any recomendations in west midlands

[fed up kate]

hey

im trying to find a decent eye specialist in the west midlands,or any where that does the schimmer test as i cant find anyone that does it and cant seem to get any diagnosis from people ive already seen.
hope someone is from here lol

[Guest]

Kate

I travelled down from Sth Yorkshire to see Dr Illango at Nuffield hospital at Wolverhampton.

I initially saw him as he was consulting to the laser eye factory I went to.

Not sure about shirmers test (my local NHS hospital did that but what a waste of time). He is a corneal specialist.

Regards

Ian

[fed up kate]

prattstar

thank you for that.
so is that test a waste of time then does it not explain much?

[Guest]

Kate

There just seems to be too many variables with the method in which it is administered that I can't see the value of it.

Some DR's perform it with anesthetic, other's don't

Some have you look up so that the test strip doesn't touch the cornea, other's don't.

Just my thoughts, if you want to persue it, why not get a referral to your local hospital and have it done with the eye specialist there. Afterall that's what I did, but still walked out shaking my head wondering the purpose of my visit and my eyes streaming due to the aggrevation to my corneas.

Cheers

Ian

[fed up kate]

thanks for the advice
i am being transferred to eye clinic at hospital so will see if they do it but dont want even more sore eyes.

thanks

kate

[irish eyes]

Hi Ian

Hi Kate

I have had the test done a few times and must admit that it was an uncomfortable experience. As far as I could make out, it gave the doctors a figure, some kind of measurement - but I couldn't see how they used it with regard to appropriate therapy / treatment. I know some opthalmologists don't rate it - but it still seems to be the `tool of choice' for many.

The Rose Bengal test is another method used to measure how effective your tear glands are. In this test, a non-toxic dye, Royal Bengal, is dropped on the surface of the eye. The distinctive colour of the dye allows the ophthalmologist to see how well your tear film is functioning, and how long it takes for tears to evaporate.

So Kate - ask about it by all means. Have you been referred by your GP to see someone at the hospital who has particular expertise with Dry Eye and related conditions?

[fed up kate]

well ive seen many specialists and opticans and went to my doctor basically beging for help and hes trasnferring me to the hospital but i dont know who i will be seeing yet and ive lost faith in everyone i see so i need someone who kows alot about dry eye but duno if they do in hospitals

[brd888]

Kate,
What exactly are you trying to find out? Have you had a diagnosis of dry eye yet or are you having eye discomfort which you think is dry eye?
Bruce.

[fed up kate]

hi bruce

well ive been told many things and but havent had a deffinate diagnosis,will try keep a long story short....
started with burny stingy eyes,my doc gave me optrex infectede eye drops it went for couple of weeks then came back,went to my optican who said mild dry eye,so i tried every drop goin,then it got worse and i wasnt convinced it was mild so went see a specialist who said i had lumps under my top eye lid so gave me steriod drops for amonth still no change,saw someone else who said it may be bhlep but didnt say for sure so ive been cleaning and using hot compresses still no change,saw someone else who said i havent got abnormal lumps and they arnt the problem but my tears evaporte within 3-5 seconds and have apoor tear film.but i dont know why or wat to do,was told to get plugs but how can i keep tears in if there evaporating so i dont know who to beleive or why i have this.
any ideas.....i did have anose job about a year ago and im prayin i havent caused this by my own choice as id rather have a big nose lol

thanks
kate

[brd888]

Sounds like you have had the typical run around from medical profession! I suppose the nose job may have gone wrong and damaged tear ducts but that would result in excessive tears so I would rule that out.
Have you had a good read of the main information part of this site? Sounds like you have a problem with quality of meibum (oil part of tear film). Some people call this blepharitis some call it MGD. Plugs may not help because they are for people with poor volume of tears - you have poor quality tears.
I would advise heat compresses, 15mins 2 or 3 times a day and lid cleaning. Do you have crustiness or gunk or white bumps around lid margins? The heat will encourage oil to flow. You should also start to take flaxseed supplements or Omega 3 to improve supply of nutrients to your meibomian glands. Ask about doxycycline at the hospital - this is an anti-inflammatory which is meant to help the glands too.
It takes time to get the problem under control and although you have been told it is "mild" this doesn't mean it feels mild to you.

Regards,
Bruce

[stella]

Have you read jlg's - "my first private consultation "?
She seems to have found someone in the midlands too

[fed up kate]

hi bruce

thank you for the reply.
well ive been using hot compresses and cleaning for about 4 months now and dont see any improvement but is that a short period of time.
i dont have any crusting or i cant seem to see any white bumps so i really dont know how to tell if they are blocked but liek you say if im lacking in oil then they must be.
can i ask how can they suddenly get blocked,as i rememeber one saturday nite was taking me make up off then after it stung and then it been here ever since so i havent had an infection or anything so its strange how it happens.plus ive never been told that i have inflammation either as i keep saying to people do i need liek anitbitotics and they say no,to them its dry eyes take drops and get on with it,feeling like screaming at them some times lol.

thanks for your help

[fed up kate]

hi stella

thanks i will try have a look now see if i can find out

[stella]

A word of appology to jlg - I refered to you as "she ",and now realize you are "he" - no offense - I genuinely did not know

[jlg_uk]

That's OK Stella - I'm not offended :P