Can anyone here relate to this while on Restasis?

[odydnas]

Hey everyone,

I've experienced the horrible windy mentholy sensation that some of you have. It was so bad that I had trouble keeping my eyes open because of it, so things like driving, being on the computer, reading, etc was extremely difficult.

I started Restasis about a month ago, and the menthol sensation has decreased (yay!). However, it's been replaced with a very dry, tight, and tired sensation in my eyes (and burning, but i know that is expected). My eyes feel SO tired that i spend a good amount of the day w/ my eyes closed. Also, I get headaches either on my forehead or my temples that makes it extremely difficult for me to open my eyes. My eyes are closing, just writing this message.

So it this some kind of side effect from Restasis, or another symptom of dry eyes? Does anyone have any ideas? Also, I am a high myope, -10, if that has anything to do w/ headaches.

Thanks everyone!

[Rojzen]

can relate partially

I can relate partially to what you describe, Odynas. . .Restasis reduced my menthol sensation a bit, over the nearly 4 years of my using it. . .But I have to add that shortly after each dose of Restasis, my menthol sensation would INCREASE dramatically, and that would last several hours. . .The reduced sensation set in only much later each day. . .I did not experience an increase in dryness sensation while on Restasis.

My 10-year-long quest to end my menthol sensation (which I controlled PRIMARILY through use of custom moisture chambers on a constant basis) ended 7 months after I started using Dwelle and FreshKote. . .At that milestone, I suddenly found myself without menthol. . .and I could go outdoors without any protective eyewear. . .Since then, I have continued to improve yet more, so that I can hardly recall how menthol feels. . .Quite astonishing. . .Have you tried either of these? And have you looked at Dr. Holly's discussion, here at DEZ, on how the castor oil in Restasis can actually damage the ocular surface?

[odydnas]

I would love to use moisture chambers, however I am a high myope, and they do not make moisture chambers in my prescription =(.

I am definitely thinking of trying Dr. Holly's drops because I am wondering if the dryness sensation is due to castor oil. What made you start using Dwelle as opposed to the other two drops?

thanks!

[dryeyes2]

Hi Odydnas,

I have a strong prescription too. My right eye is a -13.50. My left is what yours is. I have had to use goggles over my glasses for use in the house. Not attractive at all, but it allows me to function. I have cut down on using them as much because the DHEA drops. I was on Restasis but stopped this month, after almost a year. Restasis was irritating my eyes a lot. I don't think it did much for me anyway. I have started Dwelle this past week and hope that I will have a similar result as Rojzen has had.

I hope you find something that helps you.
Best wishes,
dryeyes2

[Rojzen]

customized glasses for high myopes; Dwelle v. other Dr. Holly drops

odynas, glad to answer. My refraction is also too high for Panoptx and Wiley prescription moisture chambers, and so I have, over the years, always had an optician attach soft plastic moisture chambers to my regular glasses. . .Let me know if you would like more detail on this process. We have references throughout DEZ to customized moisture chambers, though not many of us wear these. . .

I chose Dwelle only by accident, initially. I had been on FreshKote for a while, and got curious about how well I would do with a non-prescription drop. Dwelle was most heavily discussed here, and so I got started on that. I also aim to try Dakrina for long-term use, because I like the idea of adding Vitamin A to the high oncotic pressure solution, and Dakrina is the only Vitamin A-containing drop that carries the vitamin in a water-soluble (I think) medium, hence allowing it to penetrate to the mucin layer, where it is needed. (Dr. Holly explains this far better. . .Pls. see his posts on Dakrina.)

Thus far, Dwelle has worked even better than FreshKote has, for me. . .Hope that answers the questions, so far. . .