6 Months post Epi-Lasek. Induced dry eyes

[Missy]

Hi Ian!

I am so glad to read that you are getting some relief!
Please keep us updated on what you think is helping the most.

Missy

[shells]

Hey Ian!

I second everything that Neil said! I also agree to keep up the routine for a while, just to make sure. So glad that something is helping though! I do have a feeling that maybe this is some of the natural healing going on...maybe your new routine just helped speed the process! Either way, great news, and thanks so much for keeping us updated! It is always so nice when people do that. Someday some lasik newbie is gonna find tons of encouragement from your post, so PLEASE keep the good news coming!!!

-Shells

[neil0502]

Ian-

What's the old story about baseball pitchers (or other athletes) and their routines -- lucky underwear, strange rituals, and all that??

If it's working ... I say go with it (always being cautious about side effects and interactions, though).

I'm happy for you. I'm envious of you. I'm smiling vicariously from the relief you're feeling. I hope it only gets better!

Neil

Update on progress

I can't believe that it is a month since I joined this site, wow, what happens in 1 month.

I thought I would come back for an update.

My doctor is really happy with my progress and I am now starting to share his enthusaism as well, I am getting further through my days with less and less drops.

I hope that most of this is to do with natural healing as Neil suggested and if that is the case, than bring it on with abundance.

I can't help but believe that Restasis, Endura, Dwelle and Genteal Gel are all helping in some way.

I have been using Restasis now for 1 month and I have noticed that my mountain of single use vials at the end of each week is getting smaller and smaller, particularly the last week - it has been my best for months.

After discussion with my DR, I am using Restasis (AM & PM) and Refresh Endura every 3 - 4 hours. I use Dwelle when I need that special boost and Genteal Gel at night, although I am still keen to pluck up the courage to rely on Dwelle of a night, might wait till my next appointment to discuss that (3 weeks).

Anyway, will keep you posted, thanks again for the ongoing support.

Regards

Ian

[Missy]

Hi Ian!
I'm really glad that you are feeling a little bit better. Every little bit helps! I hope that you continue to improve.

I had lasik about ten months ago and went through a similar process of trying to find things that would help me control my dry eye symptoms. Your daily routine looks similar to mine. I do a whole bunch of stuff for my eyes. Some days I wonder what is actually helping and what's not. I guess eventually I may try to cut some things out, but for now as long as I can be pretty comfy then I'm sticking with everything.

Missy

Recovery vs Drops (Good Question????)

Neil thanks for your comments.

I am not sure either whether I am just recovering (lets hope so) or whether it can be attributed to the DEZ drops. Either way I an not that concerned now as I am just so excited about getting some relief and the DEZ drops certainly provided that in the first instance.

I have tried enough things so it could be a combination of anything.
- Omega 3 fish oil (3 X 1000mg/day)
- Vitamins (A, C, E), plus a Multi
- Restasis morning and night
- Warm compresses when needed
- Dakrina 2 - 5 times daily
- Genteal Gel and Gel eye mask at night
- 2+ litres of water per day - I am starting to feel like a camel

So one/some of the above seem to be working. Who knows which, my next challenge will be what do I stop first. It is too early to cross that bridge just yet, I am sticking with this regime for another month or two, then I will start cutting back/substituting things.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement, I have discovered that this road is best travelled with the support of people like yourself, what a blessing to have found this site when I did.

Regards
Ian

[Rebecca Petris]

Today is the first day in months that I have managed to get through the entire day at my desk without wanting to rip my burning eyes out....I saw my doctor on Tuesday and he was happy with my progress. He said that my Corneas had a healthly glow about them and there was no evidence of dry spots, no mucis or debris at all

Ian, I am SO happy for you!!! Fingers crossed for continued improvement.

Re Dwelle and nighttime use: I think your approach and expectations are very practical. I think that with switching to Dwelle at night it does not necessarily immediately give enough protection to last through the night but with regular use of Dakrina and/or Dwelle for 1-3 weeks the wettability of the ocular surface should be improving to the point that with one application of Dwelle before bed you do not wake during the night needing more. I remember working with a lady (up near Newcastle if I remember) who had severe dry eye after PRK and woke during the night needing ointment for two years. Dr. Holly coached her through the switch to Dwelle and she saw gradual improvement over a period of weeks until one memorable day when she slept through the entire night without needing more lubrication and without erosions.

I love my job

[shells]

Hi Ian,

Wow! So glad to hear of your progress! After hearing yet another success story, I just might have to suck it up and give Dr. Holly's drops another try. My problem is that my eyes fluctuate so much it is very hard to tell what helps me and what doesn't. But, whether this is the drops, or just some healing like Neil pointed out, either way, great news and I hope it continues!!

-Shells

[neil0502]

Wow, Ian ... it sounds like all great news. Congratulations!

Also--and I hope this doesn't sound like an "indictment" of anything that you're currently trying, doing, or using--it does seem that many people who have dry eye as a result of refractive surgery recover from that particular side effect in 6-12 months.

So ... while I think it's always good to support Dr. Holly and his drops ... maybe ... just maybe ... you're only a short period away from being substantially recovered.

I sincerely hope that's what's going on. Either way, though, if you've found a "care regimen" that's working out well for you, that's phenomenal progress.

Continued success,
Neil

A Big Thanks

I would like to say a huge thank you to Gaye for sending me some samples of the DEZ drops and to the DEZ for providing these.

I started on them yesterday and so far just love them. I know that it is really early days but Dakrina is the only thing tht I have used during this whole ordeal that gives me some instant and longer term relief.

I read a really good presentation by Dr Holly (during my countless hours of research) and on the recommendations in his presentation, I decided that it was time to rationalise on my regime and to just use drops compatible with each other - ie, of similar formulation.

The presentation link is here http://www.dry-eye-institute.org/lectures.htm for anyone that wants a read of this very interesting presentation. It helped my to understand my problem a little better and provided some guidance on managing it.

I have decided to stop using Celluvisc, Systane, Refresh Contacts, etc and concentrating my efforts now on the DEZ drops.

Today is the first day in months that I have managed to get through the entire day at my desk without wanting to rip my burning eyes out. I can feel such a difference, still some way to go but I have certainly moved 1 step forward.

I saw my doctor on Tuesday and he was happy with my progress. He said that my Corneas had a healthly glow about them and there was no evidence of dry spots, no mucis or debris at all when he used the orange dye test with blue light.

My punctual plugs have also dissolved so I am pluggless again and he didn't believe it was necessary to replace them.

I see him again in 1 month so it will be interesting to see how I go then, I am commited to using the DEZ drops for the month until I see him again, hopefully next visit both of us will be delighted with the results and I hope that I have found the workable solution that I have been desperately searching for.

I must admit that whilst I still have more readness than prior to my Lasek, my eyes are looking the healthiest they have since the surgery. I think that I will always have a degree of redness now due to the trauma my eyes were subjected to.

I bit the bullet last night and used Dwelle for night time relief (no gel or anything else). I woke 2 - 3 times and reapplied but I am not sure if this was due to my apprehension at just using a drop, fear of waking with an abrasion or whether my body only expects to get 2 - 4 hours sleep at any one time these days as that I have gotten used to since Lasek.

Tonight I am going to use the Genteal Gel again as I am just so concerned about waking with another abrasion as I find them so bebilitating. I think I will use Dakrina for 2 weeks then try Dwelle at night instead of the gels. Just want to be safe, not sorry, I am not as brave as I once was - funny how I have learnt lots of lessons from Lasek - certainly got more than I bargained for.

So I feel folks that I am making progress in the right direction. I am sure that I will still have my 2 steps forward and 1 back days but so long as I keep going forward, I will be a very happy chappy.

I have so much to thank you, the wonderful members of DEZ for, people I have never met sending me samples and just friendly notes of support.

Thanks for your encouragement, support and suggestions. I am so overwhelmed and have no trouble making tears when I think what a positive contribution you have made in helping me address my DES.

Regards

Ian

I wasn't aware that I had dry eyes prior to the surgery and there was no tests done during consultation to determine if I had dry eyes or not, so I guess I was the perfect candidate.

Of course I was the perfect candidate, I voluntarily came to the clinic with a desire for "perfect vision" (just like the TV commercials portray), I had the money to pay for the procedure and I was a willing patient. Must be music to their ears.

My new doctor has only given me a trial of restasis (as I believe that they feel that this is the last resort), I was told that it is not yet available in the UK but can be sourced through an International Pharmacy in London and most likely costs around £100 per month.

I am prepared to try anything, this has turned my life upside down, not only do I wear glasses most of the time, the vision in my left eye has gone to pot. My eyes almost constantly feel like I have dirty contact lenses that desperately need to come out when I realise - I don't wear contact lenses anymore, this is my real eyes, the only pair (and no spares) that I was given, and I CHOSE this.

Gaye has sent me some drops from the US to try and I am keen to give them a go when they get here as I have tried so many other things.

What I would give to have my uncorrected vision back - but as I have to keep reminding myself that the decision has been made, can't be changed and I have to develop a practical solution to cope with this by staying positive about finding a workable solution.

Of a night now, I put in my Viscotears gel (awaiting Genteal Gel), put on my gel filled eye mask and make my way off to snooze land for the 2-4 hours that my god believes that I am entitled to, when I wake up I pop some more drops in and pray for another 2-4 hours sleep.

I have basically given up my consultancy job as I just can't stand the office environment and staring at a PC all day results in burning eyes beyond belief, it is just not worth the effort anymore.

I have stopped the Lacrilube and have noticed that at least my eyes look better even if they don't feel a whole lot better.

I am still absolutely resolute in my belief that a manageable solution is just around the corner and each day I live in hope.

Thanks again for your comments, I see my Doctor again next week and will ask some specific questions about the availability of Restasis in the UK and I will let you know how I get on.

Regards

Ian

[sazy123]

Hi Ian i am from the UK also, yes please do share with me as well how you got hold of restasis?

Im glad you found a good doctor in the UK who is willing to try different things with you. I know that they are hard to come by, i never found one. Could you tell us his/her name and what hospital they are at?what he/she is like?do they consider your eyes severe thats why they let you have the restasis? just for future reference. how much did it cost you to get restasis? i assume you got it imported over? I am on restasis now, but only after someone from the states sent me a box.

Im interested, were you aware that you had dry eye before surgery or were you a perfect candidate?

[SusieD]

Hi Ian, Im also from the UK, I have sent you a private message regarding this.

I am also VERY interested to hear how you have managed to get restasis - Ive found it like searching for the holy grail!!!

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi Ian, welcome to Dry Eye Talk! As always... sorry to know someone else has this problem but happy that you found us!!

It sounds like you have been very diligent and thorough in pursuing a number of treatment options, which is great.

I am very sorry that we cannot ship Dwelle or Dakrina to the UK (although we still hope to in the relatively near future). We have regulatory approval for them but we have to get some new batches labelled with MHRA compliant labelling and the minimum quantities are such that I just haven't managed to squeeze this into the budget yet. (FYI for others - we do not ship to anyone outside the US because of licensing and regulatory restrictions... although these drops are over-the-counter, they are regulated as drugs, so we have a lot of legal limitations on what we can do.) Having said that, it's an open secret around here that many people outside the US use these products and in fact I was living in England when I first began using them myself. Can't begin to tell you how many dry eye buddies I have over there that started sleeping better after switching from Lacrilube to Dwelle. - You can purchase them online in the Dry Eye Shop but they have to be shipped to a US address, so for example many people order them and have them shipped to a friend in the US who forwards them on arrival. - EllenJ thanks for the kind words on the drops - I'm so happy to know they're helping you!!! That's why we took on this daunting little eyedrop project....

[EllenJ]

Hi Ian,
Just a quick bit of advice -- definitely order Dakrina & Dwelle off this website. I'm sure they ship overseas -- don't see why they wouldn't! Give them a few days of serious use and you'll notice a difference. I was limping along with all sorts of products, including these, for several months. Then I decided to try just these 2 for a week, after reading so many stories on this website. Wow -- they have made a tremendous difference in my level of retained eye moisture for some reason. I'm not nearly as well-versed on dry eye stuff as most people on here -- I just know I have the condition -- but this much I can tell you: Dakrina & Dwelle work. Good luck, and keep the positive attitude. It can only help!!

Ellen