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Hi everyone – I’ve been reading threads and posts for quite some time now and have finally joined! I already recognize a number of members. I receive the bulletin too. I found the Dry Eye Zone probably about 5 years ago searching for information on dry eyes. In the forum I’ve found a great deal of information which I would then research and take to my dr. if I thought it applied.
I really can’t remember the date/year when I was first told I had dry eyes – I only remember that after repeated visits to my dr. and complaints about how my eyes felt, he said something like, “Well J, you have dry eyes!” That was news to me, wish he would have told me sooner and given me some direction! Offered no solution, no advice, nothing. I didn’t realize then what a big deal it was, I didn’t even run out to buy eye drops to help.
Well, after a few more appointments and more complaining, he was totally frustrated with me and referred me to his colleague, who has been working with me now for a number of years and who also told me I have blepharitis and recommended lid hygiene (baby shampoo, etc.). We’ve done the blood serum eye drops (which I learned about here), seemed to help at first but now I no longer use them (eyes seemed grittier after awhile); punctal plugs which kept falling out to the point that he no longer would put them in so I asked him about cautery (which I learned about here) and which I finally had done (not pleasant but it has helped somewhat); also learned about blepharospasms here and botox for that (first set of injections worked great; second set not so much – eye irritation is too great). So it was back to the dr. – we’re now on an all-out war against the inflammation – tried doxycycline before, we may try it again.
Have been on Restasis for about 3 years but he took me off 2 weeks ago – he wanted absolutely no preservatives in my eyes at all. I don’t think I ever got any relief from it anyway. I’ve tried just about every eye drop I’ve read about but now am using Soothe, Systane Ultra, Refresh Plus and Refresh Celluvisc (sometimes – I don’t like the thickness, my eyes seem to shed the thicker drops like grains of sand). My favorite has been TeraTears and I may go back to them, but in the vials this time. I guess “preservative-free in the eye” isn’t really preservative free. Am also taking eye vitamins (expensive!!) and I’m not really sure they help. Also on fish oil and flaxseed oil.
Did I miss anything?? Oh, yeah, tried acupuncture (which again I think I found some information here about that – not sure it helped but may consider it again). Am now trying the Azatite drops after a week of TobraDex (to get the inflammation under control (I can only hope), but am having a problem with some eye pain and redness in left eye - will call the dr. tomorrow. I also have the Panoptyx goggles (again, learned about them here).
Read a post a few years ago from a woman in Ohio – sounded like I could have written it myself – right down to loving to play tennis!! Which I absolutely refuse to give up, although it is challenging sometimes to play ‘cause it’s just too hard to keep my eyes open!
jpete
I really can’t remember the date/year when I was first told I had dry eyes – I only remember that after repeated visits to my dr. and complaints about how my eyes felt, he said something like, “Well J, you have dry eyes!” That was news to me, wish he would have told me sooner and given me some direction! Offered no solution, no advice, nothing. I didn’t realize then what a big deal it was, I didn’t even run out to buy eye drops to help.
Well, after a few more appointments and more complaining, he was totally frustrated with me and referred me to his colleague, who has been working with me now for a number of years and who also told me I have blepharitis and recommended lid hygiene (baby shampoo, etc.). We’ve done the blood serum eye drops (which I learned about here), seemed to help at first but now I no longer use them (eyes seemed grittier after awhile); punctal plugs which kept falling out to the point that he no longer would put them in so I asked him about cautery (which I learned about here) and which I finally had done (not pleasant but it has helped somewhat); also learned about blepharospasms here and botox for that (first set of injections worked great; second set not so much – eye irritation is too great). So it was back to the dr. – we’re now on an all-out war against the inflammation – tried doxycycline before, we may try it again.
Have been on Restasis for about 3 years but he took me off 2 weeks ago – he wanted absolutely no preservatives in my eyes at all. I don’t think I ever got any relief from it anyway. I’ve tried just about every eye drop I’ve read about but now am using Soothe, Systane Ultra, Refresh Plus and Refresh Celluvisc (sometimes – I don’t like the thickness, my eyes seem to shed the thicker drops like grains of sand). My favorite has been TeraTears and I may go back to them, but in the vials this time. I guess “preservative-free in the eye” isn’t really preservative free. Am also taking eye vitamins (expensive!!) and I’m not really sure they help. Also on fish oil and flaxseed oil.
Did I miss anything?? Oh, yeah, tried acupuncture (which again I think I found some information here about that – not sure it helped but may consider it again). Am now trying the Azatite drops after a week of TobraDex (to get the inflammation under control (I can only hope), but am having a problem with some eye pain and redness in left eye - will call the dr. tomorrow. I also have the Panoptyx goggles (again, learned about them here).
Read a post a few years ago from a woman in Ohio – sounded like I could have written it myself – right down to loving to play tennis!! Which I absolutely refuse to give up, although it is challenging sometimes to play ‘cause it’s just too hard to keep my eyes open!
jpete
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