Dry eyes from Lasik

[introverted]

I was just wondering after reading these emails, how many of you suffered from severe, I mean extremely severe dry eyes from lasik?

I have two small children and for the last three years, I have been the crankiest mother and constantly whining about my dry eyes.

This surgery has had the most devasting effect on my family life and personal life. I would like to know on an average how many people suffer this severe chronic dry eye from lasik. I was told that 1% do.

I was also told that my case was so rare, only 1 out of 10,000 persons have this severe problem. So I thought I must be so unlucky.

Please post a message and how you have found a solution.

I will not give up to find a cure to this problem

Thanks!!

Caroline

[Guest]

Caroline

I am so sorry to hear about your lasik dryness. I am hoping the stats that you provided are not from the same Dr.

If they are, I certainly hope he is much better at eye surgery than he is at maths.

I would like to know on an average how many people suffer this severe chronic dry eye from lasik. I was told that 1% do.

I was also told that my case was so rare, only 1 out of 10,000 persons have this severe problem.

1 % = 1 in 100 very different from the 1 in 10,000.

I do hope you find a manageable solution very soon.

Warm regards

Ian (Prattstar)

[Natalie06]

Count me in...

It will be one year on July 14 that I had Lasik. One year of misery. I have severe dry eye and haven't found anything yet that has worked. I am supposed to restart restasis this coming week after 2 weeks on steroid drops.


The thing about DES for me is this:

It has taken the joy out of doing all the things I love to do and made all the things I have to do a misery.

I can't imagine trying to live with this with kids who want their mom to be active with them and just managing the day to day. I have a hard time just walking my dogs. My heart goes out to you.

I am not giving up and hopefully with the help of a Dry Eye specialist, I will regain some comfort and function.

Hang in there. Do not believe that you are in any way "rare" . This is a serious, life altering complication of this surgery that is vastly downplayed by the Lasik "industry".

Natalie

[madarka]

dear caroline

dear caroline i know how u feel because it is devastating to feel unlucky.all my friends and family members who had lasik are so happy about it and many people who i met at work are happy to and without any complications.but u and me and many people on this site don't feel happy at all.we share stories here or advices.lots of people are very strong with this sad tragedy from lasik but i am not.i used to be a happy,bubbly person but not anymore.i don't socialize anymore and quit all my hobbies.i started serum recently and will continue to use it.my only hope is that time will heal me whether physically or emotionally.after i got married i wanted to start a family but had lasik and developed severe dryness.at the beginning i thought i will get better and do other things but when i realized this is a severe problem i decided not to have a child.my husband understands but he is unhappy just like me.like i said my only true hope is GOD's grace and time.

[introverted]

Severe dry eyes from lasik

Dear Madarka,

Have you tried plugging all four tear ducts? Also the type of gels and eye drops you should be careful.

My story is bad. After the lasik, I used tear gel and gel teal, not knowing I was severely allergic to these gels. They actually made my eyes drier and burn like crazy. After 18 months of suffering, my eye doctor finally realized I was allergic to these gels.Then I stopped, I am using Bausch and Lomb Artelac drops which cost $12 per box. I go through them like a box every two weeks. These drops are quite good.

What I am suggesting is that you may be allergic to some drops, you have to use preservative free. Sometimes the actual eye drop may dry out your eye even more. You should definitely use preservative free.

Good luck

Caroline

[introverted]

Severe dry eyes from lasik

Dear Madarka,

Sorry I had a spelling mistake. I was allergic to Tear gel and Gen Teal for 18 months, they actually made my eyes even drier. I mean they were so dry I could not even open my eyes.

I don't know how I coped up with those 18 months. I could not work, let alone drive.

You could be allergic to some types eye drops.

Kind regards,

Caroline

[madarka]

to caroline

well i must admit CAROLINE that i did harm my eyes even more with some drops.i was using restasis which burnt and drops in bottle which contained preservative and i got worse.also another foolish thing i did was when i was using preservative free drops in vials i would open a vial put some drops in eye and put it on a table or counter for later.and it was sitting open for few hours before i finished.this way lots of bacteria entered the drops.and yes i had 4plugs for 4months and i developed a "cesspool effect"so that is why i started serum almost 2months ago.i use one bottle for 7days as instructed.u r right medicines can harm us.and i learned it in a hard way.still a lasik itself is a root or beginning of all my suffering.my doc said that it may take me even 5years to heal from this dryness,that cut corneal nerves grow back even if it take years.he said i will never have such a density of nerves as before lasik but i should feel far better.and that is what matters to me-feeling well!i guess this is a jail for me-i have to do my time.(innocently)

[introverted]

Message to Madarka regarding serum drops

Dear Madarka,

I am so sorry your eyes are so dry. Please let us know how the serum drops will help. What is it and how do you get these drops.

My eyes are constantly nagging dry especially after 3:00 pm. I can't work like I used to. It has been almost three years since the surgery. Your eyes do heal, but I think they will recover slowly.
People around me just don't understand what I am talking about.
They have no idea what I am complaining about. Do you have a private email? Can I email to you sometimes?

Madarka, I have made a pair of eye glasses that have zero prescription, I find that when I wear them all the time, they really protect my eyes. You may need to wear protective eyewear all the time to prevent your eyes from drying out.

Thanks

Caroline

[madarka]

to caroline

dear caroline i have sent u a private message where i wrote my email address.u can send me email and i will surely write u back.it seems like we have a lot to talk about.serum drops are made from my own blood all i have to do is to go to the hospital they take a blood from me and make drops and i keep the bottles in fridge to keep them sterile.the reason my doctor put me on this treatment is that i complained and nagged him constantly.so he said this is in his opinion a harmless treatment since it has no preservatives and moreover it containes nutritients from my own blood so it should also nourish my eye.i pay $120 for drops that last me 5weeks.i go to the medical center here in dallas.my doctor is very understanding man and he has faith in this treatment.few people in this forum also use serum and report positive results.i want to help u caroline that is why i recommended this treatment.

[heather g]

Hi Caroline. I just passed my one year lasik anniversary in April. I look back on that year and can't believe I made it through. I am still miserable (less pain with all four ducts plugged now) But I still have tear issues and I dread shopping which I once loved. I was a very social person and very concerned about how I looked. Now I can hardly ever wear make up. My two little ones are used to me having difficulties with my eyes but it takes the joy out of spending time at their schools and activities for me. I know there is still time to heal even more but it is so little at a time and so slow... I feel I will never be back to pre lasik.
I read someone had glasses made without prescription. I did that the first month out and it does help a bit. Especially in stores, etc. But it is sickening that you pay all that money and then go get yourself a pair of glasses anyway!
Take care I hope you get some good tips from this site. I did and still am!

Heather