COmputer use dry eye

[cristiandryeyes]

After long thinking, I came up with a conclusion (the most reasonable one): my dry eye must be caused by excessive computer use.

Symptoms appeared short after a hard work season. I remember, my eyes being tired late at night and still I had so much work to do. In the morning, they used to be fully recovered, until there was one day it didn't happen.

I've been struggling with artificial tears since then, getting absolutely no relief. I tried plugs too, no major impact.

I am pretty sure I don't have evaporative dry eye (no blepharitis, TBUT > 23 secs) which is weird because young people's dry eye is in most cases related to evaporation, right?


I just can't believe there's nothing I can do about it. How do you treat dry eye caused by computer use ? Is there any specific treatment available ?
So much computer use may have inflicted severe damage on my eyes that is actually unrecoverable?

I've recently started taking anti-depressants(Tryptizol , 10 mg/day). I've found out that they actually make my eyes worse...but, if there's a drug that can worsen my state, affecting tear production... THERE MUST BE something that provokes the opposite effect, right!?

[ringo]

Computer use definitely dries the eyes, and there is a more complicated mechanism involved in this process, than just delayed blinking. Anyway, there is a medical name for this condition, called Computer Vision Syndrome, and dry eye is only a part of it.
I had to quit my job because of this. I also was an ardent fan of computer games, which I can't even think of now. IT is all very sad.
The drug you refer to, namely the one that triggers tear production, is called Pilocarpine. It acts as a substitute for the nerve signalling substance acetylcholine. I have been prescribed the drug and it causes tears to come, but also causes excessive sweating, salivation,chills and dehydration. If you think you can trade off the adverse effects for some extra tears, go for it.

[ricmerry]

After long thinking, I came up with a conclusion (the most reasonable one): my dry eye must be caused by excessive computer use.
How do you treat dry eye caused by computer use ? Is there any specific treatment available ?

You may want to look in to a program like WorkRave.
http://www.workrave.org/
It's helped me some.
-Ric

[Rebecca Petris]

I agree with Ricmerry and would suggest moisture chambers as well. Cheap = onion goggles; expensive = MEGs. In fact I think MEGs were designed partly with computer vision syndrome in mind.

[cristiandryeyes]

Thanks for your answers. My schirmer I is 3;5. But my schirmer II test is 25;25. So, according to this, if my glands are estimulated, they do respond.

Have any of you heard of 'Evoxac' ? Apparently it is more effective than Pilocarpine and has minimal side effects.

[ringo]

Hi Christian,

Yes, I have heard of Evoxac, but it is not available anywhere except in the US as far as i know.
I just learned that it has a more pronounced effect on producing tears, and much less pronounced side effects.
However, no doctor where i am has any experience with it, and they are not willing to prescribe it, so I cannot even get a prescription if I want to order it from the US.
If you have any ideas how anyone can obtain this medication outside the US, i will really appreciate it.
Goggles really help with computer use as well.

Thanks and regards,

[ricmerry]

my dry eye must be caused by excessive computer use.

I forgot to mention this one, it helps me as well, I'm on a computer for most of the day and it simply has less of my eye exposed than if I was looking up at a montir rather than down.
[paste]

According to the article "Dry eyes and video display terminals," published by K. Tsubota and K. Nakamori in the February 28, 1993, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, looking at a computer monitor for prolonged periods of time can dry the surface of the eye. If you already have dry eyes, this can increase dry eye pain. The article recommends decreasing "the exposed ocular surface area ... by placing the [computer] terminal at a lower height, with the screen tilted upward."

PS: Overall the best thing I've done so far has been to find an O.D. who specializes in dry eyes

[cristiandryeyes]

Today I'll visit a DES specialist, not just ordinary ophthalmologist.
I pray the lord this person has an idea of what he is talking about. I'm so sick of this, I feel so derailed...just want to get back on track.

[ricmerry]

Today I'll visit a DES specialist, not just ordinary ophthalmologist.
I pray the lord this person has an idea of what he is talking about. I'm so sick of this, I feel so derailed...just want to get back on track.

Good for you. This was the turning point for me. I'm not so sure my eyes are that much better but I recovered hope, something pretty tough to live without.

[cristiandryeyes]

It feels like a turning point for me too. I brought some good news. I was wrong about the blepharitis thing. I do have blepharitis, he detected wax plugs all over the eyelid border. He prescribed me standard treatment: Hot Compresses + Lid massages + Lid margin scrubs + Minocycline 1/day for 3 months.

And here goes his original finding: He did not hesitate to say my blepharitis/dry eye may be caused/complicated by Helicobacter pylori bacterium. I have no idea what he saw, I'm not going to run an investigation right now about possible links between stomach inflammation and dry eye, you know what? I don't care, I'm gonna trust him..He works for several pharmaceutical companies, He does conferences...sure he knows something.

I hope the blood test confirms I have this bacterium. I will keep you updated.

[Rebecca Petris]

I am so happy for you that you've gotten a more thorough diagnosis. And I think you're quite right. There's not much point going to a specialist if we're not going to trust anything they say. Best of luck with your further treatment.