New here, my story

[woodart]

Tried to keep this short. I have had dry eye problems as far back as I can remember. Teenage years is when it got really bad. Eyes were always bothersome and at the time there was nothing really done about it. Had a hard time passing the drivers exam because of my eyes. Got rejected by the military because of them. During the 20 to 40 years of age time I got to the point where I wanted to take my eyes out of their sockets and get rid of them. I would have to stay home from work as I did not have enough sight to even drive or walk. Could not stand light at all. During the 40 to 50 year age I went and saw all of the top cornea specialists in the country. Did me no good, most of what I got at that time was to use ointment at night and drops during the day. That really helped a lot but still had problems getting relief. I could stand drops for a while but would have to change them almost as if I got allergic to them. Finally went to an eye doctor who said I was too complicated for him to help me and sent me to another cornea specialist at New England Medical Center. Now it finally gets going. First thing was eyelashes were growing the wrong way and were rubbing my eyes. So they removed them. That was a help and I would have to keep going back often for that to solve that problems. Then she put plugs in. That really helped a lot. Still doing ointment at night(eyes don’t close tight) and drops daily(better drops at this point). I kept losing the plugs and she kept putting in larger ones. BTW, when using the eye chart the tope 3 lines were the most I could do and sometimes I could not even do that. After the plugs I could do much better. We finally got to a point where she thought that cauterizing, even though she did not really like to do something permanent would be the way to go. When I went to have that done she examined my eyes and said they were much better from the last time she saw me and decided to forgo the cauterizing. It turns out I had started taking flaxseed for my cholesterol to see if it would help and it was the only thing new I had been doing. Over the course for the nest year they kept improving to the point I rarely ever had discomfort anymore. I could now pass the drivers exam, read a book, go out in the daylight and so forth. I did have one plug that stayed in and have just taken it out. Even though they are not bothersome they are coming up a little dry in the tests now. Maybe the flaxseed thing only goes so far. The doc wants to try restasis now to see if that helps. I am still using ointment in the eyes at night just because they do not close tight. I did order the goggles I saw on this site to try out and maybe I can give up the ointment if they work. Still doing flaxseed and had added fish oil. Did try hydrotears and gave up on that. I do 1 or 2 hot compresses a day. I know at some point here will be new and better things for dry eyes but compared to what I had 45 years ago at least today we now have stuff that helps. I don’t even where glasses now, not even for reading. I did have PKR(don’t remember right spelling?) done one eye. This was for bad scarring and could not see through the scars. That eye is always a bit dryer now. But before it was useless. But considering back 45 years ago I would be up all night suffering and hurting all day I am grateful for the progress that has been made. I was sure I would be blind at some point because they were so bad I figured it would just get worse. I am still careful about being in the wind, fans, car heater and so forth even though they don’t bother me now, so why push it? Guess I got about everything in here. Just turned 60 and hopefully will hopefully have my sight now for the rest of my life.

[Silverlady]

Wonderful!

So glad you have improved so much. Flaxseed is a wonderful product for many people. I've just been told to use it for my dogs (special kind of flaxseed oil). It is to help with their skin conditions and allergies. So flaxseed is great for a lot of things. You might try the Eyeeco Tranquileye goggles that a lot of us wear. I remember someone on this forum saying they used them because their eyes did not close completely and it helped them. You can find them at www.eyeeco.com and also they are sold here.

Billye

[woodart]

I already ordered them to try out. I think I would like to get off the ointment if they work. It's been a long struggle. I don't think most people really know what we are talking about. It's so much more than some eye irritation. Guess you have to go through it to know. Thanks.

[GeorgeT]

Hi

That's an wonderful story!!
Could you talk a little more about the allergies you've developed to drops? How did you find out ? What type of drops are you using now/have used in the past?
Thank you.

George

[woodart]

I would imagine back then it was the preservatives that may have bothered me. Could not read labels then and actually never thought to do so as I would not have known the ingrediants and what they do. We have so much more info today and I can look stuff up and see what it is. All I know from back then was that the drops never really helped but after using the same one for a while it just really aggaravated my eyes and gave me no relief. The doctors just kept pushing it said I had to use them anyway. I can't remember the names but I seem to recall we only had like Visine back then. But looking back I don't think any were really for dry eyes. I seem tor recall Tears Naturale being the first one to come out with no preservatives that I was able to really use more of. But was expensive. I don't remember the ointmant names either. They were prescription back then. Didn't read their labels either. Just in too much agony and didn't really have to sight to even look. Lacrilube is the first big name I can recall for the ointment.

[woodart]

Almost forgot. I mainly use Genteal now. I use the medium ones during the day and the heavier one at home. Just the drops.

[Judy]

Hello woodart,

Welcome and thank you for sharing your story with all of us. You've certainly had a long tough haul and I'm glad things are going better for you! I was wondering if you could share what brand/amount of Flaxseed you are using? By the way, I just went for my annual eye checkup and she seems to think Restasis has been helping my eyes. I've been on Restasis for over a year now and feel the same way. Anyway, once again, welcome and I hope you continue to have success with your eye recovery.

[Judy]

Hi again woodart,

Sorry, I did not read more thorough through here or I would have noticed you are waiting for the price for Restasis to come down..... Kind regards...

[woodart]

I usually get all of my vitamins online, Puritan's Pride. Seems to be decent in price when they have a sale, which is very often. Also I try to get anough to get the free shipping also. I do ahve to bargin hunt a bit. But don't want to get junk either. When I started I took 1,000 once a day for a few weeks and then went to 2,000, after a while I went to 3,000. I usualy start slow to make sure they agree with me. I am not a big vitamin user, but will give them try for a while to see if they work, if not I get off of them. I mostly stay with the flaxseed and fish oil now and a couple of others for toher stuff.

[Judy]

Hi Woodart,

So no particular brand of Flaxseed, just a good bargain? Are these in the pill form or are you taking the Flaxseed oil?

Thanks!

[woodart]

Puritan's Pride is the name of the company I am using for the flaxseed in capsule form. I am only guessing it is good stuff. I am never really sure, but it's the one I started with and it has shown that it works. I am sure other may be okay or maybe some better. But I don't know which ones really are better unless someone knows where there are comparisons we can look at. I wouldn't get an unknown brand off Ebay. I am hoping I am getting decent stuff. Thanks.

[Judy]

Thanks Woodart,
I shall give Puritan Pride a try....

[Trey]

I don't think most people really know what we are talking about. It's so much more than some eye irritation. Guess you have to go through it to know.

I absolutely agree. I'm 23 years old and just got into work in illustration (traditional) over the past couple years. I honestly don't know if it would even be wise to stay in the field or what at this point, since the most recent eye issue (tissue degradation around the cornea in both eyes) has completed halted my ability to do the work while the eyes heal, which so far has been roughly 2 months with little progress. I can't imagine doing anything else for work for the next 30-40 years, hopefully once the eyes heal this time I'll be able to stay in the field.

It is quite difficult to get others to fully understand what's going on. "I want to yank them out" isn't taken seriously by most, even though that's how I feel half the time, hehe Not just the eye issues though, some of the treatments are very uncomfortable. I've just about gone nuts over having the lacrilube cloud my vision since I'm having to use it throughout the day as well as night. It's comforting to know that there are others who have been in the same boat though, and that it does get better.

[woodart]

I had to leave the computer field during the beginning stages of computers because the wires were were getting too small to work with and had to go into a different line of work. I didn't realize even at that point that the dry eyes were effecting my sight. Even though I have had a problmes for a few years the doctors were mostly telling me I had some kind of desease. Not going to date myself but we were using punch cards back then. Now that I have finally gotten to about normal vision I doubt if I can go back. Learning curve is too great now at this time in my life. And whatever I learned back then weill be kinda useless today even if I could remember. Just a simple thing like that can really mess with your life. You will like this, back when I was about 15 and had eye problems I was actually put in a hospital, gauze taped over my eyes with some kind of ointment(don't have a clue) and spend an average of a week there with no sight. I can recall it really was a tiny bit better after the week, but then had to recover from the tape and the soreness of the eyes from the gook, which was better than the dry eye soreness. I was just thinking about that reading your post. On one of the times I was there on New years Eve and I can remember being kissed. To this day I don't know by who. It was a she as she did speak to me. Why do I remember these things? Tried out the ranquileyes things last night. Not bad. Looked like hell with those, my chin strap and cpap mask. My wife must think she is going to bed with Darth Vader. I must say the cpap straps and such do keep the ranquileyes in place very well for all night.

[Silverlady]

Don't worry about it

Woodart, my husband calls me his "little purple bug". My goggles are purple. Your wife will get used to it. My husband said he wouldn't mind me wearing a space suit to bed if it would help me. I'm sure she feels the same way.

Billye