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  • Some Positive News Here

    All, I'm about a year post-Lasik, and have had many ups and downs. Lately more ups, and here's my recent experience.

    I read about one of the triumphs here, and she said that she "discontinued almost everything", so I tried that too - no more restasis (which ALWAYS burned, and messed me up for the rest of the day), no more Doxy, just some basic drops and I got a good pair of onion goggles. I started seeing a turnaround. Some caveats here - it's been a horrible, long winter in Minnesota, (and still continues! - yikes!) but the maximum pain/trouble I had occurred in Jan/Feb, which was almost unbearable. So, I think weather/humidity is a factor for me.

    I also re-read Dr. Latkany's book The Dry Eye Remedy, and noticed that the drops I used were not thick enough and likely did nothing for my poor tear film, so I switched to Soothe and even Refresh Celluvisc when the pain got really bad. It didn't help with my blurry vision, but it at least usually put the fire out.

    Some days are great - always perfect except for still halos, less clear vision at night (I have bought several glasses, which I may always need for that), and some, like yesterday are still kind of bad, but the better days are getting more frequent. A few times, the miraculous has happened where I went almost half the day without even NOTICING my eyes or putting drops in. My drops are now about 4-8 times a day. What's made me most happy is the clarity (which was hiding with the severe dryness) is awesome when things are good.

    I went to my yearly Lasik check-up, and I can see some lines 20/10. He said I have a little MGD, but he's seen this level in a lot of people who report no vision/pain disturbances. It actually made me pause and not "hate him", seriously, for like a minute or so, because I'm now wondering if some people just feel cornea pain more sensitively than others, .....and how could they test for that? My husband had Lasik, clearly had dry eye for up to two years after, but had perfect clearness and not much pain (both which I've had in spades). Who knows why he was so lucky - he loves Lasik. Needless to say, I'm still doubting the general procedure - my issues are not gone, and it's taken a huge toll on the past entire year......BUT (and that's a big BUT!) I do feel some encouragement that this will continue to fully resolve, and that possibly I might someday get over this darn thing.

    So - that's where I'm at - not quite the triumph page, but an encouraging "heads up". Strangely, I had a week in March where everything was awesome, and then it degraded again, so I'm aware of getting too worked up about things. But, as I have much better days, it is encouraging. There is also the cost involved (which is particularly offensive after spending several thousand on Lasik) - I was considering sclerals lenses, and spending $100/mo on drops and medications, so I'm hopeful that will go away as well.

    Two things that scare me - winter re-occuring next year (it is, afterall, Minnesota!) and hearing that some people get well, and then this completely reoccurs....but I am hoping for the best. I'm also keeping all of you in my prayers as well. This site is wonderful - thank you so much for this great site. I'm not leaving yet - but hope to report back even better news someday.

    Over and out ~ Chandra

  • #2
    Awesome news! I stopped restasis and all drops for that matter except an allergy drop once a day. I think I may stop taking the Doxy too. I've been on it so long and I don't think it really helps but I wonder if its making things worse?
    Stay positive!

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    • #3
      What wonderful news! A definite step in the right direction. While I am only 5 months in this post lasik mess I can honestly say I feel small incremental improvements as time goes on. A post like yours helps me stay positive. Thank you for sharing your story and for your encouraging post.

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      • #4
        Hang in there - it will slowly improve, has been my experience. This morning, for example, my eyes are doing too great. But, I see an overall trend of a lot of improvement. The winter pretty much stalled it out, and now it's picking up again - so, for me - humidity/weather affects it a lot. We still have our heat on here in Minnesota, so that doesn't help I'm sure.

        SD - do you have a lack of sharpness that comes with dry eye? I've had that all along, but that is another thing that is clearing up. I heard that 80% of people with dry eye have some blurriness, so hopefully that will completely improve for both of us.

        Keep in touch - chandra

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        • #5
          Yes, I do have a lack of sharpness with the dry eye. Although, I am undercorrected -1.25 so perhaps it is a combo of the two. I see a specialist for my dry eyes (not my lasikMD) and she said my dry eyes look better and my vision has gotten better than last visit. yay! I am hoping my vision sharpness improves as the dry eye issue improves. My lasikMD wants to do an enhancement but I am terrified and am fending her off. I live in San Diego and it is big time spring/allergy season.Pollen is everywhere. Blessings for continued improvement for you and everyone with dry eyes!

          -arlene

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          • #6
            Excellent that is great to hear as i have been reading ur post for a while. i agree i have stopped most things and only use drops , night ointment and azithromycin which i think is a nice expensive placebo and i feel better now in winter than i did in 30degree humid summer . perhaps our eyes just need a break???
            Keep us posted !!! And as ur eyes just heal nxt winter should b better .

            SDgirl : no no to enhancement. how can they correct wen ur vision is unstable due dry eyes? Too risky. Can u get cheap chemist glasses in the meantime ?
            http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/a/l/l/t/allthings.htm

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            • #7
              Originally posted by soaps View Post
              Excellent that is great to hear as i have been reading ur post for a while. i agree i have stopped most things and only use drops , night ointment and azithromycin which i think is a nice expensive placebo and i feel better now in winter than i did in 30degree humid summer . perhaps our eyes just need a break???
              Keep us posted !!! And as ur eyes just heal nxt winter should b better .

              SDgirl : no no to enhancement. how can they correct wen ur vision is unstable due dry eyes? Too risky. Can u get cheap chemist glasses in the meantime ?
              SDgirl - I personally would NOT consider an enhancement. That could make things even worse. I used to consider it, but going under surgery again after this ordeal (which is still not totally over) cured me of that desire. Besides, I've had a few really good days where everything was very clear - meaning, I have the 20/20 ability, just not the consistancy of it. If you are 5 months along, take heart that it will continue to get better (although, likely much more slowly than you had hoped) - at least that was my experience.

              I found an awesome cheap glasses website - it's been a lifesaver, and now I have like 6 pair that cost me a total of $150. prescriptionglassesonline.net Thank goodness for them - I've also bought some prescription sunglasses.

              take care all, chandra

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              • #8
                soaps - do you mean winter feels better on your eyes, or that you have improved a lot since last winter? I'm really hoping that the warmer, humid air will be nicer on my eyes this summer. This was a brutal winter for me, so I'm hoping for an improvement weather-wise.

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                • #9
                  Oh gosh no! I DON'T want an enhancement. I don't want to negate any healing that has already taken place. I do have a pair of glasses that I wear for driving and I wear them when my eyes get tired. I don't mind living with glasses forever at this point. I just want my dry eyes to heal. I too am awaiting humid,summer air. My daughter says I should just test my theory of my eyes feeling better in humid weather by taking a trip to Hawaii. LOL!

                  Chandra- thanks for the tip on the glasses website.

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                  • #10
                    One last thing - about us Lasik folks - my husband had Lasik and said that it took two full years for his eyes to feel normal again. While this is incredibly long (and I probably wouldn't have done the procedure had I known this!) it gives me hope that there is still possibly lots of healing ahead. Just food for thought.

                    I think I've seen Rebecca say the same thing - that it can take several years sometimes for it to fully get better.

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                    • #11
                      My dry eye presented 5 months post lasik . so this is my first winter and i feel better than summer. clinically eg Dr tests) my eyes look the same tbut same etc but i feel better . Perhaps hot weather is a rosecea trigger thereby increasing flare ups? But i don't have facial rosecea.
                      mind u winter in Australia is mild compared to US. but summer is a killer.
                      http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/a/l/l/t/allthings.htm

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