Another RARE dry eye sufferer

[Gabriel]

Well I'm another lasik dry eye sufferer (male, 34 yrs old). The bad thing is I really didn't know much about sever dry eye before lasik. Well Sept. 20th was one year for me and I can say I have not had a comforable day. It just makes me sick how dr's play you before the surgery like there's nothing to worry about. My dr said that dry eye is just during the healing phase and is extremely rare to have it long term. Now I have tried temp plugs, restasis, doxy, drops and ointments and not much help. Dr says there's not much else she can do for me. I did a tear break up test and she said it is definetly not normal. I'm thinking lack of oil. My body does have a bit of a drying effect in the dryer season's. I'm looking into a home humitifier system that hooks up to the central air/heat unit. I have humidifier in bedroom and boil water in kitchen but doesn't seem to get the house to a level I would prefer. I can say this is such an emotional roller coaster for me and my family (wife and son) has to deal with this as well. I feel so guilty that I chose to do something that has effected our quality of lives. Most days I try to suck it up and push myself through things just so they can have a better time doing things that make me so uncomfortable. Anyway, I could go on and on about this. I know if I write to much no one will want to read it all. Big thanks to rebecca for this website it has great info products and info also its great to be able to talk to others with this condition. God bless you all and may you have comfort soon.

[Sammy B.]

Hi Gabriel,

What will help you to push forward is finding or drilling down on your exact diagnosis. What is the underlying problem - aqueous or "water" deficiency OR lipid or "oil" deficiency? Both? A low TBUT leads me to believe you are lipid deficient, but a doctor can confirm this.

I would suggest, as a first step, seeing another doctor, one who is not affiliated with your LASIK center. Going back to my LASIK center brought up all sorts of unnatural, horrendous emotions for me and when I stopped forcing myself to go back there, things started to improve. Half of this is a mind game and if you can conquer the mind, your eyes will improve as well.

Rose

[Gabriel]

Thanks rose, I know I need to see someone else. The only reason I keep going back to my lasik Dr is because its free. I have spent so much money over this past year that its just taking a little time getting to another specialist. You are absolutely right about being part mind thing. Sometimes its hard to even concentrate on things. Yea, I'm thinking lack of oil/lipids.