Do you feel this?

[Phe]

I'm new here and was recently diagnosed with dry eyes. For a while i thought the opthalmologist was crazy because how could simply dry eyes cause so much discomfort. I'm so happy i found this page.

My question is - does anyone else feel the following:

- Pressure, like something is pushing your eye out from behind
- Pain in your brow bone
- Stiffness in moving your eye

I'm still worried that the diagnosis was wrong.

Thanks!

[neil0502]

Welcome....sadly.

I don't know my rear from second base, BUT ... I might advise you get a second opinion. Really reaching here: you say you're ending law school. That means you've been doing an immense amount of reading. In addition to your newly-diagnosed dry eye problems, you MIGHT be having accommodative (focusing) problems that are leading to "simple" eyestrain.

I'd see another doctor, perhaps inquiring about a "cycloplegic" (dilated) eye exam. You may need glasses, different glasses, or to stop wearing glasses when reading ... depending on your existing and "new" prescription.

Meanwhile, I'd suggest that--after extensive reading periods--you start using a warm "corn or rice bag" over your eyes. Search the forum and you'll find information about it. It's "proven" to help relieve the strain of extended near work.

All the best,

Neil

[Phe]

Thanks for the response - i think i will see someone else. And yes, there is a lot of reading in my life at the moment but...it'll be finished in 20 days wooooooohooooooo.

Currently i dont wear glasses as i've been repeatedly told that i have perfect vision - which doesn't really explain why everything is blurry. From what i've read here, its sometimes hard to find a doc who is prepared to spend the time to work out your problem.

[Rebecca Petris]

Dry eye CAN cause an immense amount of discomfort, but as far as I know, not the symptoms you're describing. Also, some people who have obvious evidence of dry eye during testing don't actually feel the symptoms of dry eye. So I'm with Neil. The diagnosis may be perfectly correct (that you have dry eye) but still not be the cause of the symptoms that are bothering you most (which sound like what he said). Good luck getting to the bottom of this!

[dianat]

I feel a lot of eye muscle strain...and I don't do much reading. I've resorted to books on tape. Sometimes I feel the brow bone pain and tension is worse that the burning I feel on the surface of my eye. It's very debilitating. I'm sorry you have to be here, but am glad you have found a place where you can get answers.

[shells]

Hi Phe,

You are explaining my DES symptoms perfectly. I have other more typical symptoms of DES as well, but the ones you mentioned are my least favorite and cause me the most pain. I know others on this site have those same symptoms too, because I have spoken with them. It feel like my eyes are being pressed out from behind and the whole area around my eyes ache. My eyes feel stiff almost all the time, like my eyelids are made of cardboard (I know that sounds silly, but it is so hard to explain unless you are feeling it!). I have very few tears, so that part makes sense to me. It is the pressure that I can't seem to figure out. For me, I'm pretty sure that these symptoms are directly related to my dry eye with possibly some sinus issues adding to the whole mess. So, it is possible this is dry eye for you too. But like Neil and the others said...with all the reading and eye strain lately, you might want to get a second opinion just to make sure. Good luck.

-Shells

[neil0502]

Not trying to take this thread too far afield, but ... I'm digging a bit into some of my other eye stuff this a.m. and found this. My take? If the vision is pretty darned variable after LASIK, this is just another thing to consider. NB: don't let them KEEP you on cyclopentolate for too long unless it's the preservative-free version.

[emphasis added]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

Accommodative spasm after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).Airiani S, Braunstein RE.
Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.

PURPOSE: To report a case of accommodative spasm following laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: Ophthalmic examination including manifest and cycloplegic refraction to assist in diagnosis. RESULTS: Two months following LASIK surgery, a 41-year-old healthy woman complained of intolerable headaches that had interfered with her daily activities. The patient sought medical consultation, and an MRI of the brain was normal. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 and 20/25 with manifest refraction of -2.25 -0.50 x 170 and plano in the right and the left eye, respectively. Cycloplegic refraction was plano in the right and +0.75 sphere in the left eye, and she was corrected to 20/20 bilaterally. After being treated with cyclopentolate 1% one drop at bedtime to each eye for approximately six weeks, the headache completely resolved. CONCLUSIONS: Accommodative spasm should be considered in patients undergoing LASIK surgery complicated with fluctuating refraction of uncertain causes.

[Konnan]

I don't feel any pain, but very, very large discomfort. My eyes feel very gritty, sticky, irritating. Sometimes I can't laugh/smile or it costs me alot of effort. My face becomes static. I make my eyes bigger to release some "pressure", and I have a few more little tricks to comfort them temporarily.

[stornabene]

ur not alone.....

I am new here also and have had problems with my eyes for some time now and recently went to a Dr. and he determined I had dry eye.

It began many years ago and more often than not I would begin feeling grittiness in my eyes which forced me to touch them in an attempt to relieve myself of the irritation. I am able to put my finger onto my eyeball without any bother (tho its quite unsanitary) and it becomes habit when it constenly felt like an eyelash or piece of sand was in there. Anyhow, It would irritate me so long and I would have my fingers in there that my enire eye would become inflammed, red, puffy an unpleasant. I would spread it back and forth during bad times and I thought I had horrible pink eye attacks. Which I guess it more or less can lead to in bad cases....In the beginning they would eventually get better on their own but while vacantioning I had to see a Dr. and as another Dr. at home said, I got drops and they called it a form of conjunctivitis and in time all would be normal again.

Anyhow, over the past many months my eyes were getting worse and I was noticing symptoms staying around longer.....It was as if my eyes were fighting off the horrible infection attacks but other symptoms were coming on stronger....my eyes started to really form stringy mucus all day every day (as they do now) and they become blurry a lot, at work I do use a computer a lot and they get strained all too often, the bottom of my lids get very itchy sometimes and I find that smoke in bars irritates them more than ever before. About 4 months ago I started getting cronic headaches in mostly areas like right behind my eye balls and my eyebrow bone and temples....bad headaches that do not go away with "any" medicines....the lights above my desk at work were so so so sensitive to my eyes and I began going to my regular physician because it was that bad...I didnt know if it was stress or what or if I needed glasses but I had always had perfect vision....I had an MRI to rule anything too serious out and that was fine, i did have an eye test at my opthamologist and that was fine....my Dr. ended up prescribing me meds for the pain, but they are actually used for depression and pain and often with the pain of such headaches so I have been trying it. I have to say the headaches subsided slightly but are slowly coming back and of course the eye symptoms are still there. So yest I had enough and decided to google the symptoms of dry eye since I knew I had it and I was convinced these headaches were a result of eye problems....Sure enough, dry eye can cause headaches and neckaches and the pain in the forehead region.....I am considering what I can do (ex plugs...etc.) and I am interested to see how many other people experience this type of pain along with the other symptoms....

sorry this is a novel but this is the first story I saw since I logged on that caught my attention and I wanted to help you feel more at ease since it feels good to hear other people's experiences....so you aren't alone I see my Dr. again next week and plan to get to the bottom of this....I am almost thru with the tear drops he requested me to buy $12 later and I just don't think they are doing the job....well it's far too late and my eyes feel like a desert so I am gonna go but would love to hear what others have to say

[Judy]

Hello and welcome, stornabene. I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles and pain. It sounds as though you have severe dry eyes to me (just my opinion, of course) and really need to see a dry eye specialist and start formulating a plan to improve. If the pain from your headaches, etc. is caused by dry eye, wouldn't it be nice to get your eyes under control and toss the pain meds out? Keep reading up here and you will find all sorts of valuable information! I have dry eyes, blepharitis, MGD and take meds for MGD (doxy) occasionally. I use many eye drops and Restasis, do warm rice baggy treatments, etc. My eyes are much better than they were so I plod along to keep getting more improvement. I'm on the computer 9 hours or more a day at work and can totally relate to what you are going through. If you can get away from the fluorescent lights and use indirect lower level lighting in your office, this has really helped me too. Best of luck and God Bless! Judy

ps - oh yes (this is an edit) I do Unisol 4 saline rinses (preservative free saline) in the shower every morning and use q-tips with the same saline to clean my eyelids, but this would be something you would want to check with your Dr. on. It works great for me and my opth approved when I told her...

[stornabene]

Thank you

Thanks Judy-

Very helpful info...Yeah I see my opth this Saturday so I am gonna try and nip this in the bud for sure!!! I think I will try that saline you talked of and will mentio to my Dr. I'll keep you allposted....

Thanks again

[Judy]

Hey Chris,

Make sure you mention it is preservative free! The saline is very cool on your eyes which also provides relief. Best wishes at your Saturday (wow, an appointment on the weekend!!!) appointment! Judy