Hi everyone!

[Verasou]

You have no idea how happy I was to find this website. I felt so frustrated and lonely after my last visit to the doctor.

I live in Sweden. And I had my first eye problems fall 2008. I'd never before experienced any problems with my eyes.
Then in August 2009 I've had the problems permanently.

I've been to several doctors. Some prescribed me anti histamines, drops and pills. I made a "prick test" to see if was allergic. I wasn't.

So two weeks ago I went to see this supposed to be "great doctor".. And all he said was "Well it happens, use some tear substitute"
After that visist it was like my hope was gone. I was waiting to see this doctor for 2 months with great excitment.
And all he did was shrug his shoulders.
How is this possible?

I'm so depressed. I try to stay positive. And I know there are people out there who have cancer and far worse things. But still it's getting to me.
I'm 23 and supposed to have my whole life ahead of me.

And people, doctors in aprticular who refuse to take this matter seriously make me so frustrated.

I've been looking at the I-Brite surgery, and also the IPL treatments.
Are there treatments like this in europe? Do you have any information about prices?

As for tear subsitutes, I've read they might make the eyes even more read?

I'm crossing my fingers for all of us!

Best, Vera

[FWM]

Hi, i felt as you describe for a long long time, so i know what you are going through, i am 23 as well, i never had problems with my eyes before..

I went to many "great doctors" that only prescribed inmunodepresors.., with no effect.

in my experience nobody, apart from people that have had, or have dry eyes, will take you seriously, because they cant understand what you are suffering; so you should focus in the problem and learn as much as you can, to find the best treatment suitable for you.

[brd888]

Red eyes?

I've been looking at the I-Brite surgery, and also the IPL treatments.
Are there treatments like this in europe? Do you have any information about prices?

As for tear subsitutes, I've read they might make the eyes even more read?
Best, Vera

Hello,
Are you referring to red-eyes - blood shot, etc? Vasoconstrictor eye drops are drops which "get the red out" and can cause problems if used often.

Yeah - its very disappointing trying to find the "right" doctor who will cure your dry eye problem. I think you are best consulting optometrists rather than doctors but they will all revert to the basic treatments that you will find described in dryeyezone.

Regards,
Bruce

[maxif875]

Hej, välkommen!

I think that the IPL treatment is only available in US (i'm not sure).
For drops you can give a try to Systane(PF), Refresh(PF) or Dwell, in addition, you could use some glasses like Wiley-X to make them last longer, make some diet changes, warm compresses...
If you're using too many drops, maybe you should take into consideration the Scleral Lenses from Boston, I'm thinking to do it.

lycka till!

PS: Jag kommer frĺn Uruguay, jag är 23 ĺr gammal ocksä och jag läser svenska!

[ringo]

Hi and welcome!

As you will see, you can find a lot of solutions and help from this website! Do not give up hope, be patient and persistent, thngs will get better....i have posted on my improvement, you can check out my posts, as well as all other members, i have found so much help and support and understanding here, and also very practical recommendations that have changed my life for the better.

wishing you good luck,

Dani

[Toril]

Heisann!

Greetings from Norway to you! :-) There are also some Swedes on here. Like Ringo said in the previous post; this is a very good page where you can find a lot of helpful information, and get in touch with people that are in the same situation as you, have tried various forms of treatment, etc. Also, I love the research updates that Rebecca posts from time to time,...they give me hope that one day things will get better for people with a dry eye diagnosis.

As far as I know, there aren't any dry eye specialists in the Nordic countries. I've talked to many people on here from Norway and Sweden that struggle with getting the right diagnosis. I decided to go abroad (to France to be more specific) to see a dry eye specialist back in 2007 (and I'm still a patient of his, going there once or twice a year). Anyway, I also got many tips on this page on various tear substitutes, how to protect my eyes at night, infomation about humidifiers, etc. which has been very helpful.

Which tests have you taken? Which treatments have you tried so far?


Hilsen fra

Toril

[sanna]

Do you know why your eyes are red ? what did the doctor tell you ? They know nothing about this in Sweden.

Jag skickar info privat om ögonoperationen om du vill.

/Sanna

[Lucy]

I wrote somewhere on the board about the I brite. I wouldn't have that done. The doctor skins your eye and then the skin grows again. Those of us who have had Lasik/PRK complications get sick at that thought.

The doctor cannot guarantee this will work. He cannot guarantee how long it will last. If you want to seek out that thread, you can. Read around this forum and see how much people have suffered because they had things done to their eyes. I'd rather have red eyes than have my eyes skinned like grapes.

[Verasou]

Thanks guys!

You have no idea how good it feels to talk to all of you!
It really helps me, especially when getting through bad days like this one..

It really pisses me off when people don't understand how hard it is to cope both physically AND mentally..


I'm finally understanding I won't find any doctors in Sweden even a little bit intereseted in helping you.

Right now I'm suspecting I might have hormonal problems.. I'm going to see my doctor the 15th this month.. But I'm not counting on anything - trying not to.

I eat one teaspoon of flax seeds in my yoghurt daily, I also eat aprox 1-3 fishoil capsules, and something called membrasin here in sweden - Omega 7 oil that should help against dry eyes.. then vitamins..
And as I'm writing I'm chewing on some red grapes..
I also got an air humidifier...

Maybe you all will think I'm crazy but I refuse giving up mascara... Because when I can't make myself pretty it's like I give in. I refuse to be ill.. I know this sounds weird, and in fact I can feel my eyes burning more, but it's like it helps me to feel normal - as I did before I got the eye issues.

I have been diagnosed with allergy, then virus infection, then epi sclerit (spelling in english?), but all wrong... Then my last doctor told me that its "just dry eyes, it happens to some people, there are tear subsitutes you can buy for that"
My BUP was normal btw..

I got in touch with that I Brite clinic, but after hearing the price and how the procedure is done I realised it's nothing for me. I wish we had someone similar to Dr Toyos in europe....

[Lucy]

We all make decisions on an individual basis. You wll "not go without mascara and refuse to be"............

Because when I can't make myself pretty it's like I give in. I refuse to be ill

Well, I am 10 years int this with no relief in sight (my case is unusual, but not necessarily the worst) I started with Lasik and some years later have a dx of Sjogrens and fibromyalgia. I worried a bit in the beginning about eye makeup, but it just burned my eyes and turned into black smudges. So, I gave that up and have had more to worry about.

I do, however, have things I do that hurt my eyes temporarily and will not give up. I have casinos around the area which I reside and I enjoy occasionally visiting them. I wear my goggles if the smoke is bad, but I still choose to go. I've spoken to to others and they will not think of going if they have bad/dry eyes.

While we are in pain, it's our individual choice to choose how we react to it. I admire your gutts to go in mascara and any other eye make-up you wear.

[Verasou]

And I think it's great that you're still going to the casino..


If I had to say no to everything that is bad to my eyes, or well, if I had to let my eyes control my life I'd be even more miserable than I am...

Last year, when I already knew I had eye problems I did something really stupid.. haha...

My friend invited me for a boat ride... And it was still late summer weather..
So imagine the most perfect sunset, waves, wind..

So I took off my sunglasses and well just let the wind in my face...
It was so nice,... But after this hair dryer effect.. my eyes went really red and sore....

Yet, today, I still have to say it was worth it!!