Progesterone & Testosterone eye drops

[Travis]

Chemia, I am going to test this theory in a few days and post back. I must say that my eyes feel worse and are generally more red when I wear my glasses. I think the tears that I am able to produce hydrate the contact and therefore keep my eyes better hydrated. It would be nice if I can get by with OTC drops and daily lenses.

[bunnyrabbit123]

I've been able to get someone in my area to consider prescribing hormone drops (he says he's checking into it and I'm pushing it as much as poss. without alienating this dr.) but this is only after plugs, cautery, steroids, restasis and ipl. You're lucky Travis, to have gotten a solution pretty quickly- I'm very jealous!!

[Hemu]

Travis, I am glad the drops are working for you. However, it does seem a little worrisome that you were asked to try non FDA approved drugs immediately before even trying other standard options that have been thoroughly tested for years. Non FDA approved drugs and procedures are usually considered to be the last resort. I'm just surprised(and possibly a little alarmed) that the first treatment you were prescribed are drops that very few people have tried/tested!

That's just my opinion though, I could be wrong.

[Travis]

To be honest I don't know for sure what component my tears were lacking. I believe it was a combination of aqueous and evaporative. Before the drops I couldn't cry for the life of me get a tear to come out. It was as if the glands were blocked. My doctor turned my eyelids upside down and could tell that they were inflamed. Now I can close my eyes and think about something sad and have a good tear flow. I have never taken restasis or plugs before trying these. I tried all of the lubricating drops that were over the counter. They would give my eye relief for approximation 30 minutes before they felt awful again. The testosterone/progesterone drops give me relief for around four hours then I need another drop in each eye.

Prior to visiting the doctors office I tried to wear my contacts for a full day out of angry desperation of months of trying different lenses at another doctor. I would put the OTC lubricating eye drops in every 30 minutes and by the end of the day I just took the lenses out and said enough was enough. My eyes were in pain for the next several days. When I went to my doctor I explained by goal of wanting to be able to wear contacts again he tried me in a pair of daily lenses and gave me a drop of pro/test in each eye. Unlike the lubricating drops these lasted for four hours with no discomfort. In fact I could have gone longer but wanted to follow the docs instructions. I wore wore a pair of dailies for the next week foe five day sample back and was about to order a box when I decided to try the monthlies to save on expenses. These worked for two days but became intolerable. Now I am back in the dailies and feeling a lot better.

[Hemu]

Not to my knowledge. But a physician can have it made at a compounding pharmacy.

Do you know what component of your tears were severely lacking? (aqueous, evaporative or mucin deficiency?) What were your symptoms?
What drops did you try before those? Did you try restasis, punctual plugs etc before trying these?
How long was it since you saw the effects?

[Travis]

Not to my knowledge. But a physician can have it made at a compounding pharmacy.

[Hemu]

Is this therapy FDA approved?

[Travis]

I still don't know the exact cause of my dry eye condition. I am thirty years old and I have worked for an electroplating company for seven years that I am periodically exposed to hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide fumes which really to irritate my eyes. It would seem logical that this is part of the problem. I had the tear lab osmolarity test done which said that I don't have dry eye (number was low). Around 3 years ago I noticed that I couldn't wear my coopervision proclear compatibles much past the end of the work day. I switched to biofinity by the same mfg and was fairly comfortable all day and most night until six months ago. For the past six months i haven't been able to wear my contact lenses for even half a work day. I really don't like wearing glasses because of my high myopia (-6.5 sphere). With a high index 1.67 lens the spherical abberation makes everything distorted on the periphery making it a nuisance to do day to day things. Now I can successfully wear one-day contacts with the use of these drops four times a day with minimal discomfort. The drops do not burn my eyes when I put them in. It worries me a little bit that this is considered an unusual treatment, but to be able to feel like myself again with contacts.

[disl334]

Travis
I have heard the drops burn thats why many use the transdermal cream. Do the drops burn when you put them in? Also what is your diagnosis; MGD, bleph, Allergies etc?

[sunshinelover]

Hi Travis,

thins is so interesting! Glad to hear you have got those drops! I would love to try them myself, but impossible in Sweden. What diagnose do you have and how old are you?

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi Travis,

Glad to hear you're getting some relief. I have to confess though I always feel a little worried hearing from people who are still wearing contacts if their dry eye is serious enough to pursue such unusual treatments. Curious to know more of your story and what your specific diagnosis and history are?

To the others in this thread, re DrP:

I'm sorry that I was not quicker and firmer in dealing with this problem! It turned out the doctor was sending people unsolicited messages, and in general flouting our forum rules re: doctor participation. I hoped we could work things out but we couldn't. - I really apologize to all for what you were exposed to.

[Travis]

I am a real person and these drops did help me. There has been much research into the effects of hormones on dry eyes. Here is a link to another doctor in Florida that summarizes the research. Look up Jeffery Dach MD in Florida, he has a page summarizing the research.

[bunnyrabbit123]

Oh Kate, I'm truly sorry to read this. Someone, somewhere has the "magic gloop" that will end this misery and in the meantime, all we can do is keep on trying. I'm tired of the search right now too. Try to be good to yourself, really understand "one day at a time" and pm me, if you like. At least we can rant to each other!

[Katewest]

After wasting 1000$ on ipl i am no longer as native about miracle treatments. I am probably at my lowest point right now which is scary because im still young. I am hoping the Boston prose will help me

[bunnyrabbit123]

Thanks for supporting me on this, Katewest. It's been my experience in life that when you ask questions and get hostility in return, there's something else going on. Dr. Panzer seems to have an agenda here that involves more than providing worthwhile treatment.