7 years and still undiagnosed...

[tearless wonder]

I've been a member here for a couple years now but I don't believe i've ever made a post before so here goes...
In my mind my dry eye started about 7 or 8 years ago. A gust of wind blew dust, etc in my eyes and after a few days of them still being irritated I went to my Dr and she flushed my eyes and said there had been some 'plant matter' in there. It was all down hill from there lol.

None of the doctors I have seen since then (6 GP's & 3 Opthalmologists) said that has anything to do with my dry eye but they have yet to come up with any other reason why my right eye (yep only the one eye is affected) decided one day to be a pain.

Trying to get a specialist referral was a task in itself as all the GP's I saw seemed to think they had the answer. I can't even count how many different drops or antibiotics they had me on. Finally after about 2 years I was in! My first opthalmologist appointment. He told me I was allergic to my mascara. (he had no idea why it only seemed to bother one eye.) I was told to stop wearing it and sent on my way. Needless to say that was not the cause of my problems. I learned when I tried to book another appointment he retired a few weeks after my visit.

Specialist number 2 (This time with only 2 GP's trying to cure me in the meantime) seemed to know what he was talking about and diagnosed me with "severe Keratoconjunctivitis sicca" after doing a Schrimer's test (the tech who performed the test said there was not enough moisture on the paper to even get a measurement) I was thrilled! Finally it had a name and I wasn't crazy. He inserted a temporary lower punctal plug which helped a bit, followed by a 'permanent' one which came out a year later and finally cauterized my lower puntcum about 2 months ago. He advised me after he performed the cauterization that he was retiring and didn't give me any suggestions for a new doctor.

I went back to my GP for a new referral and met with my new doctor about a month ago. After filling him in on all my history his theory is some form of infection. I went into the hospital 2 weeks ago to have cultures taken and I find out the results in one week.

I am kind of scared to get the results. If it comes back that I have an infection that will mean that the last years of my life spent in pain, the cost of prescriptions, a surgery will all have been needless. However it will be over (hopefully). If I don't have an infection then i'm back where I started which is wondering what the heck is wrong with my eye. I'm feeling like whatever way the results come out i'll be heading to that 'dark place' mentioned in another thread.

I realize my eye problems aren't as bad as many i've read about on here but to me they're too much sometimes. Thanks for giving me a place to vent. As far as most of my friends & co-workers are concerned I just need to get some eye drops and get over it. It's nice to have a place to feel understood.

[Lucy]

Hi Tearless-
Sorry you're getting the runaround from your doctors. Most of us know all about it. I want to ease your mind a bit about dry eyes, or an infection if that's what you have. An infection can most often be cured and dry eye can be controlled in most cases.

Have you read the posts on DET? The hot cloths on your eyes twice a day are standard treatment. Using articicial drops without preservatives is another standard. I don't know if you can get Restasis in Canada, but it's worth a try. Some people do very well on it.

Many of us wear goggles when we're outdoors and even indoors. You can find these in a bike shop. They are lined with foam around the eyecups. Probably the most damaging thing you have right now is your fear. Many have passed through here and other bulletin boards in past years and I have yet to see anyone die from dry eye. (I'm not being sarcastic.) You can. however, die from cancer or pneumonia. So I'd rather have dry eyes. Also look into getting Tranquileyes for night use. Lucy

[socratese]

Hi Tearless-
Sorry you're getting the runaround from your doctors. Most of us know all about it. I want to ease your mind a bit about dry eyes, or an infection if that's what you have. An infection can most often be cured and dry eye can be controlled in most cases.

Have you read the posts on DET? The hot cloths on your eyes twice a day are standard treatment. Using articicial drops without preservatives is another standard. I don't know if you can get Restasis in Canada, but it's worth a try. Some people do very well on it.

Many of us wear goggles when we're outdoors and even indoors. You can find these in a bike shop. They are lined with foam around the eyecups. Probably the most damaging thing you have right now is your fear. Many have passed through here and other bulletin boards in past years and I have yet to see anyone die from dry eye. (I'm not being sarcastic.) You can. however, die from cancer or pneumonia. So I'd rather have dry eyes. Also look into getting Tranquileyes for night use. Lucy

severe eye problems cause severe depression and possibly exacerbate depression into suicidal stage depression due to the following effects: inability to do things you like to do, lose a job,and strain personal relationship with someone. etc
I have experienced all of these things with my eye problem and my quality of life is way down there. I am 26 years old and I feel my youth is wasted completely. I went from being a highly active college student and sports player to sitting at home and suffering in pain every time I HAD to go somewhere like work.


(i work in a critical care unit in a hospital as a secretary)
My co worker was telling me the other day how sick and close to dying most of the patients are here and how I should be thankful I am not that bad, but all of them are 65+ years old and I am in my 20s.