Do I Have Dry-Eye?

[Jen]

Greetings.

Are the following symptoms due to dry-eye? I will hold no one here responsible for the information given, I'm just trying to find out if the subject of dry-eye is worth my pursuit.

What I call my "eye-attacks" occur only at night, usually between 3 and 5 in the morning. Most of the symptoms occur only in my left eye. I am occasionally wakened in these hours by an excrutiating stabbing pain on the front of my eyeball. The eye tears copiously and is extremely painful and photosensitive for about half an hour, after which the pain begins, very slowly, to subside. Sometimes, I wake up and can feel that if I open my eye, it's going to be terribly and suddenly painful, and if I keep my eyes closed and sit upright and then slowly open my eye, it's okay. The eye remains rather mucky throughout the next morning, and my vision in that eye has gotten markedly worse in the time this has been a problem (I wear glasses).

Two things which help most (thought not a lot) are a hot shower or a hot, wet washcloth held over the eye.

There are aspects to this problem which have made my doctor suggest it is a type of cluster headache. However, other symptoms don't fit that diagnosis. From what I've read, the same can be said about my symptoms fitting those of dry-eye; some fit, some don't. I thought perhaps it might help me to hear from some folks who have had personal experience with this problem.

Thanks, and regards,

Jennifer

[kitty]

Are you a contact lens wearer? If so, what is your lens wear schedule? Have you seen an eye doctor?

[Jen]

In reply...

No, Kitty, I don't wear contacts, though I have in the past, years ago. I have seen an eye doctor, but truth to tell I don't recall (if I ever made note) if he was an opthamologist or an optometrist. He found the whole thing very strange, and his only suggestion was perhaps I had eye strain because I needed new glasses. That visit is what prompted me to bring up the problem to my M.D.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Rebecca Petris]

... I'm trying to find out if the subject of dry-eye is worth my pursuit.

What I call my "eye-attacks" occur only at night, usually between 3 and 5 in the morning. Most of the symptoms occur only in my left eye. I am occasionally wakened in these hours by an excrutiating stabbing pain on the front of my eyeball. The eye tears copiously and is extremely painful and photosensitive for about half an hour, after which the pain begins, very slowly, to subside. Sometimes, I wake up and can feel that if I open my eye, it's going to be terribly and suddenly painful, and if I keep my eyes closed and sit upright and then slowly open my eye, it's okay. The eye remains rather mucky throughout the next morning, and my vision in that eye has gotten markedly worse in the time this has been a problem (I wear glasses).

Two things which help most (thought not a lot) are a hot shower or a hot, wet washcloth held over the eye.

Jen,

Welcome to Dry Eye Talk.

Since the disclaimer is already a given what you're describing - episodes of pain, photophobia, tearing and degraded vision - sound to me exactly like corneal erosions. That's basically a temporary injury to the corneal epithelium that can occur from excessive dryness. And nighttime-only problems with dry eye are pretty common. So based exclusively on your description personally I'd say it is absolutely worth looking into an ocular surface explanation, though not necessarily "dry eye" per se.

Some suggestions (at least possibilities to look into)
- Try to get to an eye doctor as soon as possible after one of these attacks so s/he can look at you under the slit lamp for signs of an erosion. Also request specifically that they perform dry eye testing (Schirmer and tear break-up time).
- If you have no luck anywhere else try an eyelid specialist (oculoplastic surgeon). Sometimes problems like this are due to eyelids not closing properly.
- Try protecting your eye at night and see if it makes a difference. You can tape it shut with medical tape, or use saran wrap, or a soft eye guard (the type you use to block out light) or even goggles, to help seal in moisture.
- Try eye goop at night - something like Genteal Gel - and see if it makes a difference.

If in fact it is related to dry eye then there's lots of other things to do about it but for the moment sounds like just confirming what's going on is the main hurdle.

[kitty]

Rebecca finished what I started. My first "infiltrate" (also called erosion) felt much like what you described. I woke in the morning with a painful rock in my eye, with redness, tearing and photophobia. At that time, I was wearing contacts 24 x 7. That infiltrate was the end of my extended wear contacts and what I believe to be the early warning sign of my now severe DES. Like Rebecca said, seek out another evaluation by a doctor experienced in DES.

[Delilah]

Welcome Jen

Jen I just read your posts and welcome to the family, I think you are new lol? Well it does sound like dry eye, if you have erosion then I suggest Muro 128, $20 bucks a bottle, it helps with corneal edmea erosion, also try a humidifier in your room going all night by your bed, it may help. Photophobia is something I deal with on a normal basis, try having your room dark so when you wake up you don't have to deal with blinding light, even a small night light will help until your eyes adjust to the light I advise to see a specialist rather than just an eye doctor, hope this was a little helpful. Ciao Delilah

[Jen]

Blepharitis

I'd like to report what appears to be a successful diagnosis and treatment. I'll include a few details in case others visiting the sight might like the information.

My doctor has diagnosed blepharitis, which is basically dandruff of the eyelashes. Pretty gross, huh? Hehe. I guess I have a very mild case, because I never noticed it before, but it has been enough to cause corneal erosions, and that was what was causing me so much pain and reduced vision.

Treatment includes:
Warm moist compress on the eyelashes, then washing the eyelash area, including the base of the eyelashes. Hey, who washes that area? You'd get soap or cleanser in your eye, right? Especially a girl like me who doesn't wear makeup. But you can bet I'm washing them now, in warm water with a few drops of baby shampoo mixed in.

I am using an erythromycin ointment in my eyes at night for one month to heal the erosions, and I must say that already my vision is clearer. This is really helping a lot. After the antibiotic, my doctor recommended a nighttime lubricant.

I have to say I am very pleased with the treatment and its results. I know there are others here on the site with the same condition and with other experiences, many far harsher than my own. I wish them well.

I would also like to thank the people who responded to my post, as well as to the folks who maintain this site. You gave me some critical information for getting this problem solved, but more importantly, you gave me the courage and motivation to continue pursuing a problem that had me frustrated, disouraged, and wanting to avoid the whole thing altogether.

Thank you and God bless!