2 Month followup with cornea specialist.....

[spmcc]

The only way I know my eyes are red is if I look in the mirror. So I don't look in the mirror.

Besides, the only way to treat red eyes is with vasoconstrictors. And that shouldn't be an option.

Personally, I only treat my eyes when they *feel* bad. The redness is permanent.

[Cali]

Vivian - I don't remember but aren't you about 8 months post-LASIK? It took at least a 1 - 1 1/2 years for me to get comfortable after my LASIK.

I think the serum tears are your best bet. I re-read what Inrep wrote to you: "Autologous drops are an attempt to reverse the osmolarity of the ocular surface, they are not necessarily for comfort. It takes about 60-90 days for the osmolarity to change and then the healing process of cells takes another 60-90 days. Any nerve issues can take longer."

But, I later learned that the drops need to be 20%-50% and used 8x/day. I was only using them every 4-6 hours. That's what my doctor prescribed. But, per the Harvard study, you need to use them 8x/day. Restasis does not have a good success rate. I read 15%.

I think you have a very good chance to heal. I just think it takes a long time and you have to hang in there.

[vivian3090]

Vivian, my doc tells me that restasis works for about 50 percent of people, in his experience. He recommends sticking with it for about 6 months...it sometimes takes that long to notice any effect.

It is meant for inflammation induced dry eye, meaning, inflammation can affect lots of things having to do with tear production. Maybe some of the restasis users here can weigh in on their experiences.

Doc did tell me that with dry eye we can't really expect 100 percent back to normal, but most are satisfied with any improvement, especially if dry eye is severe.

The problem with restasis is that some find it hard to get past the initial stinging and redness period, which can last up to a month, I believe. I was a mess on restasis, and dropped out. If my eyes heal a little more with the use of the serum drops, then I may give restasis another go. At the time, my eyes were so bad off and inflamed in general, that the restasis just made the problem worse. It was too much.

Good luck and try to stick with it. But if things become unbearable, I wouldn't feel like you had to use restasis now. You can always come back to it later--listen to your body. It sounds like you have been.

I don't expect to get back to 100% normal. I really just want the inflammation (veiny-ness) and redness, to go down in my left eye....I also just want to NOT have to put drops in every 15mins. I hope it eventually gets to a point where maybe about every hour or so?? Thats all I want!!!

I have been on restasis before, maybe about 2 months worth. but the stinging and redness was so BAD! So are you saying that after this "intial" period. the stinging and redness will go away? it's not permament??

I'm about maybe a week into starting restasis back up. They havent stung, but my left eye (which is the bad one) has reacted to it, my whole eye won't get blood shot but only parts of my eye will get very irriated and, and only steroid drops will calm it down. and even after the drops inflammation will come back (althoguth not as bad as when i just put the restasis in!) And note: when i say inflammation after drops, it just means really veiny. which i presume is due to the fact my TBUT is instantanous.

This has just be a very frustarting experience....I just want to enjoy my life again without worrying about my left eye being red and hurting.....

[No tears in ATL]

Vivian, my doc tells me that restasis works for about 50 percent of people, in his experience. He recommends sticking with it for about 6 months...it sometimes takes that long to notice any effect.

It is meant for inflammation induced dry eye, meaning, inflammation can affect lots of things having to do with tear production. Maybe some of the restasis users here can weigh in on their experiences.

Doc did tell me that with dry eye we can't really expect 100 percent back to normal, but most are satisfied with any improvement, especially if dry eye is severe.

The problem with restasis is that some find it hard to get past the initial stinging and redness period, which can last up to a month, I believe. I was a mess on restasis, and dropped out. If my eyes heal a little more with the use of the serum drops, then I may give restasis another go. At the time, my eyes were so bad off and inflamed in general, that the restasis just made the problem worse. It was too much.

Good luck and try to stick with it. But if things become unbearable, I wouldn't feel like you had to use restasis now. You can always come back to it later--listen to your body. It sounds like you have been.

[vivian3090]

I just am confused about what he is trying to say, He seemed like there was a possiblilty that with restasis and the serum drops my tear film can go back to normal with time...but i dunno?

[bakunin]

I wish I wasn't going through this....is there any chance my tear film can heal and my tbut to get higher?

We know what you mean. I think we all feel the same.

I got a flu this week and yesterday and today my eyes are really good, almost normal.. no burning feeling, even under AC. I wish science could explain that. Probably if scientists understood what happens to my eyes when my throat is inflammed I would have a solution to my dry eyes symptoms.

[vivian3090]

I had my two month follow up with my cornea specialist regarding my serum tears.

It came at a good time because my left eye had become significantly worse since a few Weeks ago.

He told me that my tbut is almost instantaneous in my left eye.

I am already on 20% serum drops and have started Restasis back up and flares 2x a day.. I'm taking 1200 mg of fish oil and flaxseed oil ( 3 pills of each a day) along with theratears (every 15 mins) and refreshed pm am night.

All these are pretty much "it" there's nothing else I can do but just give it time. He says in time it will get better, now that I'm pairing serum drops and Restasis together.

I am hoping this is correct. I'm just feeling really awful about myself and this situation. I wish I wasn't going through this....is there any chance my tear film can heal and my tbut to get higher?