Do tears come back?

[Mawsky]

Hi All, I have a question for those who may be, or have been as dry as me, (no tears) Can your tears come back? I've only heard negative opinions about having no tears, to cry or otherwise, pretty much this is it, and just accept that your never going to cry a tear again. Is this your experience? Would love to hear better outcomes than what I'm told to expect, but want to be realistic.

[Colin P]

I'm producing more than this time last year, for sure. Dont know if it's cos i'm less stressed out? or ive changed my routine?.

[lulu]

Hi Mawsky
I think it just comes down to what actually lies at the heart of the problem. I know that you are not sure what is causing yours exactly, so it does make it awkward to predict if this is a temporary state, or something more chronic. I sometimes wonder if it is any easier knowing? We all assume it is but then you have to get your head around the long term prognosis thing, which can make one feel a little helpless at times. However, many people have suffered terribly on this site and then gone onto experiencing a partial remit or even in some cases a total cure. Whats for sure is that quite a few do eventually find something that at least helps lessen the symptoms. I have had times when over the last 10 years or so, it has been pretty good for me, and at times I thought wey hey, i am better now. For me there is more to this than just idiopathic dry eye, as you know from talking to me, I have other AI symptoms which are consistant with a diagnosis of sjogrens, but am sero negative for the ssa. I do have anti phospholipid though. I think that quite a few gals on here have the same senario and some have underlying hormonal issues which can cause awful dry eyes. I was once told by a helpline for sjogrens support that I would likely never have another good day! And that it would all be a downward spiral. I went onto having a good 2 years following this, so you never really know and whilst it is tempting to get yourself used to having to deal with it for ever, it can just as easily remit for a while and you may never know what it is you did or did not do that helped it to go. I have been flaring now for many many months and it is pretty awful. But I have to remain hopefull that something may change. I am on a gluten and sugar free diet at the mo and have just had the last plug removed for cautery. I am also waiting for the outcome of the NHS decision for autologous serum. I dont think you should think along the lines of this is never going, although I think at times we often can. Who would not in our situation. My optho says my tear production is not likely to improve now but at least I can hopefully find something that might make my days a little easier, and to be honest he said that before and it did get a bit better. I have had two remissions and I loved every minute of them!!!!!!
Lulu xxxx

[bunnyrabbit123]

Hi Lulu,
what's anti-phospholipid? I haven't been able to cry in about a year and a half now and I too wonder if this is how things will stay or get worse. I'm using restasis (8 mos.) and have plugs and cautery so at this point I have some tear film but I couldn't cry if my life depended on it. Most days require liberal use of otc drops and cold compresses and my optho has nothing else to offer.

[lulu]

Anti phospholipid syndrome is sticky blood or sticky platelet syndrome. It often goes with lupus, sjogrens and other AI s like arthritis. It can occur in the general population for no reason however, although there is normally some assoc other symptoms.
Mine has caused miscarriages. You are found to possess an anti cardiolipin antibody on testing and the test is repeated over several months and years, I have tested pos on Five occasions but not every time. So with my damaged bladder and other pains, an AI is the most likely cause. They like to treat you with an anticoagulant as you are at higher risk for thrombosis and stroke.
Its interesting that this crops up from time to time with people who have had very dry eyes over a long period of time but no postive serology for the markers for sjogrens. SSA RO and LA antibodies. There is a connection but it is not a clear enough one.
I do have some tear production but not enough to keep me out of pain. I can cry but its weird if I do. Some people have no tear production and experience little pain but the people I know with no production do experience some degree of pain. I am not sure how many of us regain our tear production after such a protracted amount of time without any useful activity but it is not unknown. Some people over the years eventually lose the painful sensations in the cornea due to nerve damage but that does take some time, I have heard them say that they used to have a lot of probs with the eyes, so maybe thats what one can hope for if it does not settle down. But in those circumstances you would have to be very vigilant with the wetting drops as you may not poss feel the danger of dried corneas? How nice not to feel the corneal nerve endings!!!!!!!
Lulu

[Mawsky]

Oh Lulu, I've been thinking of you lately, and was going to msg you! I hope things have gotten some better, hope all goes well for the serum drops, and they offer some relief. I'm about six weeks in the contacts, and so far they bring me so much comfort from the pain, grittiness, and foreign body sensation, not to mention the continuous corneal abrasions. Have you ever tried them? I would never had thought of it if that specialist had not placed the bandaid contact in my eye, my eyes do feel moister, so I'm hopeful, and you never know, someone on here said that since using contacts her eyes are almost normal now. I still hope to be able to cry again someday, silly, but I miss it. Hope the other issues, that we have talked about are not flaring up on you right now, I'm having a bit of a flare of my AI, but eyes are better with the contacts, I'm so grateful. God bless you Lulu, hope your doing better soon.
Christine

[Mawsky]

Colin, good to hear! I don't have a diagnosis, and sjogrens tests were neg, so I'm trying to remain hopeful, your news is encouraging! How low did your tear production get? Were you able to cry tears? I just began using contacts for protection and comfort, and I do feel like my eyes are moister than before, I'm not sure if I'm just not as uncomfortable, but I was putting in drops ever ten to twenty minutes before, now, I can sometimes go hours......big difference for me.

[Colin P]

I had the schirmer test done, just because the 1 N.H.S opth i have seen decided to try it, after she had overuled her colleagues and said "you have not got blepharitis!".
Never told me actualy how low it was, just said it's low. If i force myself to yawn, i can get moist or even overflowing eyes after about 7 yawns-lol. (reflex tears).
Eating small portions every few hours, - no idea what that suggests?? (advice needed please).. Also Eye breaks 10min closed helps.

[lulu]

Mawsky
I have PM you
Lulu
xx

[dryeye4ever]

they should be...tears are produced in bigger quantities over the months or years in certain's patients. So anyway, im taking restasis and eating omega 3 would like to know what else can help