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Hello,
I am new to this site. I have been reading this for a few weeks and the site has given me hope as well as frightened the wits out of me! I tick quite a few dry eye boxes so it is hard to see what exactly 'caused' my case but I believe it started with 1) 20 years of soft contact lense use (started contacts 1984). Painful eye infection 2004 in left eye and told I had dry eyes in France (where I was living). Told to stop wearing lenses and given drops and gel which helped me (after an anti-inflammatory for the left eye). Unable to wear lenses again. No major problems, then increasing 'springtime' irritation in UK (where I moved back 2005). I self-medicated with eye washes (BAC!), allergy drops (BAC!), need I say more. I now know that was the worst thing to do. I kept seeing my optometrist who I have known for 30 years but no dry eye was picked up. He is a contact lense specialist and kept wanting me to try lenses again with no success!
Thought about LASIK surgery as near-sighted (got cold feet twice) and finally had it done March 2008 'successfully'. That is the #2 dry eye box. Before the operation I pointedly asked 2 LASIK surgeons (David Gartry at Moorfields and Dr. Patel at Optimax) if my eyes were dry as that was my number one worry pre and post-surgery. They said 'not particularly'. At that time, they probably were 'not particularly'. I had a few inflammatory flare-ups for the first 3 months (left eye every time) but then it all settled down and my eyes felt better than they had done for a long time. I used Viscotears at night and hardly touched the artificial tears during the day.
Early 2010 (2 years later) left eye seemed a bit red, used self-medication again (Golden Eye - BAC!). This helped and again, no 'dry eye' feeling just visually a bit of irritation. Then, springtime, more allergy drops, and finally a request to see an opthamologist via my optometrist. She said my left eye was very dry so FML and EXocin for 2 weeks, flare-up, then again for 4 weeks weaning my eye off it. It was like a miracle because my left eye was so red at the inner point and painful. Drops made it disappear. I thought all was well (mid June 2010), then, breast cancer diagnosis and #3 dry eye element: 3 months intensive chemotherapy (Taxol x 4, AC x 4). AC irritated the eyes with 'gritty' feeling, increasingly used drops, eyes visually ok oddly enough.
Mid-Oct, 1 week away from last chemo and central heating goes on - bingo, left eye went crazy again. Felt very upset, extremely dry eyes, unable to go outside even due to 'air'. Was using Celluvisc before, obviously not enough. Moorfields opthamologist I randomly selected via the switchboard (Dr. Pal) told me to try HyloTear 1% and Lacrilube during pm. He said I had some dry patches on the left cornea due to dryness. He really listened to my history which I appreciated. Luckily my French health insurance covers all these costs!. Helped, but central heating a nightmare. Red eye inflames after any major exposure. I use Lacrilube at night in both along with Viscotears to sleep better.
Got onion goggles during the day (home only) and sport wraparound glasses for every day. However, my eyes do not feel comfortable. Minims drops (Prednisolone) prescribed for inflammation 1% and did nothing for me. Another opthamologist (via GP) told me to just drop using them as they were ineffective in my case. I need to 'lubricate' like crazy. This same 'other' opthamologist asked me to dry HyloCare with dexpanthenol for healing as it was a 'new' product. It has irritated my eyes so does not seem to work for me. I tested this by waiting for 3 days for my eyes to settle (very irritated with all the staining exams they do) I then used Hylotear, and 1 drop of Hylocare made my eyes feel dry and look irritated. Anyone else have this with dexp? Issue #4 ladies, I now have to deal with an enforced menopause so hormones are now not helping!
Does anyone out there have any post-chemo stories ? Right now I am sticking to Hylotears 1% although I do not feel they 'stick' enough to my eye. Every hour but looking at my watch to wait for the next drop . . . Tried Clinitas Soothe but not sure if it is for me. I find Viscotears great, even during the day, but I have to keep cleaning my lashes. I do not seem to have a MGD problem. I lost all my eyelashes with chemo so my eyes have been totally exposed to 'the elements' too. Hoping things will get a bit better . . . My eyes and body have taken a real beating,
post-chemo lady.
I am new to this site. I have been reading this for a few weeks and the site has given me hope as well as frightened the wits out of me! I tick quite a few dry eye boxes so it is hard to see what exactly 'caused' my case but I believe it started with 1) 20 years of soft contact lense use (started contacts 1984). Painful eye infection 2004 in left eye and told I had dry eyes in France (where I was living). Told to stop wearing lenses and given drops and gel which helped me (after an anti-inflammatory for the left eye). Unable to wear lenses again. No major problems, then increasing 'springtime' irritation in UK (where I moved back 2005). I self-medicated with eye washes (BAC!), allergy drops (BAC!), need I say more. I now know that was the worst thing to do. I kept seeing my optometrist who I have known for 30 years but no dry eye was picked up. He is a contact lense specialist and kept wanting me to try lenses again with no success!
Thought about LASIK surgery as near-sighted (got cold feet twice) and finally had it done March 2008 'successfully'. That is the #2 dry eye box. Before the operation I pointedly asked 2 LASIK surgeons (David Gartry at Moorfields and Dr. Patel at Optimax) if my eyes were dry as that was my number one worry pre and post-surgery. They said 'not particularly'. At that time, they probably were 'not particularly'. I had a few inflammatory flare-ups for the first 3 months (left eye every time) but then it all settled down and my eyes felt better than they had done for a long time. I used Viscotears at night and hardly touched the artificial tears during the day.
Early 2010 (2 years later) left eye seemed a bit red, used self-medication again (Golden Eye - BAC!). This helped and again, no 'dry eye' feeling just visually a bit of irritation. Then, springtime, more allergy drops, and finally a request to see an opthamologist via my optometrist. She said my left eye was very dry so FML and EXocin for 2 weeks, flare-up, then again for 4 weeks weaning my eye off it. It was like a miracle because my left eye was so red at the inner point and painful. Drops made it disappear. I thought all was well (mid June 2010), then, breast cancer diagnosis and #3 dry eye element: 3 months intensive chemotherapy (Taxol x 4, AC x 4). AC irritated the eyes with 'gritty' feeling, increasingly used drops, eyes visually ok oddly enough.
Mid-Oct, 1 week away from last chemo and central heating goes on - bingo, left eye went crazy again. Felt very upset, extremely dry eyes, unable to go outside even due to 'air'. Was using Celluvisc before, obviously not enough. Moorfields opthamologist I randomly selected via the switchboard (Dr. Pal) told me to try HyloTear 1% and Lacrilube during pm. He said I had some dry patches on the left cornea due to dryness. He really listened to my history which I appreciated. Luckily my French health insurance covers all these costs!. Helped, but central heating a nightmare. Red eye inflames after any major exposure. I use Lacrilube at night in both along with Viscotears to sleep better.
Got onion goggles during the day (home only) and sport wraparound glasses for every day. However, my eyes do not feel comfortable. Minims drops (Prednisolone) prescribed for inflammation 1% and did nothing for me. Another opthamologist (via GP) told me to just drop using them as they were ineffective in my case. I need to 'lubricate' like crazy. This same 'other' opthamologist asked me to dry HyloCare with dexpanthenol for healing as it was a 'new' product. It has irritated my eyes so does not seem to work for me. I tested this by waiting for 3 days for my eyes to settle (very irritated with all the staining exams they do) I then used Hylotear, and 1 drop of Hylocare made my eyes feel dry and look irritated. Anyone else have this with dexp? Issue #4 ladies, I now have to deal with an enforced menopause so hormones are now not helping!
Does anyone out there have any post-chemo stories ? Right now I am sticking to Hylotears 1% although I do not feel they 'stick' enough to my eye. Every hour but looking at my watch to wait for the next drop . . . Tried Clinitas Soothe but not sure if it is for me. I find Viscotears great, even during the day, but I have to keep cleaning my lashes. I do not seem to have a MGD problem. I lost all my eyelashes with chemo so my eyes have been totally exposed to 'the elements' too. Hoping things will get a bit better . . . My eyes and body have taken a real beating,
post-chemo lady.
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