Recurrent Corneal Erosion

[mamachismo]

I've been suffering with RCE flare ups for 2 years now . It started when I scratched my eye while cutting down a sucker tree. Since then I've seen 3 specialists and had multiple flare ups. I've worn a bandage contact lense from time to time and I use muro, tears, a humidifier at night and just recently a heat compress for blepharitis. The last specialist I had seen diagnosed me with blepharitis, which seems to be somewhat helpful because I feel that my cornea isn't as sensitive since I began the heat compress regimen.
Today I woke up with a sharp pain in my eye, which is usually the way a flare up begins. But I seem okay now. I think it's due to a smoke machine that was running at a concert I was at last night. I find myself very sensitive to dander, pollen, smoke etc. And always constantly putting drops in if I have to subject myself to such things.
It's nice to join a community of people with similar afflictions, helps me feel like I'm not suffering alone. Hope to learn a lot while I'm here.

[MartyM1985]

I've been suffering with RCE flare ups for 2 years now . It started when I scratched my eye while cutting down a sucker tree. Since then I've seen 3 specialists and had multiple flare ups. I've worn a bandage contact lense from time to time and I use muro, tears, a humidifier at night and just recently a heat compress for blepharitis. The last specialist I had seen diagnosed me with blepharitis, which seems to be somewhat helpful because I feel that my cornea isn't as sensitive since I began the heat compress regimen.
Today I woke up with a sharp pain in my eye, which is usually the way a flare up begins. But I seem okay now. I think it's due to a smoke machine that was running at a concert I was at last night. I find myself very sensitive to dander, pollen, smoke etc. And always constantly putting drops in if I have to subject myself to such things.
It's nice to join a community of people with similar afflictions, helps me feel like I'm not suffering alone. Hope to learn a lot while I'm here.

I have really no experience with your problem, but I would say look into PROSE lenses. That might be your remedy to keep your eyes protected.

[liz56]

Welcome, Mamachismo.

I'm sorry that you have RCEs, but it is good to know that they are not slowing you down and that you are enjoying concerts with smoke machines.

I had RCEs, due to a corneal dystrophy, about six years ago. They lasted for about nine months. I went to seven doctors before being put on a a program that worked. This site used to sell an eye drop, called Dwelle, that I think healed my corneas. (I have the dystrophy and RCEs in both eyes.) Today, I maintain my condition with an eye drop, called Muro 128 5%. What these drops do in their own ways is draw moisture out of the basement membrane so that the uppermost layer of the cornea can adhere properly to it. RCEs are basically like little blisters. As we know, blisters make the skin on top weak. When the "blisters" are stuck to something, like an eyelid, they tear off and cause that tell-tale pain of an erosion.

You might be able to get a drop, called Clinitas Ultra 3 in Canada. Try it and stick with it. It is much like Dwelle, which helped me. If not, Muro 128 5% is not bad, but it stings terribly. I use it four times a day, even though I don't get RCEs any longer.

Another thing that helped me were TranquilEyes goggles. As it turns out, my eyelids do not close all the way when I sleep, so these help them to stay closed and keep my eyes moist and less likely to stick. I still use them, even though I no longer have erosions.

When I had erosions, one thing that helped was to be aware when I would wake up and not open my eyes right away. I'd lay there and squeeze the upper sides of my nose, where there are tear ducts, to start a tearing process and then I would gently rub the tops of my eyelids, close to the nose, where there are more tear ducts. This loosened the grip my eyelids had on my corneas.

Good luck!

--Liz

[mamachismo]

Thanks Liz, that was extremely helpful!