Tweet
I am hoping that telling my story on the Dry Eye site may generate dialog that might provide suggestions for relief for me and others. My problem of my eyes sealing shut at night causing me to wake up every few hours has been going on for over a year now. Here is my history:
In October 2007 I had blepharoplasty surgery for excess skin on eyelids. Prior to surgery, I was treated for dry eyes with Restasis and plugs. The surgery was successfully completed by an eye surgeon leaving a fair amount of excess skin still on my upper lids. I had no major problems until 14 months later.
In January 2009, my dry eye symptoms increased. The doctor suggested treating them with a humidifier, steroids, a variety of eye drops, and plugs in my lower eyes.
I had no relief and in February-March of 2009, my eyes began sealing shut during sleep.
In April 2009 I changed eye doctors and was diagnosed with floppy eyelids: upper and lower: eyes not closing all the way, blepharitus, corneal erosions, poor/unstable tear film production and severe dry eyes.
My treatment was changed. The doctor removed plugs, stopped Restasis and steroids and had me use preservative free eye drops. He treated Blepharitus with Neomycin and Ploymyxin B and inserted medical contacts to repair corneal erosions. I tried taping my eyes shut but this was too uncomfortable to continue. I started using an eye mask at night which I am still using; this helps with extreme sensitivity to light.
All of the above treatments were unsuccessful. The band-Aid contacts were removed.
In June 2009 I changed eye doctors once more and was diagnosed with extreme dry eyes, blepharitis, eyes not closing all the way, and poor/unstable tear film production (which was diagnosed as my primary cause of all my symptoms). I treated this with SteriLid eyelid cleanser several times a day and at night when waking with eyes stuck shut, Restasis (changed to Alrex), AzaSite (used 7 bottles; changed to IOUIX which did not help; returned to AzaSite). I also tried Bacitracin for Blepharitus without success, using Dwell and Sooth DX for dry eye relief.
In July 2009 I had the plugs removed (they didn’t seem to help) and needed band-aid contacts in both eyes due to extreme pain; replacing every 4 weeks.
I tried 128 Muro Ointment and drops and Doxycycline 20 Mg 2 x per day (3 months) unsuccessfully.
I used and continue to use warm compresses on my eyes and massage them to loosen the “gunk” that accumulates due to poor tear film production. The doctor in New Bern took photos for insurance coverage for lower eyelid surgery to close eyes which I am considering doing in spring 2010.
My corneal erosions got worse creating ulcers so I went to a corneal specialist at Duke Eye Center and had my corneas resurfaced through PRK surgery on one eye in November and the other in early January 2010.
Currently, I am using preservative free drops every few hours, Aza Site, Omega 3, 3 x per day (5 months); Restasis 2 x per day; eye drops as needed; warm compresses on eyes and an eye mask nightly.
My eyes have continued to seal painfully shut at night, resulting in waking up every 1-2 hours to bathe my eyes with warm water and lid cleaner and applying more eye drops.
I really hesitate to have lower eyelid surgery to close my eyes since the corneal specialist at Duke did not think that my eyes were seriously staying open at bedtime and I agree with that.
So, I am desperate for anyone who has any suggestions or insight into this continued and debilitating problem which is primarily the result of poor/unstable tear film production. I am 62 years old, in good health, and can’t image not being able to get a full night’s sleep for another 20 years! Has anyone had success with any specialists? I have considered the eye clinic in Miami and even acupuncture. Any feedback is welcome!
In October 2007 I had blepharoplasty surgery for excess skin on eyelids. Prior to surgery, I was treated for dry eyes with Restasis and plugs. The surgery was successfully completed by an eye surgeon leaving a fair amount of excess skin still on my upper lids. I had no major problems until 14 months later.
In January 2009, my dry eye symptoms increased. The doctor suggested treating them with a humidifier, steroids, a variety of eye drops, and plugs in my lower eyes.
I had no relief and in February-March of 2009, my eyes began sealing shut during sleep.
In April 2009 I changed eye doctors and was diagnosed with floppy eyelids: upper and lower: eyes not closing all the way, blepharitus, corneal erosions, poor/unstable tear film production and severe dry eyes.
My treatment was changed. The doctor removed plugs, stopped Restasis and steroids and had me use preservative free eye drops. He treated Blepharitus with Neomycin and Ploymyxin B and inserted medical contacts to repair corneal erosions. I tried taping my eyes shut but this was too uncomfortable to continue. I started using an eye mask at night which I am still using; this helps with extreme sensitivity to light.
All of the above treatments were unsuccessful. The band-Aid contacts were removed.
In June 2009 I changed eye doctors once more and was diagnosed with extreme dry eyes, blepharitis, eyes not closing all the way, and poor/unstable tear film production (which was diagnosed as my primary cause of all my symptoms). I treated this with SteriLid eyelid cleanser several times a day and at night when waking with eyes stuck shut, Restasis (changed to Alrex), AzaSite (used 7 bottles; changed to IOUIX which did not help; returned to AzaSite). I also tried Bacitracin for Blepharitus without success, using Dwell and Sooth DX for dry eye relief.
In July 2009 I had the plugs removed (they didn’t seem to help) and needed band-aid contacts in both eyes due to extreme pain; replacing every 4 weeks.
I tried 128 Muro Ointment and drops and Doxycycline 20 Mg 2 x per day (3 months) unsuccessfully.
I used and continue to use warm compresses on my eyes and massage them to loosen the “gunk” that accumulates due to poor tear film production. The doctor in New Bern took photos for insurance coverage for lower eyelid surgery to close eyes which I am considering doing in spring 2010.
My corneal erosions got worse creating ulcers so I went to a corneal specialist at Duke Eye Center and had my corneas resurfaced through PRK surgery on one eye in November and the other in early January 2010.
Currently, I am using preservative free drops every few hours, Aza Site, Omega 3, 3 x per day (5 months); Restasis 2 x per day; eye drops as needed; warm compresses on eyes and an eye mask nightly.
My eyes have continued to seal painfully shut at night, resulting in waking up every 1-2 hours to bathe my eyes with warm water and lid cleaner and applying more eye drops.
I really hesitate to have lower eyelid surgery to close my eyes since the corneal specialist at Duke did not think that my eyes were seriously staying open at bedtime and I agree with that.
So, I am desperate for anyone who has any suggestions or insight into this continued and debilitating problem which is primarily the result of poor/unstable tear film production. I am 62 years old, in good health, and can’t image not being able to get a full night’s sleep for another 20 years! Has anyone had success with any specialists? I have considered the eye clinic in Miami and even acupuncture. Any feedback is welcome!
Comment