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Hello! I'm Lisa, and I'm from Texas, thus my screen name: TexasLisa!
I am 44, and I started to have dry eyes when my mom started smoking when I was 14. It was at that point in time that I began to have allergies. But not a big deal. I was severely nearsighted (-8.75 with -1.75 astigmastism) and that made wearing contacts very difficult. I only would wear them for special occasions. The rest of the time I wore really thick glasses in big frames that could handle the size of the lenses. (This is the 80's before super-thin lenses.)
Anyway, in 1993 & 1994 I was in the last part of the investigational trial for PRK. You could only treat one eye within 6 months at that time, and I actually had to have both eyes retreated because of the astigmastism.
But I maintain it was the BEST money I have ever spent. For the first time, I could SEE! It was and is great. I had a little bit of a hallo effect and my eyes were sometimes dry, but it was very successful.
About 8 years ago, after an abnormal blood test for a life insurance policy, I found out I had Sjogren's Syndrome (primary).
More dryness. Still manageable. But I know that when I went for my eye check up in Oct 2010, the eye doctor told me I had dry spots on my eyes and I needed to work to keep them moist. Which I did try to do.
And then, in May this year I went to my GP because I was having trouble sleeping. She convinced me to start taking an anti-depressant (Wellbutrin XL, started at 150 mg). About two weeks later, my eyes started really to bother me, and then when I started having a lot of goop in my eyes, went to the eye doctor. Both eyes were infected and the dry spots were really bad. At that time, my vision was its regular 20/30. She told me to do lid scrubs, use preservative-free tears, take Fish Oil, and she started me on Tobradex (anti-biotic/steroid combo), and 3 days later, I thought all was well. Boy was I wrong. My eyes started to really bother me, and I started losing vision in both eyes. I was seeing double and triple, and my eyes were hurting so badly, I could barely open them. 2nd trip to the eye doctor. Her words: "your eyes are trashed". The infection was gone, but the dry spots had gone from bad to severe. She switched me to a really strong steroid and Vegamox for the infection and keep up the preservative-free vials of tears. Alas, I was allergic to the Vegamox, and the steroid was like pouring acid in my eyes.
I did some research and ordered a product called BioTears to take instead of just Fish Oil. It has the Omega-3's, but it also has Omega-6's from Black Currant Oil, which has GLA (gamma linoleic acid) which is a component of the moisture layer of tears. It also has tumeric, aloe, and some other stuff. But everything I read told me at least 4 weeks before I would notice a difference. Started taking the supplements and drinking lots of water, but things kept getting worse and worse.
3rd trip to a different eye doctor. He switched me to just Lotemax and PF tears and to come back 3 days later for temporary plugs. Vision was vastly impaired, and the pain was terrible. 4th trip to the doctor for plugs. NO DIFFERENCE but expensive. I was supposed to go for permanent plugs, but I did not like that practice, so I went back to my regular doctor for my follow up appointment I had never cancelled.
Side note. I had been on the Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for two months, and the doctor bumped me up to the next dose. 3 days later, my eyes started to get so bad I could hardly stand to open them. Anywhere but a dark room was next to impossible to be in. I began to wonder if this could be related to the Wellbutrin. Although my GP didn't believe me, I told her I had to get off the drug ASAP. She switched me to immediate release tablets, so I could cut them to wean off. She had me on a 3 week wean-off plan. I was off in 3 days. (First day was the worst).
That makes my 5th trip in about 5 weeks. She told switched me to a different drug (and I cannot think of the name now, but it was another combo antibotic/steroid) and told me I needed to see a cornea specialist, because the spots were deeper, wider and she was really concerned about permanent damage to my corneas.
So, it was off to the specialist with fears of serious damage. So, that makes visit #6 in 6 weeks, but it was the one to start me on the right path. He started me on blood serum drops. WOW! Those are great! I highly recommend them to anyone who is having serious trouble. Maybe just because you have to keep them in the fridge and they are cold, but they feel so great. I really do think they are an important weapon in this fight.
At this point, the person who never misses work has now blown through all of my sick time and vacation time for the year, because I cannot bear to do anything besides keep my eyes closed. I am a database administrator, so computers are my life. I could barely stand to look at a screen for more than a few minutes at a time.
Which leads me to find this site and forum, which changed my life. Someone I know told me her mom had to wear moisture goggles because she has an eyelid that won't close, and they had made a big difference for her. So, I started researching moisture goggles, which was really hard, because looking at the computer screen was sheer torture. But that led me to this site and the forum. Learned from Rebecca that moisture goggles are the first line of defense. And, she is so RIGHT! If you have not purchased moisture goggles, do so immediately!
I decided on the Briza, but I wanted the dark lenses, so I ordered them from OpticPlanet on Monday. They were about $73, but I was so deparate, I paid for overnight shipping via USPS Express, which was like another $30. The shipped Tuesday and arrived this past Wednesday. INSTANTLY I could tell a difference. (I knew that my eyes felt better in the shower or even if I went outside and it was humid. Indoor air, especially the air at my office, was awful. I've avoided fans for years.) But I was surprised how much difference they made. Thursday I was able to go to work for a few hours, and Friday I was able to drive myself to work for a few more hours. Today, I went back to church. Each day has been a bit better than the one before. And I could write this post, because I can finally look at a computer screen without pain!
What a relief. I had begun to think things would never improve, but they have!
So to recap, my eyes went horrific about the 2nd-3rd week of June, and two months later, I feel like I'm finally pulling out of it. I think everything I've been doing finally began to make a difference, but it was the moisture goggles that made it possible:
* I think the Wellbutrin was the catalyst. No way to prove it. My eyes did not improve right after I stopped taking it, but by that time, there was severe damage.
* Analogus Blood Serum drops are miraculous, but they take time.
* The BioTears has begun to finally make quality tear film. I've been taking that for 6 weeks now.
* But I believe it's the moisture goggles that made the instant difference. The relief from the pain was immediate, and I think by keeping moisture from evaporating off my eyes, my eyes have finally begun to heal. Each day is a little better than the one before.
Thanks, Rebecca, for your site. It's made a big difference for me.
I am 44, and I started to have dry eyes when my mom started smoking when I was 14. It was at that point in time that I began to have allergies. But not a big deal. I was severely nearsighted (-8.75 with -1.75 astigmastism) and that made wearing contacts very difficult. I only would wear them for special occasions. The rest of the time I wore really thick glasses in big frames that could handle the size of the lenses. (This is the 80's before super-thin lenses.)
Anyway, in 1993 & 1994 I was in the last part of the investigational trial for PRK. You could only treat one eye within 6 months at that time, and I actually had to have both eyes retreated because of the astigmastism.
But I maintain it was the BEST money I have ever spent. For the first time, I could SEE! It was and is great. I had a little bit of a hallo effect and my eyes were sometimes dry, but it was very successful.
About 8 years ago, after an abnormal blood test for a life insurance policy, I found out I had Sjogren's Syndrome (primary).
More dryness. Still manageable. But I know that when I went for my eye check up in Oct 2010, the eye doctor told me I had dry spots on my eyes and I needed to work to keep them moist. Which I did try to do.
And then, in May this year I went to my GP because I was having trouble sleeping. She convinced me to start taking an anti-depressant (Wellbutrin XL, started at 150 mg). About two weeks later, my eyes started really to bother me, and then when I started having a lot of goop in my eyes, went to the eye doctor. Both eyes were infected and the dry spots were really bad. At that time, my vision was its regular 20/30. She told me to do lid scrubs, use preservative-free tears, take Fish Oil, and she started me on Tobradex (anti-biotic/steroid combo), and 3 days later, I thought all was well. Boy was I wrong. My eyes started to really bother me, and I started losing vision in both eyes. I was seeing double and triple, and my eyes were hurting so badly, I could barely open them. 2nd trip to the eye doctor. Her words: "your eyes are trashed". The infection was gone, but the dry spots had gone from bad to severe. She switched me to a really strong steroid and Vegamox for the infection and keep up the preservative-free vials of tears. Alas, I was allergic to the Vegamox, and the steroid was like pouring acid in my eyes.
I did some research and ordered a product called BioTears to take instead of just Fish Oil. It has the Omega-3's, but it also has Omega-6's from Black Currant Oil, which has GLA (gamma linoleic acid) which is a component of the moisture layer of tears. It also has tumeric, aloe, and some other stuff. But everything I read told me at least 4 weeks before I would notice a difference. Started taking the supplements and drinking lots of water, but things kept getting worse and worse.
3rd trip to a different eye doctor. He switched me to just Lotemax and PF tears and to come back 3 days later for temporary plugs. Vision was vastly impaired, and the pain was terrible. 4th trip to the doctor for plugs. NO DIFFERENCE but expensive. I was supposed to go for permanent plugs, but I did not like that practice, so I went back to my regular doctor for my follow up appointment I had never cancelled.
Side note. I had been on the Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for two months, and the doctor bumped me up to the next dose. 3 days later, my eyes started to get so bad I could hardly stand to open them. Anywhere but a dark room was next to impossible to be in. I began to wonder if this could be related to the Wellbutrin. Although my GP didn't believe me, I told her I had to get off the drug ASAP. She switched me to immediate release tablets, so I could cut them to wean off. She had me on a 3 week wean-off plan. I was off in 3 days. (First day was the worst).
That makes my 5th trip in about 5 weeks. She told switched me to a different drug (and I cannot think of the name now, but it was another combo antibotic/steroid) and told me I needed to see a cornea specialist, because the spots were deeper, wider and she was really concerned about permanent damage to my corneas.
So, it was off to the specialist with fears of serious damage. So, that makes visit #6 in 6 weeks, but it was the one to start me on the right path. He started me on blood serum drops. WOW! Those are great! I highly recommend them to anyone who is having serious trouble. Maybe just because you have to keep them in the fridge and they are cold, but they feel so great. I really do think they are an important weapon in this fight.
At this point, the person who never misses work has now blown through all of my sick time and vacation time for the year, because I cannot bear to do anything besides keep my eyes closed. I am a database administrator, so computers are my life. I could barely stand to look at a screen for more than a few minutes at a time.
Which leads me to find this site and forum, which changed my life. Someone I know told me her mom had to wear moisture goggles because she has an eyelid that won't close, and they had made a big difference for her. So, I started researching moisture goggles, which was really hard, because looking at the computer screen was sheer torture. But that led me to this site and the forum. Learned from Rebecca that moisture goggles are the first line of defense. And, she is so RIGHT! If you have not purchased moisture goggles, do so immediately!
I decided on the Briza, but I wanted the dark lenses, so I ordered them from OpticPlanet on Monday. They were about $73, but I was so deparate, I paid for overnight shipping via USPS Express, which was like another $30. The shipped Tuesday and arrived this past Wednesday. INSTANTLY I could tell a difference. (I knew that my eyes felt better in the shower or even if I went outside and it was humid. Indoor air, especially the air at my office, was awful. I've avoided fans for years.) But I was surprised how much difference they made. Thursday I was able to go to work for a few hours, and Friday I was able to drive myself to work for a few more hours. Today, I went back to church. Each day has been a bit better than the one before. And I could write this post, because I can finally look at a computer screen without pain!
What a relief. I had begun to think things would never improve, but they have!
So to recap, my eyes went horrific about the 2nd-3rd week of June, and two months later, I feel like I'm finally pulling out of it. I think everything I've been doing finally began to make a difference, but it was the moisture goggles that made it possible:
* I think the Wellbutrin was the catalyst. No way to prove it. My eyes did not improve right after I stopped taking it, but by that time, there was severe damage.
* Analogus Blood Serum drops are miraculous, but they take time.
* The BioTears has begun to finally make quality tear film. I've been taking that for 6 weeks now.
* But I believe it's the moisture goggles that made the instant difference. The relief from the pain was immediate, and I think by keeping moisture from evaporating off my eyes, my eyes have finally begun to heal. Each day is a little better than the one before.
Thanks, Rebecca, for your site. It's made a big difference for me.