New here - Question about reversing Dry Eye

[MB81]

Hi Guys,

Just joined here. It's great to see that there's a community for people with dry eyes that can relate to what we go through.

My story: a few years ago I wore contacts on occasion). One night I accidentally slept with them on. The next morning one of my eyes started feeling a pain that gradually worsened and worsened. A trip to the ER said it was from sleeping in daily contacts.

The pain happened a second time, and I was told that it was because I sleep with my eyes slightly open and have a line of abrasion on each of my eyes where my eyelids don't close. Contacts are out, so is LASIK.

Most nights I don't put anything in my eyes. When I'm going through a dry patch (especially with AC), I use petroleum jelly based eye lubricants, or if it's really bad, Muro.

I find this whole thing frustrating as I hate wearing glasses. My question is: Since I seem to have relatively mild dry eye caused due to a external physical condition - is it reversible?

I have just started taking 3000 mg of flaxseed oil daily. I'm also considering a mask. maybe even a humidifier. I would even alternative medicine/hypnotism etc, if it would convince my eyes to stay shut at night!

Basically I'm willing to try anything that works. Let me add, I would never wear contacts without my optician's approval, but if there's anything I can try to reduce the dryness in my eyes I'm willing to try it. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[erinlins]

Hello and welcome. Sorry u are in the mess but many people on this sight can help.

Here are my suggestions, I am no doctor but here it goes...

I would use tranquill eyes sold here on the site. They will protect your eyes better than a sleep mask b/c they provide moisture. Another option is taping your eyes shut. I know this sounds wierd but I have done it once or twice and its okay.

As the contact lenses go I would suggest using either a high Dk lens such as as focus night and day or try a rigid gas perm. Rigid gas perm don't soak up the tear film and also allow enough oxygen to flow through. This should hopefully help your symptoms.


Also, try getting punctal plugs. They are not for everyone but might make u have more tears so you can tolerate contacts again.

Good luck!

Erin

[MB81]

Thanks for your help Erin,

I'm going to buy the tranquill eyes set. Hopefully that will work.

I've seen opticians, opthalmologists and an eye consultant and none of them mentioned punctal plugs but I'll definitely bring it up next time I see one. Who is the best person to see about dry eyes, an optician, opthalmologist or eye specialist?

Also, I forgot to mention that contacts peeled off a layer of skin protecting my cornea does this grow back?

Also, what's a good dose of flaxseed oil to be taking. Currently I've started on 3000 mg daily...

Lots of questions, appreciate your answers! Thanks.

[erinlins]

Hey,

Oh and by the way my dry eye is from contact lenses too. I basically woke up with bloodshot eyes and they have never been the same since. I am 23 years old and wore contacts for prob 10 years or so.

Anyway see a cornea specialist. They deal with surface disorders and know the best. If possible see one that sub-specializes in dry eye. I know this is hard but there are some out there. (And just so you know most have no idea what to do with dry eye, so don't hesitate to see a couple if its covered by insurance!)

As far as the epithelium goes, they regenerate all the time. Now this is harder in a person who has dry eye b/c you need tears for a healthy cornea.

The good news is we are both young. It seems reasonable to say that these disorders might reverse. I am staying out of my contacts for a year or so and seeing what happens. It has been a bumby road but i have a hard time excepting that i have dry eye due to contacts. Most people wear their contacts all the time and never have problems like this. (especially all my friends, they leave their daily wear lenses in until they feel bad)

Good luck!

[Rojzen]

causation; options not including more contacts

Just wanted to suggest that contact use alone is not likely to be the sole cause of chronic ocular surface problems, for the very reason stated in this thread: Lots of people use and abuse contacts without any seriously bad consequences, while others develop surface problems that cause lens intolerance. . .

That said, once the surface problem is present, it's probably best not to spend time pondering what kind of lenses to try next, even if contact lens wear did not single-handedly cause the problem. . .Rather, the better priority may be getting the eyes as healthy as possible, without the added stress of a non-therapeutic lens. . .and seeing, afterwards, what is safest for the eye surface. . .As others here so often point out, and astutely: There is mildly dry eye and contact lens intolerance, and then there's severe dry eye, which is a whole different animal. . .If one has the chance to arrest movement in the wrong direction, that chance should be SEIZED. . .and embraced. . .

There are both ophthalmologists and optometrists who are passionate about treating ocular surface problems .. . Careful diagnostics are key. . .Possibly there is a university hospital nearby you, with an ocular surface clinic. . .Many private practitioners do well with our disorder, too...Not sure how best to locate the true specialists, though, as medical web sites don't often represent their specialties very clearly. . .Lots of phone inquiries may be needed. . .but are well worth it. . .

Wishing you the very best, and quick relief and improvement. . .Will watch for your updates. . .and please know that we are here for you. . .So glad you found us. . .

[erinlins]

agree

Hey everyone,

I agree that it seems unlikely that one thing caused our dry eye. Believe me too, cuz I'm the queen of blaming myself for this condition. Anyway, i find it interesting that my brother has dry eye too. He never wore contacts or did anything to his eyes. It goes to show you that there is probably a genetic cause to all of us who have this condition. Whether it is just a simple prediposition that maybe exaberated by other causes. For example a lot of people have rheumatoid artheritis factors but never get the disease. Furthermore, they say evironmental causes such as stress can trigger many autoimmune diseases. HOWEVER YOU STILL NEED TO HAVE THE GENETIC PREDIPOSITION.

I think about this when I consider lasik induced dry eye. It seems reasonable to say that you probably had a suceptibilty to dry eye all along and that just severely knocked you over the edge. How else can you explain how many people get lasik with no problems at all.

Oh wells, I guess we will never REALLY know how we got here. I struggle with that everyday. I am a very scientific person so I need the cause!

Anyway have a good day y'all.

[MB81]

I do remember over the years occasionally waking up in the middle of the night with my eyes sore and red and with tears streaming down them. Of course, I didn't know what it was and it happened rarely at the time. It took me sleeping in contacts one night to make me realize it was actually a problem. The problem being I sleep with my eyes slightly open.

I'm wondering whether hypnotism or something similar would work on a subconscious level to make my eyes close fully at night, if there's a subconscious reason for all of this.

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for eye doctors in Los Angeles before I do my research?

[sazy123]

prediposition that maybe exaberated by other causes. For example a lot of people have rheumatoid artheritis factors but never get the disease. Furthermore, they say evironmental causes such as stress can trigger many autoimmune diseases. HOWEVER YOU STILL NEED TO HAVE THE GENETIC PREDIPOSITION.

Yes there could be a predisposition like why some people develop dry eye who wear contacts and others dont. Im abit confused about Causes and triggers. But the contacts made the dry eye alot worse then to me it is still a cause... Why are decreasing hormones considered a cause, couldnt they be considered triggers as well? coz loads of menapuasal women are not effected by dry eye ( i personaly dont know any).