Feel very down - nothing works. Will this ever go?

[sazy123]

I get the opposite, my eye problems end up being being blamed on allergies despite me saying no itching etc and tried everything.

I really think its just ocular roscea, allergies for me doesnt make much sense- i dont really use products near my face-dont wear maycup as i cant, tried organic shampos etc but dont wash hair for 3 days as it doesnt need it. Eliminated dust (going to do this more thorough at some point though). Just washed with water- no products for a while. One thing i havent tried is evaluating washing clothes.

skygoddess did your eyes fluctuate when they were bad? when you used more products at certain times?

Mine dont flutuate - always the same (except if ill) so that doesnt suggest allergies.

also did you have benefit from allergy drops- patonal or steroids etc?

Im interested to see what Dr toyos thinks i expect he will say theres an allergy component again, im just so frustrated because theres no match between what the eye doctors say and what the allergists and everything ive done for allergies suggests. Feel like banging my head against a wall!

[eva b]

Allergies

ALLERGIES!!!

sorry to shout, everyone, but this topic really makes my blood boil as so many docs are completely dismissive about it, whereas I feel it plays a major part in many of our problems...but on a subtle level.

Since no specialist has been able to find the cause of my posterior blepharitis, an inflammatory condition - and rememember inflammation is caused by the body producing histamine in response to something it doesn't like - which is at the root of my MGD, that gives me a dodgy tear film...I am totally convinced that there is SOMETHING in my environment which I use, eat, breathe in, touch or whatever that my body doesn't like.

And I think FRAGRANCE is a major factor...I've had a hell of a time finding shampoo/conditioner without fragrance, and the biggest problem of all was a washing product here in the UK. Finally found Ecover - not the liquid (which is highly perfumed, albeit with natural essential oils) - but the original unscented powder. Almost at the same time someone told me about Soap Nuts (yes, nuts which produce saponin, you can google it) which you put in a little bag with your washing. No smell at all. Both seem to work in terms of cleaning clothes,

It's only been 2 weeks, but I am cautiously optimistic - not that my eyes will get completely better, but at least I don't get that immediate "hit" of perfume when I open the wardrobe door!

Another factor I think is diet, which can play a big role. I know it doesn't really seem related, but here's my 2 cents worth anyway.

I've been a big follower of the Blood type Diet for about 7 years (www.dadamo.com for anyone who is interested) and cured myself of some chronic, long standing digestive problems which all medics had failed with in just a few days by eating the right foods for me.

Well, my eyes were getting a little better late last year, but I got some other (dental) problems and general stress stuff which led me to fall off the waggon so to speak regarding my diet. Which means I've been eating quite a lot of foods which I know aggravate my system and cause inflammation (eg for me...I am type O...wheat is a real baddie, as are corn, potatos and certain beans) and myh eyes have been consistently getting worse and worse all year.

I've basically got very lazy and was eating loads of ready prepared, processed foods.

Last week I took the decision to go back to being really strict with my eating, which was very, very hard to do (as well as time consuming and boring!) and guess what....less than 2 weeks later, my optometrist said today "my goodness, what an unusually high amount of nice clear fluid we're getting out of your glands today..." - and my eyes have certainly felt a bit better in the last couple of days. It takes a while to get the c**p out of your system, obviously...

I rest my case.

I hope this is not just a coincidence or a flash in the pan, but for all you desperate people, it's something to think about.

I'll report back again in a week's time with an update.

Sorry for the length of this post, but I felt it worth sharing my experience, as we're all in the same desparate situation.

[skygoddess]

I had mostly very bad days with an occasional good one thrown in just to make me crazy. I did not have the itchy watery thing either.
I saw countless "experts" they diagnosed me with blepharitis, ocular rosacea and severe dry eye. About Dr # 5 or 6, casually mentioned it may be allergies.
I had done everything else to not much avail.
Tried every drop made, including allergy drops, only Azasite had helped at all.

Finally decided to get serious and determine once and for all if it was allergies,
Got tested for contact allergies, then
Took EVERY SINGLE product, bottle, jar ,box, tube, bar, creme , powder etc, and put them in big totes. Washed all my linens and clothes in fragrance free detergent, and introduced only items without fragrance very slowly back into my life. Actually had to give away most things. Repurchased items with the fewest possible allergens.
And HOORAY! It works!
Changed almost every product in my life, have to carry my own towels and sheets to hotels. I don't allow any fragrance in my home.
Unless I have a accidental exposure , I am pain free!
I was nearly suicidal from the pain before. I had a mini breakdown in the pharmacy one day after another futile Dr visit, just couldn't stop crying.
Now it is just a hassle, but I am so much better it is wonderful..

[stephgurl1986]

I also believe that allergies might be the key problem- I got tested on loads of stuff but it seems that I'm not that allergic - BUT you have to keep in mind that there are also food intolerances which cannot be measured- and that might cause dry eyes as well...

[east12]

I had many problems that randomly came up.
By Chance I happened to get Systane Ultra eyedrops which had really saved my life (no joke). The pain was not tolerable and doctors had said "yes there is irritation but no dryness" and that "you're eye is physically healthy"..... yeah right.

Systane Ultra is certainly worth looking into, i cant make any guarantees but it really did save me from going insane.
Although I dont think I have dry eye, because the only complication that is present everyday is the eyelash feeling, the rest are...... varied by week.

If you havent tried it I hope it helps

I also know the mental state you're talking about, knowing it will always be here. I've had Lasik which does depress me at times to, especially when a starburst takes up my entire field of vision. It may sound empty but try not to let it get the best of you. Its a battle on its own.

[SallyP]

I've ordered some Systane ultra to try. I love the lead up to trying something new, it briefly makes me feel hopeful, but will probably lead to more disappointment and pain, like the two i tried recently. The last one I tried, forget it's name, made my eyes so unbelievably bad, I just had to go to bed, and in desperation, flushed my eyes out with water - bad move, but I was desperate. Fingers crossed, I'll let you know how it goes.

[izzy3usa2002]

get blood work done

Sally sorry to hear of all your pain. Have you had blood work done to check for Graves disease or a thyroid disorder? I did and I will be on meds and the doc said will cure my dry eye. Please go to an internist they specialize in the whole body. plase get blood work done to rule out other problens. Hope it works for you.

[izzy3usa2002]

try Soothe XP

I also see you cant seem to find good tears that work. i like the Soothe XP. It has mineral oil in it and it is the only drop that gives me any relief. It is by Baush & Lomb. I get mine at Krogers or Walmart. Good luck!

[eva b]

skygoddess,

how do you cope with the rubber allergy part of it?

I perhaps misunderstood that it was just black rubber you were allergic to...how do you deal with it otherwise?

e.g. you said your electric toothbrush has rubber on it (so does mine)...so have you stopped using it, or do you just wash your hands after you've used it making sure you don't touch your eyes?

and what about rubber gloves - the ones we use for washing up etc???

[SallyP]

Hi izzy3usa

Thank you for your reply. I was tested for Graves, and had an overactive thyroid about 6/7 years ago and had most of it removed, so my thyroid levels are checked and are at a healthy level. I don't even need thyroxin or any medication.

I'm in the UK and can't always get the same medication as you,or same shops, but I will look on the internet. I'm going to try systane, which somebody recommended. Apart from Celluvisc,they've all made me worse, but I always look forward to trying a new one. Gives me brief hope.

Thanks again for your time in replying.

Sally

[stella]

Hi Sally
My heart goes out to you -----
All i can say is to experiment and keep experimenting with the things that have helped people on this site until you find something or things, that will control your condition
It may be a combination of eyelid care + the right drops or goggles humidifiers allergy control but NEVER give up
Dont aim for a 100% solution as that will only disapoint you ,but aim to get it at a manageable level, and expect bad days as this condition does have flare-ups

I am in a place now where i have good control --
Some of my methods are a bit unconventional - like steaming my eyes and squeezing each lid between my finger and thumb - but it is working for me and my optician photographed my eyes today, and tells me my glands are not blocked at all and look very clean and my tear film is thin but just about adequate
Also my use of chloramphenical eyeointment on the lid margins at night + vasaline on the outer lids at night - unconvensional ,but at least i can open my eyes in the am more easily now
Then there is clinitas ultra 3 that helps the tear film - it stings on instillation -not al lthe time, but if my eyes are not quite so good i notice it
Fortunately the times they are not so good is very mild compared with what used to be
So do keep trying different things and i will be praying for you
Take a day at a time
Stella

[east12]

I'm going to try systane, which somebody recommended

It did save my life, I couldnt take the pain and itchiness anymore. However as someone else had pointed out above, its important for you not to have high expectations. I had actually thought before trying systane that it was a useless drop which would do nothing (except increase pain) like the other drops I had tried BUT it worked.

I'm glad to see you ordered some, that you're giving it a try and really hope it works for you. Have you tried warm cloth compress? The heat water really goes away fast so its constant up and down up and down type routine (which the rice baggy in the shop was designed to eliminate), I find that helps to.

[Lucy]

Don't forget to try cold cloth compresses on your eyes occasionally, too. Rotating with the warm/hot if you're using them. I always found cold/ice to relieve the pain better. It's not better for opening up the meibs, but kills the pain.

[SallyP]

Stella, although I get very down sometime, I won't give up, I can't, and East 12 I look forward to trying the new drops, I'm hoping they'll arrive this morning! I did think about getting rid of the oil myself, but I'm afraid of not doing it properly and making things worse, I may go and have a chat with my optician about that. I'll let you know how I get on.

I think when I first got this, 2 years ago, I did expect to get completely better,obviously unrealistic, but am now happy with what we would probably know as a "good" day, but for those with healthy eyes, would be intolerable. I thnk the fact that I injured my foot so badly about 8 weeks ago didn't help, and I was on a high dose, and very strong pain killers, which I'm sure aggrevated things and now I've virtually come of them in the last couple of days, things seem to have settled down considerably, but as you say, you just know that it can flare up at any time for no obvious reasons. I do the hot compress every day, for the reasons mentioned, but I follow that with the cold water, which I have to say, is very soothing.

Everybody's been so very kind, and I cannot tell you how much you've all helped, and this site is a godsend x

[SallyP]

systane - seems to be working, but question about it also?

Hi, just thought I'd tell you I've used the systane ultra, it's the best one so far, and I got relief in the evening for more than 15 minutes. Rightly or wrongly and maybe somebody could tell me, but now I'm not scared it's going to make me flare up, I'm going to use it 4 x a day, more of a preventative measure, which I did yesterday, and I was far better in the evening. However, as I'm sure you're all aware, it's such a hit and miss thing, I might have had a good evening anyway, but these new drops have definitely provided the most long term relief, so thank you so much East 12 for your suggestion. Is it OK to use throughout the day rather than waiting until they're at their worst at the end of the day?