what to do.....

[coonsanders]

hi folks

i just was found by my doctor that i have dry eye.being on the computer was
driving me nuts with my eyes.they hurt i got some bad headaches etc.i could
not believe this..my doc reccommended a med called 'brink tears" and he said
"it may not work".well i tried it for 3 weeks and darned if he was right.next he
reccommended "restasis" and i found even with insurance it costs an arm and a leg and he again said "it may not work".nest in line would be plugs and again
he said........you guessed it "it may not work".he said the plugs may fall out.is
there something that may work?everything with him is a difinately maybe.
thanks.

coonsanders

[kitty]

Welcome. Many if not all of us have shared in your frustration at some point. So much of the treatment for DES, at least by generalist O.D.s, is trial and error with drops and plugs. I think I tried every OTC drop on the shelf before I found one that provided some comfort. You need to give each drop 2-4 weeks to determine if it is the right one for you. If OTC drops, Restasis and plugs are not giving you relief perhaps it is time to see a specialist?

It is important to find out what is causing your symptoms and treat the cause rather than put a band aid on the symptoms. Look for authors (MDs and O.D.s) of articles on dry eye related subjects who live within a reasonable distance from you. We also have a "Plug a doc" forum where members have listed docs they found who have been helpful. You can also contact your local Sjogren's association/support group and find out who they have had good experiences with. Keep up the fight.

[coonsanders]

hi kitty
well with restisis im not sure about it because of the cost.for a months worth
of it its 105.00 which is a lot for me.....as for the plugs with him its it may not
work........my room maybe partly to blame as its very dry in here so i filled up
some rupperware tubs with water and its made it more damp in here.but i still
think its the dry eye thing yet.where is this "plug a doc"option you mentioned
?thanks my dear...

lenny aka coonsanders

[kitty]

I think you already found the forum because you posted there (I answered that one) but for others, here is the link to the forum: http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/forumdisplay.php?f=108

You might consider investing in a small room humidifier. This is a good time of year to buy them as they clear them out to make space for fans etc. Just get one that has capacity for 8-12 hours on each fill minimum.

[coonsanders]

hi kitty

thanks 4 your input nice to meet u.

lenny