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Hoping to make this as short as possible..
My problems began back in December of last year when I had the desire to begin wearing contact lenses again. I scheduled a visit with an optometrist who fitted me for a pair. The prescription I was prescribed seemed to be perfect for my right eye. However, I always had issues with the left lens. It seemed hit or miss at first, some days (maybe 1/5 times) I would be able to wear them all day. Other days, I end up taking them out after a couple of hours because of discomfort in my left eye.
So began a journey to trying many different brands and types of lenses for the left eye. Found them all to be equally as uncomfortable or even more so than the one originally prescribed.
I would notice that my eye would be irritated hours after removing the lens (usually not feeling normal again until the next morning). I was stubborn and continued to try to wear the lenses originally prescribed- eventually giving up after a couple of months off and on trying different things (drops and changing my diet mostly). The day I decided I would skip the contacts, I noticed my left eye was very irritated even though I hadn't worn a contact in the eye. My eye felt "gritty" and the foreign body sensation- and slight burning.
The condition seem to worsen so I went back to the optometrist who diagnosed me w/ ocular rosacea. After the diagnosis, I was thrilled to finally find a root cause and was confident that the doxy he prescribed me would fix my problems. Unfortunately after two months of antibiotics, I did not see any improvements.
I finally got a referral to an ophthalmologist who made the diagnosis of "blepharitis." He put me on a regimen of lid scrubs- morning and night time, using a new face cleanser, blephamide applied in the evening, lotemax drops three times a day, and doxy twice a day. After about a week, I stopped the blephamide and lotemax having not noticed any improvements. I went back to the ophthalmologist for a follow up who was unhappy with my deviating from his regimen. He told me to stick to his plan and come back in a month.
It has been a bout 1.5 wks since the last visit and can't say I have noticed a huge improvement. I am skeptical of the "belpharitis" diganosis because during the last visit, he said the severity of my blepharitis is about the same in both eyes. But- the symptoms I experience is only in my left eye. Logic would dictate that I would have some symptoms w/ my right eye if it is indeed blepharitis- but I have none. My right eye has never been a problem. Always just the left.
When I look at my eyelids in the mirror, I notice the left one "drooping" lower than the right. Visibly noticeable, even to others who I hadn't mention it to. I believe a lot of this is because I tend to sleep on my stomach, usually with my head to the side and the left side of my face into the pillow. I think that this is somehow contributing to the symptoms or may be entirely the root cause.
I have tried to break the habit of sleeping on my stomach, or at least on my left side but it's difficult. I've tried eye patches which don't really seem to help. I recently ordered a pair of protective eyewear (Onyix) which should arrive in the next few days.
Anyone have any advice? Or opinions on what they think the root cause is? Really desperate and open for suggestions. I hope these Onyix goggles do the trick.
TIA
My problems began back in December of last year when I had the desire to begin wearing contact lenses again. I scheduled a visit with an optometrist who fitted me for a pair. The prescription I was prescribed seemed to be perfect for my right eye. However, I always had issues with the left lens. It seemed hit or miss at first, some days (maybe 1/5 times) I would be able to wear them all day. Other days, I end up taking them out after a couple of hours because of discomfort in my left eye.
So began a journey to trying many different brands and types of lenses for the left eye. Found them all to be equally as uncomfortable or even more so than the one originally prescribed.
I would notice that my eye would be irritated hours after removing the lens (usually not feeling normal again until the next morning). I was stubborn and continued to try to wear the lenses originally prescribed- eventually giving up after a couple of months off and on trying different things (drops and changing my diet mostly). The day I decided I would skip the contacts, I noticed my left eye was very irritated even though I hadn't worn a contact in the eye. My eye felt "gritty" and the foreign body sensation- and slight burning.
The condition seem to worsen so I went back to the optometrist who diagnosed me w/ ocular rosacea. After the diagnosis, I was thrilled to finally find a root cause and was confident that the doxy he prescribed me would fix my problems. Unfortunately after two months of antibiotics, I did not see any improvements.
I finally got a referral to an ophthalmologist who made the diagnosis of "blepharitis." He put me on a regimen of lid scrubs- morning and night time, using a new face cleanser, blephamide applied in the evening, lotemax drops three times a day, and doxy twice a day. After about a week, I stopped the blephamide and lotemax having not noticed any improvements. I went back to the ophthalmologist for a follow up who was unhappy with my deviating from his regimen. He told me to stick to his plan and come back in a month.
It has been a bout 1.5 wks since the last visit and can't say I have noticed a huge improvement. I am skeptical of the "belpharitis" diganosis because during the last visit, he said the severity of my blepharitis is about the same in both eyes. But- the symptoms I experience is only in my left eye. Logic would dictate that I would have some symptoms w/ my right eye if it is indeed blepharitis- but I have none. My right eye has never been a problem. Always just the left.
When I look at my eyelids in the mirror, I notice the left one "drooping" lower than the right. Visibly noticeable, even to others who I hadn't mention it to. I believe a lot of this is because I tend to sleep on my stomach, usually with my head to the side and the left side of my face into the pillow. I think that this is somehow contributing to the symptoms or may be entirely the root cause.
I have tried to break the habit of sleeping on my stomach, or at least on my left side but it's difficult. I've tried eye patches which don't really seem to help. I recently ordered a pair of protective eyewear (Onyix) which should arrive in the next few days.
Anyone have any advice? Or opinions on what they think the root cause is? Really desperate and open for suggestions. I hope these Onyix goggles do the trick.
TIA
Rebecca is another good person to take advice from as she knows pretty much anything you would want to know about dry eyes minus "what is the one ultimate cure".
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