What keeps me going ...

I am interested in why no one is willing to try the Lacriserts? I will tell you that they are really helpful. There are some "tricks" but overall, they almost always help. Think about it. A freeze dried artificial tear that dissolves overnight. I recommend my patients put them in before bed.

My understanding is that you still need some tear production to get the Lacriserts to dissolve. I used them for a while, and they would help the most on "good" eye days when both eyes were making some tears... During waking hours, I could use a runny PF artificial tear like Bion tears to help them dissolve.

I tried wearing them overnight on more than one occasion and it was one of the worst, most uncomfortable outcomes I've had. I woke up with the things not dissolved at all, and this massive lump sitting there on my eyeball... my whole eye felt horribly gummy, and was red. Maybe they work best overnight for people who make more tears than I do...

Also, they are rather expensive... over here they cost about $200 per box. Not everyone is willing to spend $200 on a product that has such mixed reviews...

[Andrey]

I am interested in why no one is willing to try the Lacriserts? I will tell you that they are really helpful. There are some "tricks" but overall, they almost always help. Think about it. A freeze dried artificial tear that dissolves overnight. I recommend my patients put them in before bed. That way they get some help overnight and feel better in the morning. The "trick" I refer to is that I suggest my patients cut them in half because they are too big and turn into a nasty blob. The company cannot recommend that because they are FDA approved the way they are. I am sure some of you cut pills in half and use a smaller dose of something.

Where do you buy them? Has anyone had any bad experience with Lacriserts? Eyemech, come to Sweden and help me

[eyemech]

Jrcgray,

I have not tried the inserts yet. Currently my regiment is Restasis twice daily, blink preservative fee every four hours or less, warm compress (with rice baggy) for 7 minutes then eyelid scrub with ocusoft. And I wear prescription moisture chamber goggles as much as I can.

If you have not tried the goggles get the cheap onion goggles and where them for an hour or so and see if it helps. I would say so far the goggles have had the biggest impact as well as keeping stress low as hopeful mentions, which can be hard to do.

Best of luck to you.

Cheers,
Tom

I am interested in why no one is willing to try the Lacriserts? I will tell you that they are really helpful. There are some "tricks" but overall, they almost always help. Think about it. A freeze dried artificial tear that dissolves overnight. I recommend my patients put them in before bed. That way they get some help overnight and feel better in the morning. The "trick" I refer to is that I suggest my patients cut them in half because they are too big and turn into a nasty blob. The company cannot recommend that because they are FDA approved the way they are. I am sure some of you cut pills in half and use a smaller dose of something.

[Tanner]

Tommyboy My dad wan't around much growing up but if he was and eye problems and a pair of oinion goggles I woundln't care. Kids don't see us iike adults do. As for your wife there are far more imortant things to us than goggles such as being taken care of:flowers, spontanous I love you email, chocolette, doing a load of laundry. Society has a way of showing a mans role that isn't completely true. My husband picked up my puke all over the bathroom floor laid next to me told me he loved me if I needed anything and he would help. I havent read this whole thread so I could be going off but when you have kids and a family what matters is being there. You could be missing two arms and most wife and kids wouldn't care. That said I am depressed about my life and career but there is some truth about family.

[robster]

Cool video. Music can definitely helped. Posted on another thread about playing the guitar, 6 months ago I was average at best. Since my whole LASIK fiasco I would now say I am pretty god damn good, even if I do say so myself!

[tommyboy]

Hopeful2 ... Sorry to hear about your rough day(s). Car rides are almost always a problem. I just got my Rx goggles and they seem to really help. Car rides to events, like a sporting event is even rougher, so I know exactly what you mean. I try the belly breathing from time to time and sometimes it helps me relax. And sometimes I just simply close my eyes.

By the way I bought a used electric piano today. I don't know how to play. But I am going to turn this negative experience into a positive one and give it a shot. Since TV and reading is rough and music is soothing I thought it was worthy shot!

Cheers,
Tom

[tommyboy]

Jrcgray,

I have not tried the inserts yet. Currently my regiment is Restasis twice daily, blink preservative fee every four hours or less, warm compress (with rice baggy) for 7 minutes then eyelid scrub with ocusoft. And I wear prescription moisture chamber goggles as much as I can.

If you have not tried the goggles get the cheap onion goggles and where them for an hour or so and see if it helps. I would say so far the goggles have had the biggest impact as well as keeping stress low as hopeful mentions, which can be hard to do.

Best of luck to you.

Cheers,
Tom

[jrcgray]

I was interested in your posting. I have a terrible dry eye from a "zoster keratitis" and am interested in anything other than my current strategy of alternating Refresh Plus and Refresh Optive Sensitve literally every 20 minutes. I saw you mentioned Lacriserts and contacts, will google them to try to learn more. I am a physician yet despite that asset remain very frustrated with my current options. Anyway, thanks for any recommendations you may have.

[Hopeful2]

Tom, I wish I could say all was well, and for some moments, I do feel fine.

I just went to see my kids in an athletic activity and it sure felt good to be there for them. The outing involved a long car drive and it gave me the opportunity to practice my belly breathing. When my eyes felt sore, I would close them for several minutes and breathe. When I opened them again they certainly felt more moist. So I am trying to acknowledge that I need to relax and remember to breathe through this whole journey.

[tommyboy]

Hopeful2 ... Thanks for the post. I love when people reply

Music tends to help me. If you sing that is wonderful. And that is something you can do with your family.

How are you doing these days?

[tommyboy]

Thank you Leelah.

[tommyboy]

Littlemermaid ... Thank you so much for taking the time to read, watch the video and post. I have read many of your posts. And my heart truly goes out to you and your family.

That is not me in the video playing piano. That is my wonderful neighbor who is a blessing.

However, I decided to learn to play myself. And spoke about it with my wife tonight. Going to get a used digital piano and learn to play. I love to listen to music. I can't watch too much TV, have a hard time reading for more than 20 minutes. So learning to play a new instrument is going to be my new therapy.

Thanks again for your kind words.

Regards,
Tom

[tommyboy]

Can you please relay your experience with Lipiflow..

Thanks for your advice. I have not tried Lipiflow and I am not interested in that right now. I do not think I am interested in the inserts yet either. But thanks again for your advice and your reply.

Cheers,
Tom

[tommyboy]

Jenn1 ... Thank you for making the time to reply to my post. Not sure why, but today was rough. I didn't smile until 6 in the evening. But I did get some relief then ... and I was thankful for it.

Cheers,
Tom

[tommyboy]

Faith1989, thank you for your reply. I really do wish you well and hope you can rebound again. I would try the onion goggles. Wear them for awhile ... and you may find some relief. Best of luck to you.

Regards,
Tom