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  • My Story

    I have actually visited Dry Eye quite a few times but never really told my story. I don't know how to abbreviate it (I could go on forever) but I'll try to make it as short as possible. I had Lasik surgery 4 years ago. Never had any trouble with my eyes other than not being able to wear my contacts anymore because they were a little on the dry side. After Lasik, I suffered from severe dry eye to the point where I had to quit my job (I am a medical transcriptionist which is all computer use - 8 hours a day). I was on unemployment for about 8 months, had my bottom tear ducts cauterized and my eyes (I thought) were back to normal. Got another job doing medical transcription as I thought this problem was gone. I was doing, once again, long hours on the computer. After about a year, something happened. Over a period of a few weeks, my eyes became increasing dry, to the point of being extremely painful. I tried everything, drops, dr. visits. Nothing seemed to help. I even asked if I could cut back my hours on the computer. Well, once again, I had to quit my job. Collected unemployment and had to move in with a relative as I am single and I depend on my income. So, once again, I went back to the eye dr. and this time he put plugs in my upper tear ducts. I looked for a job for 10 months and only had two interviews. I am 57 and nobody was interested in hiring me. I thought this time, with the plugs, I could give it one more try (transcription). Started out part-time and worked my way up to 32 hours a week. I'm even working out of my own place but am still experiencing problems. I had an appt. this week at Johns Hopkins and, of course, they will never admit the Lasik is what caused the problem. In summary, I have lost two homes, two jobs, had to live with two relatives (first time my brother, second time my sister), and now I'm looking at possibly having to give up this job as I can't stand being on the computer. I also am having problems with plugs. My eyes are either too watery or too dry. I can't get stable at all. I just wish I could get comfortable. As far as antidepressants, I used to take them but can no longer. I can't drink alcohol, coffee, can't stand air-conditioning, drafts, heaters, fans. Needless to say, this has drastically changed my life. How do you live with it? And, how do you support yourself when the only thing you ever did was computer use?

  • #2
    Hi Bennys,

    I'm so sorry to hear all the pain and trouble your eyes have caused you. I can totally relate. I'm also a medical transcriptionist. I did not have Lasik, though, and don't know the cause of my dry eyes. I had lower plugs put in at one time and was 100% symptom free for three years even using computer all day. I loved doing MT when my eyes weren't bothering me, but for some reason my eyes became severe after three years of lower plugs. I went on short-term disability for three months, but I went back to work because I didn't want to lose my job. It was extremely difficult, but the alternative was just to stay at home and be depressed. I held onto my job until I got pregnant and then the hospital closed down and everyone was laid off. Anyway, now I'm a stay-at-home mom and guess I won't be working as an MT again unless my eyes drastically improve.

    I don't know what I would have done if I had been single, probably the same thing as you. I'm thinking maybe you could qualify for permanent disability. It's so hard to explain that you are disabled, though, when you are healthy otherwise. I can just imagine if I tried to file for it now and here I am lifting three 30+ lb children all day and in great health except for my eyes. I don't think anyone can understand unless they have suffered from this condition and I'm not talking mild dry eyes, either, where you need drops now and then. I'm talking moderate to severe dry eyes.

    I just live with it one day at a time and try to do the best I can to relieve my symptoms. I even went so far as to travel to Boston to get some scleral lenses. They have helped but not enough to resume computer work. I hope a new medication will be available in the next couple years that will significantly reduce mine as well as many other people's symptoms. In the meantime, I do the best I can to relieve my symptoms by taking Theratears nutrition, hot compresses, scleral lenses, and eyedrops.
    Cause of dry eyes: Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

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    • #3
      I sent you a P.M.
      Don't trust any refractive surgeon with YOUR eyes.

      The Dry Eye Queen

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      • #4
        I'm so sorry to hear of everything that you have gone through due to your lasik and dry eyes. My severe dry eye is due to lasik 19 months ago. Do you live in the Baltimore area? I also recently visited Wilmer Eye Institute at John Hopkins and did not have a very good experience there. I wonder if we saw the same doctor. If you are in the DC/Washington area and are searching for a regular opthamologist, I see a corneal specialist in Annapolis, and she is wonderful. I've seen about 8 eye docs since lasik and she is BY FAR the best!! She was actually recommened to me by another woman I met in the area who has lasik induced dry eyes. Send me a PM if you want more information about her.

        I am a statistician, and also do alot of computer work. The only thing I can suggest is humidifing your work space and maybe trying some eye protection, such as goggles. You can read more about panoptyx and other brands of eye protection on this site. If plugs are all that you have tried, then there is so much hope for you! There are so many other things to try besides plugs, just start reading around on these boards and you should gets lot of good information. Have you tried Restasis or Doxycycline? I've recently just seemed to make some progress with my eyes, and I think it is due to some new stuff I'm trying, so don't give up. I do understand your frustration in all of this, and I'm so sorry that it has caused such drastic changes in your life. I really hope that you are able to get things under control soon and are able to continue working. I'll keep you in my prayers.

        -Shells

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