discovered during a routine eye exam for glasses?

[irish]

Are these made of salt like the stuff www get in the corner of our eyes in the morning??? Did they tell you how to prevent this from happening? Good luck Scottie. Irish

[bluegardenia]

please what are concretions? I do not find them in any dictionary

[jazzlover]

Gardenia ... Caroline posted a link.


I have the MGD .. but I also have less of an issue since eating a diet lower in oxalates. The oxalates form crystals in the body.

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

Irish - they are something to do with a breakdown of one of the layers of skin in the lid. They are like tiny stones made of keratin.

Unfortunately they may well grow back - but at least I know to look out for them now.

I've never read about them on these boards before so I don't think they are a huge Sjoggie risk.

Carolina's link several posts back is a good explanation.

Take care - Scottie 

[Maria3667]

Hi Scottie,

So that's what it is! I have a tiny one in the lower eyelid on my left eye. Not sure if it causes discomfort, because the dryness is a real pest in general... I always thought it was a grain of sand or dust that wouldn't budge. But then again, I don't look for it much, only when I have another inflammation.

Maybe it's more common in Sjogren's than we think?

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I'm not even sure that I have sjogren's any more although it follows me around on hospital notes. I'm one of the sero-negative people although the last lot of bloods I had taken finally was positive for autoimmune but they never even tested specifically for SjS that time.

Apparently my lacrimal glands are intact but my meibomian glands are diseased. They are clogged with oil that should get to my eye but it doesn't so tears evaporate way too fast causing dryness.

Could be caused by Lupus rather the Sjogrens. I've been in here for over 12 years now though. The symptoms seem to fit so I'm staying.

Take care - Scottie 

[irish]

Scottie, you have been here almost as long as me and if you left I would have to sacrifice greatly ( my age you know) and travel the earth and bring you back. We all think you do have Sjogrens.  Irish
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[Scottietottie]

Awww - Thank you Irish.

I think we joined up here about the same time. A rheumatologist had diagnosed meand it was a settled dx for 6 years. Then I was sent to a different rheumy who sent me for a lip biopsy which was negative. He never took the SjS dx off my notes but he said it was more like I was on the 'autoimmune spectrum' somewhere between SjS and Lupus.

I know I've found this site invaluable. 

Take care - Scottie