Relief at last!!!!! Dr. Latkany is a genius!

[johannasas]

While visiting in NY I went to see Dr. Latkany. After seeing numerous doctors who had diagnosed me with severe dry eye and conjunctivochalasis, Dr. Latkany told me (in short order) that I was suffering from ALLERGIES. He sent me to an allergist for testing, suggested I use ice packs 4 times daily on my eyes, and told me to come back in a month. I could not believe that after all I'd gone through, not to mention the money I spent on eye drops, that ice packs could produce such relief. Of course I was in NY, where the air is moist (I live in Santa Fe, NM). That certainly helped. But all my symptoms, including dry eyes, went down to zero. Dr. Latkany figured out that I was allergic to the preservative BAK, which is contained in many eye drops.
So when I returned to see him, Dr. Latkany prescribed Lastacaft, an allergy eye drop. He also recommended that I use the "tranquilleyes" sunglasses and goggles for sleeping at night. I returned to Santa Fe last week, and so far, no problems. I'm no longer using eye drops on my formerly desperate every hour basis. I use Refresh Tears, refrigerated, maybe once a day.
BTW I've found that freezing a wet washcloth in plastic bags is by far the best way to ice my eyes. Once out of the freezer it gets soft enough to be comfortable, and yet cold. It feels WONDERFUL!
the moral of the story: help is out there. Dr. Latkany is a life saver! Kudos to him.

[Rebecca Petris]

Hurray. I'm so glad you're finding relief! Thanks for sharing!

BTW I've found that freezing a wet washcloth in plastic bags is by far the best way to ice my eyes. Once out of the freezer it gets soft enough to be comfortable, and yet cold. It feels WONDERFUL!

Nice tip - don't think I've heard that one before but it sounds like a really good idea.

[Guest]

Glad to hear you're feeling better! How long did he recommend you keep the ice packs on for each treatment?

[MaryVa61]

That's great!!! Those problems are exactly the missing diagnoses I recieved back in December by a corneal specialist and dermatologist (for the allergy patch tests). Thanks for the washcloth tip. Don't know that I'll need it in future, but once you have allergies you can always develop new ones so it pays to be prepared.

If anyone knows a BAK-free glaucoma drop that actually works, please let me know. I haven't been able to completely stop BAK because Allergan-P didn't bring my pressure down. BTW have you noticed that BAK is in LOTS of things other than eye drops? I noticed an "all natural, preservative-free hand sanitizing spray" at my compounding pharmacy. It was 100% BAK. They listed it as the active ingredient since it has anti-bacterial properties. And since it is a preservative they didn't need to add another preservative or list it as an inactive ingredient. It was also in some of my toiletries. So be careful.

[NeedMyEyes]

I have BAK contact dermatitis

I was tested by my dermatologist for allergies (these are the contact allergies that give you rashes if they get on your skin) and I tested positive for:

Cocoamidopropyl betaine (suds agent in Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo and many others)

Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride - antibacterial in quite a few cosmetics. If you look this up in wikipedia, you will see it goes by another name - benzalkonium chloride (BAK).

So I have a clinically proven contact dermatits to BAK (meaning it will cause inflammation and a rash on my eyelids) but I am still taking drops with BAK in it because there just aren't any without it!

Oh and by the way, if you look up the ingredients of Lastacaft - it contains BAK also.

[littlemermaid]

johannasas/NME: Wonderful progress. Any chance of posting up a list of what US derms test you for? Standard list, or tailored to likely candidates?

[NeedMyEyes]

derm testing

Oh, shoot. I have been meaning to ask them all the things I was tested for.

It was around 50 things - some were standard cosmetics, detergents, etc.

they also let me bring my eye drops, etc. to see if I was allergic.

They only sent me a list of those to which I was certainly positive.

[PotatoCakes]

What do you do if you're allergic to things you can't get away from? Like BAK for some of you (needing glaucoma drops) or allergies to things like pollens?

[Rebecca Petris]

If anyone knows a BAK-free glaucoma drop that actually works, please let me know.

Travatan-Z and Alphagan-P are the main BAK-free ones.

BTW have you noticed that BAK is in LOTS of things other than eye drops?

It's a good point for people with BAK allergies to be aware of.

[Nanerpus]

I'm going to see Dr. Latkany for a first appointment August 9, I'm very excited! I have pinqueculas in each eye that get very sore and inflamed, plus bad allergy symptoms and dry eye (mainly AD as far as I have been told).

[johannasas]

One minute, 3 times a day.

[johannasas]

Good luck. I don't know what those problems are, but best of luck. He's wonderful!

[Guest]

One minute, 3 times a day.

Thanks!

.....

[johannasas]

Thank you!

[Mawsky]

Hi, you mentioned that there are no drops without BAK but I don't see it listed as an ingredient on my Thera Tears, am I missing something?