Tweet
Hi everyone 
I live in Ireland and I've had dry eyes since 2003.
It came on instantaneously while I was under a lot of emotional pressure and working punishing hours on the computer. I had a very bad 18 months at the beginning. I had to stop doing the work that I loved and suffered a deep depression. Very slowly my eyes improved and I was able to start work again, in a different profession that placed fewer demands on my eyes. I then had about four good years where I it was only an inconvenience rather than something that impacted hugely on my quality of life. About 15 months ago it came back with a vengeance and I'm currently struggling in the workplace and to manage the impact of this condition on my life. Being able to research things on this website has been such help (thanks to everyone) as good support is pretty impossible to find in this country. As we all know, it can be terribly isolating and debilitating.
A few medical/technical details. I have acqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye. It took 7 years for me to get diagnosed with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction by ophthalmologists although a great optometrist I've occasionally attended in England suggested I had this in 2003. I've upper and lower punctal plugs in one eye and just a lower one now in the other. Even with the plugs I measure 0 in one eye and 2 in the other in the Schirmer test. I use Theratears eyedrops very frequently most days (I find them fantastic) and Lacrilube eye ointment at night. I know that greasy ointments are far from ideal with MGD but it's so hard to wean myself off them as I get pain during the night if I even try to reduce the amount at the moment. I've ordered Genteal Gel on the internet for nighttime use but haven't dared to try it yet! I use warm packs on my eyes morning and night (which help) and Lid-Care wipes in the morning. I am careful with my diet (find caffeine, alcohol and sugar don't help) and take Theratears Nutrition capsules.
I've been on oral doxycycline for seven months (100mg a day at the beginning, now 50 mg) and when it kicked in (after about 3.5 weeks) I saw a big improvement (probably about 50%). I had to beg doctors to give it to me as they weren't convinced I had MGD. They see no sign of occular rosacea although I have my doubts as they acknowledge I have signs of mild facial rosacea, that have worsened this past year. I'd urge anyone who suspects they have MGD and has a dry eye condition that baffles doctors to give doxy a go. I have to take a break from it in a couple of weeks though and wonder how I'll fare then.
Doctors appear at a loss as to why I have these symptoms. I strongly believe it is a response to stress. As a child I suffered endlessly from blepharitis, something I had put out of my mind until the dry eye began. The flare-up this time coincided with another stressful period in my life. Having had four good years I have the benefit of knowing this can pass (although there are times when it's a struggle to believe this). When it first occurred the doctors told me that was how it was going to be and that I may not be able to work again. At times like that it's hard not to get trapped in the vicious cycle of the condition causing anxiety/depression, which in turn makes the condition worse. I've read with interest the posts on this site on the potential link between anxiety/depression and dry eyes. As others have said, it is so crucial to treat the underlying or accompanying mental health issue. The four good years I had with my eyes I was on a low dosage of an antidepressant (Effexor - generic name Venlafaxine). Having had this experience I am no longer afraid that this antidepressant will exacerbate my dry eye condition. I know that people sometimes avoid taking medication for this reason so I just wanted to put that out there.
I'd better sign off now (enough staring at a computer screen - the sun is shining). I just wanted to introduce myself as I've been lurking in the background for a good while. Reckon it's about time others can learn from my experience (I hope in any case).
I posted a question on the MEGS thread today about how to order them from outside the US. I'd be so glad if anyone can help me with that one.
Bye for now.
H
I live in Ireland and I've had dry eyes since 2003.
It came on instantaneously while I was under a lot of emotional pressure and working punishing hours on the computer. I had a very bad 18 months at the beginning. I had to stop doing the work that I loved and suffered a deep depression. Very slowly my eyes improved and I was able to start work again, in a different profession that placed fewer demands on my eyes. I then had about four good years where I it was only an inconvenience rather than something that impacted hugely on my quality of life. About 15 months ago it came back with a vengeance and I'm currently struggling in the workplace and to manage the impact of this condition on my life. Being able to research things on this website has been such help (thanks to everyone) as good support is pretty impossible to find in this country. As we all know, it can be terribly isolating and debilitating.
A few medical/technical details. I have acqueous deficient and evaporative dry eye. It took 7 years for me to get diagnosed with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction by ophthalmologists although a great optometrist I've occasionally attended in England suggested I had this in 2003. I've upper and lower punctal plugs in one eye and just a lower one now in the other. Even with the plugs I measure 0 in one eye and 2 in the other in the Schirmer test. I use Theratears eyedrops very frequently most days (I find them fantastic) and Lacrilube eye ointment at night. I know that greasy ointments are far from ideal with MGD but it's so hard to wean myself off them as I get pain during the night if I even try to reduce the amount at the moment. I've ordered Genteal Gel on the internet for nighttime use but haven't dared to try it yet! I use warm packs on my eyes morning and night (which help) and Lid-Care wipes in the morning. I am careful with my diet (find caffeine, alcohol and sugar don't help) and take Theratears Nutrition capsules.
I've been on oral doxycycline for seven months (100mg a day at the beginning, now 50 mg) and when it kicked in (after about 3.5 weeks) I saw a big improvement (probably about 50%). I had to beg doctors to give it to me as they weren't convinced I had MGD. They see no sign of occular rosacea although I have my doubts as they acknowledge I have signs of mild facial rosacea, that have worsened this past year. I'd urge anyone who suspects they have MGD and has a dry eye condition that baffles doctors to give doxy a go. I have to take a break from it in a couple of weeks though and wonder how I'll fare then.
Doctors appear at a loss as to why I have these symptoms. I strongly believe it is a response to stress. As a child I suffered endlessly from blepharitis, something I had put out of my mind until the dry eye began. The flare-up this time coincided with another stressful period in my life. Having had four good years I have the benefit of knowing this can pass (although there are times when it's a struggle to believe this). When it first occurred the doctors told me that was how it was going to be and that I may not be able to work again. At times like that it's hard not to get trapped in the vicious cycle of the condition causing anxiety/depression, which in turn makes the condition worse. I've read with interest the posts on this site on the potential link between anxiety/depression and dry eyes. As others have said, it is so crucial to treat the underlying or accompanying mental health issue. The four good years I had with my eyes I was on a low dosage of an antidepressant (Effexor - generic name Venlafaxine). Having had this experience I am no longer afraid that this antidepressant will exacerbate my dry eye condition. I know that people sometimes avoid taking medication for this reason so I just wanted to put that out there.
I'd better sign off now (enough staring at a computer screen - the sun is shining). I just wanted to introduce myself as I've been lurking in the background for a good while. Reckon it's about time others can learn from my experience (I hope in any case).
I posted a question on the MEGS thread today about how to order them from outside the US. I'd be so glad if anyone can help me with that one.
Bye for now.
H
Comment