Dry eye and severe myopia?

[LouSam]

Hi all,

Anyone trying to find vision options for severe myopia with severe dry eye? I haven't been able to wear contacts anymore after nearly 30 years of contacts and my vision and self-esteem in my thick glasses are terrible. I haven't found a solution in the past 4 months and am taking time off my brand new job because I am unable to see adequately. Looked into ICL surgery (my prescription is -12 both eyes) but my eyes are too dry for that too. I am doing restasis, pulsing azasite, periodic lotemax, quadruple plugged, fish oil, vitamin supplements, healthy diet, plenty of sleep, no sugar or alcohol, plenty of water, avoiding too much computer time, have serum on the way, lots of PF drops. Have looked into sclerals but I can't take enough time off work to go get them adequately fitted. Have tried RGP lenses and probably all of the soft lenses that come in a -12. I am depressed. It's like living in a nightmare.

I have no idea why I have such terrible dry eye. Maybe because I took accutane when I was 17 and because I have worn contacts my whole life.

Any advice for other contact lenses to try would be greatly appreciated!! Reassurance that life isn't over would be okay too. I have had severe dry eye for 10 years but has been manageable until now.

Thank you.

[bloomquist]

I'd had to give up my contacts after 30 years due to dry eyes, and my glasses are -9 so I can empathize with what you're dealing with. After getting quad plugs, using warm rice bags, restasis, azasite, doxycycline, fish oil etc I am back to wearing RPG contacts for about 6 months. Then started again with dry scratchy red eyes, rashy eyelids. Doc prescribed 21 days of oral Azithromycin and found much better Meiboian flow and eyes feel good - back to wearing contacts most of the time. Just something else to try that you might find helpful.

[LouSam]

Thank you Bloomquist. I have tried RGPs twice in the past several years with no luck, though I wore them successfully from age 8 to age 26. Does anyone know of a good RGP fitter in San Diego? I remember I used to need the edges repeatedly thinned and before getting a comfortable fit. Thanks!

[Rebecca Petris]

I used to be a very high myope (before my LASIK debacle). Yup, I can sympathize. Glasses… ick. Just couldn't see well in them, but contacts caused other problems, which left me vulnerable to years of coaxing from the eye docs. Wish sclerals had been an option back in those days.

Maybe because I took accutane when I was 17 and because I have worn contacts my whole life.

I'd be thinking of those as "contributing factors" (most of us have more than one). Accutane messes with your MGs, contacts mess up your corneal sensitivity and can mess up your MGs too.

What have you been told about the time for scleral fitting? I'm asking because you said what's keeping you from that route is time for the fittings…

Did you try Synergeyes by chance? I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope but if you're trying to max out contact lens options I'd definitely try that before giving up.

Life is DEFINITELY not over. It's a crisis and it will pass - with your help. Your eyes are telling you it's time to manage them differently for awhile and perhaps to slow down and do some careful investigation into what's going on. Have you looked into the hormonal side of things?

[LouSam]

Thank you for your thoughts here, Rebecca. And thank you for all you do here to help out people with this condition.

I was under the impression that I would have to go to one of the doctors in Boston or Texas and spend a week or two trying to get fitted with sclerals. I just today, however, went to my optometrist who asked me if I would be interested in sclerals. Apparently his office fits them for people. He also suggested that we could put serum drops in the reservoir. Interesting idea.

I have tried synergyes. Unfortunately they hurt, and I saw pronounced halos in them due to my pupil size. That was several years ago though, so maybe they have changed.

I haven't looked at the hormonal side of things, but that's a good idea. Any tips for what to look for?

I wish sclerals would have been available for you earlier too, and so glad that they are working for you now.

[karensumner]

Hi all,

Anyone trying to find vision options for severe myopia with severe dry eye? I haven't been able to wear contacts anymore after nearly 30 years of contacts and my vision and self-esteem in my thick glasses are terrible. I haven't found a solution in the past 4 months and am taking time off my brand new job because I am unable to see adequately. Looked into ICL surgery (my prescription is -12 both eyes) but my eyes are too dry for that too. I am doing restasis, pulsing azasite, periodic lotemax, quadruple plugged, fish oil, vitamin supplements, healthy diet, plenty of sleep, no sugar or alcohol, plenty of water, avoiding too much computer time, have serum on the way, lots of PF drops. Have looked into sclerals but I can't take enough time off work to go get them adequately fitted. Have tried RGP lenses and probably all of the soft lenses that come in a -12. I am depressed. It's like living in a nightmare.

I have no idea why I have such terrible dry eye. Maybe because I took accutane when I was 17 and because I have worn contacts my whole life.

Any advice for other contact lenses to try would be greatly appreciated!! Reassurance that life isn't over would be okay too. I have had severe dry eye for 10 years but has been manageable until now.

Thank you.

my corneal specialist and another eye doc today both told me about ICL and said it doenst hurt dry eye patients cause it puts a lens in and doesnt cut like lasik? its too $$$$ anyway for me but ur doc told u its not for dry eye?? all these docs and all these dif opinioins!

he did also tell me about synergeyes too like rebecca said.

[abbygirl]

LouSam
I was in the same position as you about 5 years ago. I was a -15 in both eyes plus severe astigmatism. Had several laser procedures for retina tears..dryness followed and out went my toric contact lenses I had worn for years!! YIKES!!! Coke bottle glasses!! Developed cataracts and wow!! now I could have IOL surgery. Well, it wasn't that easy and if I had to do it over again I would (I am now -1.25/-2.0), so my glasses are much thinner. I got drier after my surgeries and have a very difficult time adjusting to glasses. BUT I can funtion around the house without glasses. Difficult decision...

[sus]

LouSam
I ve got RGP contacts before years of wearing soft lenses. I tried on them for a year, but were imposible to wear propperly. Then, i was fitted with the jupiter sclerals that are the ones im wearing since 2010. Maybe you need to try better fitting. I got them fitted easily as i though. Still wearing the 18,8 perfectly, very happy with the confort and visión. I wear them from waking up to late night (im extremely nearsighted , -17 with astigmatism -3.50)