Blephasteam 'dry-eye cure' goggles - Out 2009

[dryeyepete]

Anyone heard of these? They are "plugged in and used while watching TV or reading. They use the power of moist warm air to warm up the eyes.

The goggles gently warm the eye to a temperature of 40c - warm enough to increase lubrication, but not so hot that they create steam, so you can still see for the ten minutes you need to wear them".

The website claims that these googles could be a cure for dry eyes, and expected to be released sometime in 2009. Exciting news!

Additional information available at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ives-2009.html

[Rebecca Petris]

Yes, I had this on the blog awhile back and I think another user posted about it here before that. All I can say is "looks interesting but need more info".

Speaking of blepha-you-name-it, out of curiosity, anybody in the UK shopped from the online store http://www.blepha-store.co.uk yet or familiar with these lid hygiene products?

[Toril]

Hello, Rebecca!

I use the Blephasol after cleaning my lids, and I find it very soothing and non-irritating. Also I have noticed that this product easily remove make-up that were left on my lashes (that I thought I had already removed with a make-up remover, but that obviously didn't remove all).

Also the same company (Butterflies healthcare) has a website with make-up for sensitive and dry eyes, http://www.eyecare-cosmetics.co.uk/ I just received my first order from them (an eyeliner and a maskara), and they seem very mild and non-irritating.

Toril

[wetEyes]

Why should their name be "BlephaSteam" if they don't actually create steam?
Also, they won't CURE dry eyes, but probably have the potential to be a very effective way to warm the glands and improve symptoms.

My dry eye doc told me he has a new prototype of glasses that you wear for about 10 minutes. I will see him again in 3 weaks and wonder if he means the Blephasteam ones...

[wetEyes]

Similar steam goggles will hit the European market this summer. The French pharmaceutical company Theá Pharma will sell them for about 200 € (equals 300 $).

My dry eye specialist gave me a prototype for testing purposes. I couldn't test it yet because I'm waiting for him to send me a missing part. I am supposed to keep a diary about my impression.

I tried to upload a picture but for some reason it doesn't work.

[Rebecca Petris]

There's a picture in the first post. Also there were a couple of posts from the company making it on the blog recently:

http://dryeyedigest.blogspot.com/200...m-goggles.html

Look forward to hearing what you think of them... !!

[cristiandryeyes]

Will they give me my money back if this does not cure my dry eyes ?

[EllMitcho]

Hi All

Just to say that I have recently been in touch with the makers of these things . I have agreed to pay cost price for a pair of these goggles and provide feedback. The gentleman I spoke to was very knowledgeable about all things DES and appeared to have a genuine interest and emphathy with patients rather than a purely commercial standpoint.

I hope to get the goggles in the next couple of weeks and will post updates as to my experience with them.

I wonder if I will look as 'cool' as the guy in the pic?

Thanks

Ell

[James@Butterflies]

Just to let people know that we now have a small stock of these devices on our site at www.dry-eyes.co.uk.

Like others I will be interested to see how people will get on but they sound very promising especially for people with MGD at the route cause of their dry eye.

[fed up kate]

really really want to try these but very worried incase i waste £200.
not sure what to do.
may have to wait for reviews first but dont wana miss out.

[EllMitcho]

Hi All

Just to say I have recieved my Blephasteam goggles today - I have not yet had the time use them but quickly scanned the documentation.

The goggles take 10mins to reach the correct temp. The 'treatment period' then lasts for 10 mins when a bleep lets you know you are finished. There are paper 'inserts' that need to be wetted and inserted. The documentation states these need to be swapped out every time you use the device and a fresh set inserted. This was a little dissapointing as it will mean a continued cost to using the goggles.

I intend to try them out tonight and will post my experiences asap.

Cheers

Ell

[irish eyes]

It's just registered with me that they cost £200!

[EllMitcho]

Yes they are £200 however to defend the manufacturers they have stated that the goggles are very expensive to make and get through the various safety checks due to the potential for eye damage if they were to go faulty etc.

£200 is a lot but if they really help then they would be worth their weight in gold no?

I'll post my findings - fingers crossed

El

[irish eyes]

I remember having a similar chat with a lovely lady when I bought my Tranquileyes - mainly about the costs that went into Research & Development etc.

I would happily have paid 10 times the amount (if they worked) but they weren't any good at all.

Leaving cynicism aside, I hope they work for you and keep us posted whatever the outcome.

[wetEyes]

Today I finally got the "moisture rings" that are needed to use the BlephaSteam goggles. I wear them as I type. Here is a quick initial review:

positive
+ fits well and comfortably
+ head strap can be easily adjusted
+ comes in a practical little bag
+ doens't fog up, can therefore be used while reading etc.

negative
- expansive (230 €)
- no temperature switch
- relatively low standard temperature (!!!)
- takes 15 minutes to warm up

In conclusion, I doubt that this device is more effective than my beloved facial sauna because the "heat" is quite low.

But we will see. My dry eye doc measured my NIBUT, tear osmolarity and lacrimal gland production today and will measure these again after 3 weeks of having used the BlepheSteam googles.

[EllMitcho]

Hi All

Ok here is an update on my use of the goggles so so far

I have struggled to fit using these into my daily routine, mainly due to the time it takes for the goggles to heat up (15 mins) followed by 10 mins treatment followed by lid massage - this totals to about 30mins twice a day.

It's a sad state of affairs but I just dont have a spare hour a day right now.

I have used the goggles about 5 times in total and have to say the effect is pleasant (not unlike taking a hot shower) but it's too early to say if there will be any long term relief.

I am determined to build the use of these into my routine and will post results then.

Thanks

El

[irish eyes]

Thanks EllMitcho

I cannot recall the last time I took my eyes for granted and I always marvel at other people when they can just start the day with a splash of the face and perhaps a cosmetic or two.

I wonder if the author of this statement had people like us in mind?

Did you know that the eyes are the only part of the human body that can function at 100 percent ability at any moment, day or night, without rest. Your eyelids need rest, the external muscles of your eyes need rest, the lubrication of your eyes requires replenishment, but your eyes themselves never need rest................

I would love a rest from all this.

[Marcus from Scandinavia]

Im considering buying the blephasteam goggles...is it worth the money?

"The eye bag" is also available to buy at the website for MGD. Does anyone know if the eye bag is less effective then the blephasteam goggles?

There´s quite a difference in price between the two.

[EllMitcho]

I have the goggles - it's too early to say whether they are beneficial so therefore I cant answer your question regarding whether they are worth it (for me!)

I will post more as time goes on

El

[Marcus from Scandinavia]

Thank you..

Do you think the goggles are much better then the eye bag (sold on the same website).. there´s a big difference in price but them both stimulates the oil from the melbomian glands...

I don´t really care if you can have your eyes open and read a book for ten minutes at the same time with the goggles...

[fed up kate]

i personally think it depends what symptoms you have.
ive got the heated rice bag and because i have inflammtion my eyes are way worse after using it as direct heat on inflammtion isnt good.
so im saving up the goggles to see if there beter as my eyes prefer moist heat like in shower so if thats what the goggles are like then im hoping id get more relief more often.

well prob not as nothin ever seems to help but we can keep our fingers crossed

[Lucy]

Sounds as though I could put on my Tranquileyes for 10-20 minutes and get the same effect?

[EllMitcho]

Hi - no there is definately a greater effect than tranquileyes (I use these also) - humid, consistent warmness is the way I would describe the goggles - I just need to use them more!!

El

[Filazafer]

I have been getting this effect by using the Quartz Googles. I clean them off, but leave the water drops on the inside. Then I lay with my heating bag (mine is made of clay, not rice) on top of the googles. It results in a nice steam bath. So far I haven't seen a huge improvement, but I have only done it a few times. I will let you know if things get better.

[Chemia]

Where do you purchase the clay bags?

[blephasteam]

Hi All! This is the first post I have made to the forum but I have been an active reader for quite some time. A friend visiting from the UK brought me two (2) of the Blephasteam devices from Spectrum Thea that previously were unavailable. I have decided to put the second device in an online auction format and it is available here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=260587818926

I believe there were prior threads for this but I wanted to point the Blephasteam product out. It has helped me dramatically and I hope it can help the broader dry eye community as well. You can use the device while doing your work at the computer or watching TV. I will post a review at some point in the future. Any questions, please ask.

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Hi Blephasteam-Users;

Could you give us an update? Is that thing better than your regular microwave-heated rice baggy (which is less than 1 pound instead of 205)?

[regina]

And your auctioning it off to the highest bidder? sounds smarmy to me...imho

[cristiandryeyes]

So ? How are you doing with these goggles ? I'm tempted to try them out.