New to dry eyes, desperately trying not to over-treat

[spmcc]

I can't tolerate drops either. I only use Muro solution at night under my tape + Tranquileyes. I don't mess around with other things (okay, sometimes I'll try something new, but when I do I always end up waking with *very* bloodshot, photosensitive, dry, painful eyes).

For the daytime, the best low-tech/no-chemical treatment is moisture chambers. I've posted before that I'm now a Hoarder of Moisture Chambers -- I own many pairs of WileyX and 7Eye. Some pairs are sunglasses (non-Rx). Some are clear lenses (cost is ~$14 for a pair of clear lenses). And some have reading prescription (+2.50 I think).

I am a firm believer in eye protection. They take away almost all of my DE discomfort almost instantly. I always recommend that people RUN (don't walk) to the store to buy a pair.

[cupcakes]

Sorry for the late reply littlemermaid, had a lovely long easter weekend then a hectic week at work (thank you, by the way, I do love my job...hence why I'm a bit gutted to now have dry eyes). I'm seeing my contact lenses specialist tomorrow to check up on my eyes so I'm at least going to find out if the dry patches are better or worse and the general state of my eyes.

My eyes are so up and down at the moment! By the end of my 5 days off for easter, they were feeling SO good, dry but much better but then that was 5 days of plenty of sleep, no central heating, no leaving the house). Back at work...within two days they were so sore again (and I hadn't even been in the archive stores, just the regular office...central heating etc...)

I know it sounds, well, vain...but I'm not massive on the idea of moisture chamber glasses...

I'm hoping to get a doctor's appointment soon and ask for a referral soon. Every time I have a good day with my eyes I think I don't need to pursue anything but then I have bad days and I realise I better get proactive!

[cupcakes]

So I saw my optician today. It was somewhat good news in that she feels my eyes are no worse and there is no corneal damage etc. She also tested to see how quickly my tears were evaporating just making me blink then keep my eyes open whilst she watched with some sort of film. She said that it takes 7-8 seconds which is not great, but not awful. She also thinks my eye anatomy means I don't produce enough tears and I have a shallow tear meatus? (whatever that means!!!)

Interesting, she pushed again the idea that I'm sleeping without my left eye being fully shut because my right eye does not have any dry patches present but my left eye has significant patches. Anyone know what I could do about this? I've got an cotton eyemask but I'm worried about whether it might make things worse i.e put pressure on my lids and then the dryness will stick them? What do other people do for this??

She also felt that I might benefit from silicone hydrogel contact lenses as they will act like a 'bandage'?? But then what will happen when I take them out?? Surely it will make my eyes worse without them?

Very confused!

[bakunin]

Hi cupcakes,

I have been wearing an ordinady sleeping mask for some years. Only fo don't wake up when the sun rises. When my dry eyes problem started, I thought it could be the sleeping mask. But I slept some weeks without it and I didn't feel any difference. I really don't think it makes any better or any worse for dry eyes.. at least for me.
But I don't wear sleeping masks that are too much tight. I don't like to feel pressure on my eyes, and we move ours when dreaming...

[farmgirl]

Seems we have digressed a bit from eyes but I had the same question as you littlemermaid. I too have psorasis but have been in remission since about 1998. Lately I have had some spots return on my scalp. My psorasis was never that severe and was pronounced 'shallow'. About a month ago I saw a program about a product that was supposed to be very helpful for psorasis so I book marked the page with the name of the product that they were discussing. I intend to try it....cheers...F/G

http://www.psoria-gold.com/PSORIA_GOLD_OUR_PRODUCTS.php

Regarding sleeping with your left eye not completely shut, I have been told that everybody during REM sleep opens the eye but typically it rolls up into the socket to protect the cornea. Perhaps yours isn't doing that. There was a time that I slept with a mask to keep my eye dry in the event that happened and what I did was to put a damp piece of gauze into an Onyix sleep goggle. The goggles fit snug but not tight and the gauze behind the goggle puts enough pressure on the lid to keep it shut. It works well....cheers...F/G

[cupcakes]

So last night I slept with an ordinary cotton eyemask. It was slightly too tight so I had to position it really carefully and I really did not like having something restrictive over my eyes BUT this morning I noticed my left did feel better. Not miraculously so but I definitely feel it benefited. Its not going to solve the problem of my tears not lasting long enough but I think it will help with my eyes not drying out further overnight. Normally as soon as I wake up, I either have to get up or put in eye drops because once opened, my eyes are too dry to just go back to sleep. This morning I dozed for another 2 hours without them being worse when I finally got up.

I'm going to have to get a better mask though, because of the way I positioned it to not press too much on my left eye (which has the dry patches), my poor right eye gota bit squished and actually feels the dryer one today.

Farmgirl ~ I have mildish Psoriasis that in the past was moderate to severe. I currently use Salcura spray and cream. I have had a look at the link you posted and I must say, alarm bells are going off. A few years back, during my desperate years when my Psoriasis was awful, I tried a cream called Psoria-cream. It turned out to be a scam, did nothing and was really expensive then the website vanished. I'm not saying Psoria-Gold is, but personally I would be wary. I noticed they've only just appeared (their website is 2013), if they are still around in a year then I'd consider it more seriously. Not to mention, $169 for the best version of their cream?! Given that I've had success with 'natural' creams that are less expensive, I don't think I'd be up for this. However, if you have success, do let me know. I could be wrong, but I'm just wary because I've wasted A LOT of money over the years of creams that didn't do anything.

[cupcakes]

Oh and, I forgot to say, thats very interesting about our eyes moving during REM sleep. I am quite an intensive sleeper in that I sleeptalk and sit up during my dreams (no, really. Drives my poor bf mad). I imagine I probably open my eyes fully sometimes as well!

[farmgirl]

i'll be happy to pay $169 if it helps, I'll let you know if I try it...F/G