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Bubba

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  • Bubba

    Is this Dry Eye???? I don't even know...............
    Two months ago.....August 29th, I woke up with a HUGE new floater in my left eye. I have had small floaters on and off for years. They never really bothered me. This one, however was very big and to be honest with you, very intimidating. The optometrist ruled out retinal detachment and said that "floaters are common, and you will get used to them". Over the next few weeks, my eyes began to bother me. I could no longer wear my contacts comfortably, and I had a dull, aching sensation behind my left eye. I went to the optometrist again, and he said that I was "allergic to my contact lens solution". I changed solutions, but this did not help. I found that my left contact lens just bothered me so much. My right was not great either. Before this time, I had NEVER had problems with any sort of dryness or other contact-related irritation. The only medication I had been on was Flonase (for chronic stuffiness). I stopped taking this in early October due to the bad reviews and possible side effects including dry eye. For the past three weeks, I have had the most intense burning in both of my eyes. It has been quite debilitating! My eyes are not very red. My family doctor says that I "don't present with typical dry eye". He says that it came on "unusually fast" and that my lower eyelids are "not red or dry looking". Hormone levels have been checked as well, and are totally normal. My optometrist, on the other hand says that my eyes are "fairly dry". He did the usual tests for dry eye and concluded that I do have some degree of it. If this horrendous burning is caused by 'fairly 'dry eyes, then I would hate to have 'extremely dry eyes'!!!!!I find that I am reduced to tears several times a day lately due to the intense pain/burning.
    My question is this........Would Dry Eye come on so suddenly, and does it usually cause such intense burning? I do not have the gritty sensation or foreign body sensation. My eyes do not 'look' dry.
    Incidently, I use only the Natural Tears (without preservatives). They do virtually nothing. I have been taking Omega 3's for three weeks now, and just started Flaxseed capsules today. I am desperate.
    One more question......my own doctor thinks this may be neurological, due to the fact that I not only have intense burning in my eyes, but also my whole face, nose, ears and throat. Does anyone else with Dry Eye Syndrome suffer from other burning sensations? On the rare moments that my eyes are burning at a 7/10 instead of the usual 10/10, the other burning sensations ease up too. This is all very overwhelming. I would hate to think of living the rest of my life like this!!
    I too was considering Lasik surgery. After experiencing this......NO WAY!!! This is awful.............
    Anyone??? Thanks, Bubba
    P.S. Before August 29th, I was perfectly healthy.

  • #2
    Not optometrist

    Ask your optometrist to refer you to an eye doctor, an opthamologist. They are specialist in eye disease.

    Billye

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    • #3
      Bubba

      I actually have an appointment at the Lasik Centre on Halloweeen Day. I definitely WON'T be getting the procedure done any time soon, but making that appointment seemed to be the fastest way of getting in to see an Opthamolgist. My family doctor is trying to "fast track" an appointment with another opthamologist, but at this point I'll go to whomever can see me the quickest............

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      • #4
        Good

        I think this is the best idea. We would all be guessing at this point if we tried to "diagnose" you. By the way, Flonase was very drying for me. And it was also for a friend, but it wasn't permanent for her. I have Sjogrens and a lot of things are different for me.

        Billye

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        • #5
          What does 'dry eye' feel like???

          Thanks for the reply(s). I appreciate it. Any help or encouragement is a 'pick-me-up' right now

          I guess what I'm really curious about is what it feels like to have 'dry eyes'. I picture the eyelids feeling gritty and dry, and the whites of the eye being somewhat red???? Do most people have the intense burning with it as well?
          Thanks,
          Barb

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          • #6
            I struggle with burning all the time...even with cauterized punctae and tears overflowing. It's a crazy, maddening condition. I cannot explain the quick onset of your condition, though I would not rule out a virus of some sort. Fifteen years ago I was a happy contact lens wearer and then got a nasty cold. After the cold, I never wore contacts again. I didn't feel dry, but my contacts just were no longer comfortable. Something changed...and it was practically over night.

            Maybe things got dry for you and the you'll be able to break the cycle. You never know. Try warm compresses a couple times a day. You can do a search on it and find out how they are done.

            My last suggestion if your doc thinks your issues could be neurological...there are neuro-ophthalmologists out there.

            Diana
            Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

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            • #7
              An appointment with a lasik surgeon on Halloween? With dry eyes??
              Thank heavens you found us. My lasik date is burned in my mind forever. It is not one that I celebrate, however. Much, much regret 7 years later.
              Don't trust any refractive surgeon with YOUR eyes.

              The Dry Eye Queen

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              • #8
                Oh yeah, and DON'T let the LASIK folks talk you into the surgery!!!! They can make things look rosier than they are!

                D
                Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

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                • #9
                  Lasik???? NEVER!!!

                  Thanks everyone. No, I definitely won't be going the 'Lasik' route. If my eyes are this bad now, I can only imagine what that might do..........yikes!! I do hope to be able to wear my contacts again at some point.....(vanity), but first things first. If I don't get this 'flare up' under control, I won't be needing contacts in the asylum. LOL.
                  After an evening of pure hell last night, I will (once again) phone my family doctor and INSIST on seeing an Opthamologist! I'm very leery about seeing the one at the Lasik Centre tomorrow, but maybe, just maybe he/she can tell me something.............
                  Oh...and I must agree with Lucy........thank Heavens I found this site. I have read with admiration, so many of your stories. I have only been suffering with this for the better (or worse) part of two months. Many of you have had this for years. Thank you for sharing your stories. There is strength in numbers!!

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                  • #10
                    I think, if it was me, and the large floater came on suddenly I would see an opthalmologist ASAP and probably a neuro ophthalmologist after that. Maybe even a neurologist considering this involves aspects of your face also.

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                    • #11
                      Splenda = burning eyes!!!!

                      Wow.....I am very happy to report that we have found the culprit of my severe, burning eyes (and heat sensations in my face, throat, neck etc)!!!! It turns out that I had a SEVERE allergic reaction to 'Splenda'!!!!! I had been drinking 3 flavoured waters a day (Nestle brand, with Splenda), + Splenda in my tea, yogurt and many other things since mid summer. When I finally figured this out, (as it was the only thing that I had added to my diet or done differently), it took only 3 or 4 days of 'not' ingesting it, for my symptoms to clear up to a manageable level, and now, after 8 days, I am 'almost' back to normal! I am wearing my contacts again (for 4-6 hours a day). It turns out that Splenda, which claims to 'taste like sugar because it's made with sugar'......is actually made with one molecule of sugar + two molecules of CHLORINE!!!! I saw a Neurologist and all checked out ok. I still have an appointment to see an Opthamologist (due to the floater). I guess I'll never know whether the Splenda contributed to me getting such a large one. The floater is still hard to deal with but I'll take that any day over the severe burning!!! I hope this info may help someone else. Something so simple.....caused so much misery!! Take care everyone, and may you all find your cures too!!!
                      Cheers!!! Barb

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                      • #12
                        Thanks!

                        ............by the way...........thanks to all of the information I received on this site, I have made the decision to never mess with my eyes by having Lasik done. I would rather wear glasses and contacts, than to suffer the way so many folks do after having that, (and similar procedures) done. Had I not found this site, I truly believe that I would have 'gone for it'. Thanks everyone, and take care.
                        Barb

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                        • #13
                          Congratulations, Barb. I'm amazed by your story. I'm so glad your issues aren't long-term or permanent. We will all learn from your experience.

                          D
                          Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.

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