Dry eyes after taking medication lasik 2009

[elaw65]

Hello I am new to all of this. I too had lasik in 2009 and lasek enhancement in 2012! Only in 1 eye for this madness. I worked quite happily for 3 years by putting in drops - blink - when needed and thought nothing of it. Then in 2013 April I took a dose of nasal steroids and antihistamines - dry eyes - then some red clover for hot sweats as I am perimenopausal pain like I have never experienced before. Anxiety and depression set in with the result that I had a suicide attempt overdose and jump from an 80ft bridge.

I spent two weeks in a mental health unit and on antidepressants which made my eyes worse. I am weaning off these now as my eyes are so sore. I am off to see moorfields in November and the company who did my surgery are now in panic mode and getting me to see one of their surgeons and their dry eye specialist. I know why they employ someone like this as they create the problem. I am on lacrilube and hyloforte and cold compresses am I missing anything?

I would like to know how other people work with this condition I was a marketing manager for a healthcare company and prior to that a regional sales manager i.e. computers and driving long distances. Can I still do this?

[DCRdryeye]

Ela - I'm so sorry for your pain and what you've been through. Many have been through the same here and yes you can gradually (with the correct treatment) get back to computer use and driving long distances.

Like you, I started treating myself with artificial tears, then the dryness got worse, depression was involved and there seemed to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

So you're using Hylo-forte, Lacrilube and cold compresses? and want to know if you're missing anything. Well, yes you are missing a lot. You are simply treating the "symptoms" and not addressing the causes such as inflammation and possible MGD.

You'll find heaps of resources here, how to use computers with dry eyes, many dry eye treatments you may not have tried, there's a long list of treatments waiting for you...that's the good news. Try and see things as improving from now on.

[Faith1989]

yes, you still have MANY treatments to try! So still have some hope, as one of them may be the treatment that works for you! As DCRdryeye said, look on this forum for ideas then ask your doctor to try them. This is what I did, and although I am not "cured" I am in much better control of my symptoms now. Also, you can look through the "triumphs" section to see that some people actually overcome it! I am still waiting to post there, but one day I will.

Ask us any questions you need, and i'll do my best to answer anything. I am not a doctor lol but just based on my experience!

[Katewest]

Hi Ela-I had to quit my job (school counselor) b/c the office environment was so bad. I'm now trying to do my own business. You may need to think of a career change. Are you in the US? There is a program called Vocational Rebah that helps people with career changes. PM me for more info about it. I helped kids in high school with the program but its also for adults.

[elaw65]

Dear all thanks for the responses it has given me hope.

I am not sure what I have other than dry eyes. I am taking omega 7 for the past week. I am concerned about old age and what will happen then if this is now. I am going to see an ophthalmologist surgeon next week the company who did my surgery think they can help me. How do I know if I have mgd I cannot see any oils coming out of my bottom lids despite squeezing it a little. My eyes are better in the afternoon probably because the antidepressant I am taking has worn off I am taking only 5 mg now the burning eyes were awful on 20 mg.

Thanks

[NotADryEye]

elaw65, Omega 6 is usually prescribed. Whatever omega's you are consuming are used by the meibomian glands to produce meibum. Most diets are high in Omega 3 and Omega 3's are inflammatory. On the other hand, Omega 6's are anti-inflammatory.

The key is a good ration of O6 to O3. I use PRN brand. I spoke with the company when I first started taking them and learned about the ratio from one of their physicians. You can also do a lot with diet to improve your O6 to O3 ratio.

Re: mgd - For me it's harder to see the meibum on the lower lids. You can invert your upper lids just a tiny little bit. Do you see oil droplets on the lid margin when you press very very gently?

Also, press on your lids gently with your eyes closed. Do you feel any tenderness?

What happens is dryness causes the friction to the eye lid every time we blink. This friction puts stress on the mg's and the mg's become inflamed. So you may have mgd from lasik-induced dry eye. Best to get diagnosed properly.

And if you do not see any oil, I would avoid massaging the eye lids. Massaging is what caused me to be unable to open my eyes for even a moment for many many months.

[sunshinelover]

elaw65, Omega 6 is usually prescribed. Whatever omega's you are consuming are used by the meibomian glands to produce meibum. Most diets are high in Omega 3 and Omega 3's are inflammatory. On the other hand, Omega 6's are anti-inflammatory.

The key is a good ration of O6 to O3. I use PRN brand. I spoke with the company when I first started taking them and learned about the ratio from one of their physicians. You can also do a lot with diet to improve your O6 to O3 ratio.

Re: mgd - For me it's harder to see the meibum on the lower lids. You can invert your upper lids just a tiny little bit. Do you see oil droplets on the lid margin when you press very very gently?

Also, press on your lids gently with your eyes closed. Do you feel any tenderness?

What happens is dryness causes the friction to the eye lid every time we blink. This friction puts stress on the mg's and the mg's become inflamed. So you may have mgd from lasik-induced dry eye. Best to get diagnosed properly.

And if you do not see any oil, I would avoid massaging the eye lids. Massaging is what caused me to be unable to open my eyes for even a moment for many many months.

It's the other way around. Omega 3 is antiinflammatory and our diet is normally high in omega 6. Omega 7 is proven in studies to be beneficial for mucus membranes, such as eyes, nose, vagina etc, so it is also a good complement.

[elaw65]

Thanks to you all. My eyelids are not sore to touch. I used to work with dietary lipids for intravenous nutrition so am aware of omega 3 and 6 properties I never thought this would come in useful for me! I am unable to see any oils on my inner lids.

Ela

[littlemermaid]

Ela ~ it's quite difficult to see dots of meibom along the eyelid margin even with 'normal' eyes. Maybe practise on a family member if you want to give it a go, two fingers gently press upwards underneath lower eyelash line. Tiny dots of baby oil consistency. Bathroom mirror in good daylight is the best. Really we've found it's a question of keeping inflammation down as needed, protecting the eye surface with drops and environment, and enabling the eyes to heal. We have flareups sometimes, but we use small amounts of steroid eyedrops as needed, directed by docs.

Have you tried cyclosporine?

[sunshinelover]

Hi Elaw,
Quote:
I would like to know how other people work with this condition I was a marketing manager for a healthcare company and prior to that a regional sales manager i.e. computers and driving long distances. Can I still do this?

Well, I see what you mean. I too wonder what my futiure will look like if I cant work. I am also a manager in the healthcare business/organisations and unlucky me a reorganasation is now taking place, which means my job (which I held for a long time) will dissapear, and this mean I must seek new jobs and I know noone would hire me if they knew the impact on work the DES have. And IF I manage to get a new job it will soon be obvious when I bring my huge humidifier to the office and turn the air con down in meeting rooms, and start the eye drop routine.... Well, so far I take just one day at a time, and hope for the best.
Driving is out of the question for me though, also due to vision problems after LASIK etc.

I am wondering, why is it that so many other disabilities are taking into consideration in worklife - but not this one??

[NotADryEye]

It's the other way around. Omega 3 is antiinflammatory and our diet is normally high in omega 6. Omega 7 is proven in studies to be beneficial for mucus membranes, such as eyes, nose, vagina etc, so it is also a good complement.

You are correct re: O3 and 06. Must have been a dyslexic moment. Yikes!
Can you post the O7 studies? Thanks!

[NotADryEye]

Ela ~ it's quite difficult to see dots of meibom along the eyelid margin even with 'normal' eyes.

That's right. You need a strong magnifying mirror. I have one set up on a counter at eye level so both hands are free. At home, I'm the only one who can see my meibomian glands, meibum or anything in the eyes because I'm looking at my eyes in the magnifying mirror.

[elaw65]

An update

I thought I would update all on my progress. My eyes are a lot better on the steroids however I have found a correlation with antidepressant dosage and dry eyes. I am on escitalopram and if I take 20mg per day the pain is bad, if I take 10mg it is better therefore the conclusion is that the antidepressants are causing my symptoms so have decided to wean myself off them before any further issues arise. I am doing this with the help of my medical team and not alone!

Anyone else experienced these issues with antidepressants.

Ela