introduction and delemma

[lizzy]

hi, i have had severe dry eye symtoms for several months now, but i had itchy eyes in the evening for years.
the eye doctor just said i have dry eyes and that i need to find drops that suit me.
i have tried 5 different drops now, but none of them make any difference what so ever.
so, if the drops do nothing for me, is there any point in keep putting them in my eyes?
i wanted to know if damage wil occur if i dont put the drop in my eyes.
i am very low mentally with this, it is ruining any enjoyment of life. my eyes are burning constantly and nothing gives me relief.
would very much appreciate any feed back. thanks

[littlemermaid]

Hi lizzy ~ Have you tried preservative-free drops to keep you going? Here's Rebecca's guidance to help start your journey 'dry eyes is not a diagnosis' http://www.dryeyezone.com/ Can you get to a regional hospital for a decent diagnosis? Maybe start to talk to a GP about depression, maybe access better diagnosis that way? Severe condition deserves better than this. http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showt...octor-who-will

[lizzy]

thankyou for your reply and advice. i will read up as much as i can. i have a appointment with my GP next week, i will try to start to get help there. i will update later.
i wonder how people ever managed before the invention of the internet. Without excellent forums like this to turn to in times of despair, must be awful with no support. it helps to know other people understand.

[littlemermaid]

Yes, please update, we're all in the same boat here. Quality of this forum is thanks to the totally fabulous Rebecca and moderators, we love 'em

[PotatoCakes]

Please do be careful about not putting in drops. I was pushing it and that's how I ended up with corneal abrasions. My doctor now has me administering drops on the hour (close for 2 minutes following). YOu may not need drops that often and may find that other things, like warm or cold compresses, can help you avoid drops but you dont' want to end up with abrasions that can affect your eyesight and more.

And ditto littlemermaid, make sure you are using preservative-free drops. Not only can the preservatives cause irritation but they frequently make dry eye much worse. One of my specialists has told me numerous times that he wishes they'd ban tears with preservatives because they so often cause problems.

If your problem is severe, you may want to look into autologous serum drops. Insurance typically doesn't cover them and they require a blood draw but the benefit, if you have a lot of sensitivity to commercial drops, is that they are made from your own body & sterile saline so you're not likely to be irritated by them.

[Eric]

Dont stress!

Try not to let it get you down. You won't damage your eyes or every go blind. Use eye drops if you get really dry to preserve you eyes health. Don't Stress!! Stress is poison to the body and your nervous system. It can lead to many other illness you can be greatful you don't have. Try to stay off the internet. There are no answers out there. Trust me, I wasted countless hours looking and stressing. What I do is use a hot mask with little gel beads in it. I got it at my eye Dr. (nuke it for 15 seconds) And eye drops when needed. As far as new technology. What a joke! Restasis is 10 years old already. It actually dryed my eyes out, but does work for some others. I've heard some people complain that they quit Restasis, and got worse. I guess you end up dependant on it, so I personally would not use it. All future technolgys that I see are the same ol worthless spin offs off old ideas. Heat, steroids and anti-inflamatorys. What a joke!! Nothing new out there. They truely have no clue. I do think technology is booming though. They may figure it out in the future. So lets hope, pray and keep our fingers crossed. For now, don't stress! It will ruin your health! You have nothing fatal, just really irritating. There''s plenty of people worse off than us.

[Eric]

Hi again Lizzy. I found this link today and thought it had a lot of info.. Check it out.. Eric
http://www.xenophilia.com/zb0061.htm#ex

[lizzy]

thankyou very much for replies all. i saw my GP yester day, she sent me for a blood test to see if it a auto immune disease that is causing my eye problems. she said if its not she will send me back to the hospital eye doctor. she also mentioned steroids, because i get no relief or benefit from eye drop. Steroids scare me, so i might not take up that offer. i will update. later.

[lizzy]

hi. thought it would be good manners to update you on my latest diagnosis for my burning eyes etc. doctor now says i do not have dry eyes. She says my blood test shows that i am ALLERGIC ! But as yet, we have not found what too. i thought this information may help someone else in some way.

[littlemermaid]

Hi lizzy, thanks v much for update on good progress! Just wondering if doc is a GP or an ophthalmologist? do people get this level of burning from allergy? Just wondering if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has looked at your tear film and meibomian gland function through a slit-lamp microscope. Very best hopes for your comfort.

[lizzy]

very good point little mermaid. it would be wise for me to ask to be tested again for dry eye by a eye doctor. thankyou for pointing that out to me. .

[littlemermaid]

Hello Lizzy ~ We've had so many 'diagnoses' - bacterial MGD, allergy, rosacea inflammation - from some of the best ophth in the country, bless 'em all for trying.

Also, what I really want now is to find an optometrist up-to-date on dry eye to back up appointments with the hospital ophth service because the wait for follow-up is too long but I know they're doing their best for us. I want someone for regular check-ups, have a look at the tear film, meibom function, eye surface for damage, bit of a chat about what an allergic eye might look like and whether this could be one, bit of TLC.

Also wondering how you are getting on with 'environmental' factors - have you got wraparounds or goggles, blitzed the house for allergens etc? Nosey, aren't I? Best wishes.

[Angela]

hi. thought it would be good manners to update you on my latest diagnosis for my burning eyes etc. doctor now says i do not have dry eyes. She says my blood test shows that i am ALLERGIC ! But as yet, we have not found what too. i thought this information may help someone else in some way.

Hi Lizzy. I am glad that you are getting some answers. This information IS vey helpful. As of right now you are still not sure what you're allergic to but I'm sure you will be undergoing some tests soon. Please update us with that info. Also, can you please tell me what blood test that you took which showed you were allergic? You said the doctor sent you to check for autoimmune diseases, which I think is called an ANA test, but that's separate than a test that would show an allergy.

[neve]

From my experience, an elevated eosinophil count can indicate that an allergic reaction is occuring/has occured. I know that to be true with dogs so am guessing it is the same with people. Would show up as part of a CBC (complete blood count) as far as I know. Of course, it doesn't state specifically what you are allergic to and that is where specialized allergy testing comes into play.