After 2 months on autologous serum, lower plugs, fish/flax/krill oil, warm compresses and demodex tea tree eye salve, I now have tear film!!! When I first saw my eye doc, I had cornea erosions all over my eyes, too numerous to count. I was suicidal as I had been like that for about 2 weeks straight, no relief. I coudn't escape the pain even during sleep. My glands were clogged, my tear lab test did not register any tears (zero, the technician did it twice). I saw my doctor this morning and the tests this time did register dry eye, but, I was borderline at the bottom end of normal - not quite there yet but it's within reach.
I am currently on anti-depressants that I know aggravate dry eye, so I'm guessing my tests would be better if I weren't on them. I had so deteriorated psychologically from the pain and isolation, that even when my eyes started to feel better, my mood/mental state did not. I pretty much didn't leave the house, watch TV, read, talk to friends, eat or even sleep for about 2 months. That will do a number on your head.
In any case, over the coming year my doctor and I are going to start to change the serum % (I'm at 75% serum and will drop to 50% then 20% over time), then I may get to remove my plugs. She has confidence. I am very lucky to have found a compassionate, competent cornea specialist to treat me.
Crossing my fingers but even if I'm on serum drops and plugs for the rest of my life, I consider myself a success story. I am no longer in crippling chronic pain.
I am currently on anti-depressants that I know aggravate dry eye, so I'm guessing my tests would be better if I weren't on them. I had so deteriorated psychologically from the pain and isolation, that even when my eyes started to feel better, my mood/mental state did not. I pretty much didn't leave the house, watch TV, read, talk to friends, eat or even sleep for about 2 months. That will do a number on your head.
In any case, over the coming year my doctor and I are going to start to change the serum % (I'm at 75% serum and will drop to 50% then 20% over time), then I may get to remove my plugs. She has confidence. I am very lucky to have found a compassionate, competent cornea specialist to treat me.
Crossing my fingers but even if I'm on serum drops and plugs for the rest of my life, I consider myself a success story. I am no longer in crippling chronic pain.
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