Introducing myself

[Ryes]

Am new to this group and I must say I was so relieved when I found it three days ago. It enabled me sleep that night as I laughed off some of the fun posted. Thank you guys for giving us all hope. I started having this problem in April 2017, it is now 11 months. Tears in the eyes, tears, tears. From the onset 11 months ago, I went to the optician and they prescribed new stronger glasses, they yielded no help. They then prescribed wider range glasses - still no help. Meanwhile time was passing and maybe the situation getting worse. Itchiness in the eyes, grit, pain, burning, foreign object sensation and tears. The biggest problem was peoples reaction on my making eye contact, they touch their eyes, and in some cases in a rather sympathetic way. I then got an infection, probably due to over touching of the eyes to remove the tears, went to an Ophthalmologist who treated it with antibiotics and refresh. The pain subsided, a wound like growth that had developed in the cornea cured, but the tears went on unabated. It then dawned on me that probably I had a problem, but I did not realise how big it was. I was put on Systane and Cyclosporine 0.1%. This was nine months into the situation. I was busy in office but my productivity had greatly subsided. I went on to get a second opinion out of my country where I was reassured that my eyes were fine but I had a dry eye problem and was treated with warm compress twice a day for five minutes and Restatis twice a day. Miraculously, I reacted very positively to the treatment and was now reeling in the joy that my prayers were heard. Three days ago however, three weeks into the Restatis, warm compress treatment, I suddenly relapsed back into the earlier situation with tears, tears, tears. My eye is sort of parched in certain instances and even though I dont feel the tears, people react to the eyes as soon as they see me. It has been so devastating. Am beginning to wonder, am I giving the wrong symptoms to the doctors, have I prescribed myself as a dry eye patient and yet maybe the problem has not been properly diagnosed.

So I went into the web to search for some friends to share and get to understand how to go about this problem and I found you. My main problem is that my eyes are full of tears and I am failing to relate with people normally. Sometimes even when I dont feel the tears, I get a reaction from people, with them touching their eyes almost as soon as they see me. I think it is going to affect my job and I dont feel good about that. But I believe with your help, with sharing I can understand how to reduce the tears and this effect and be able to move on. My job calls for relating with people all the time. I hold meetings, people consult me - all the time. It is the way I work. With this situation, I cant. As I try to communicate, people start fidgeting with their eyes and I feel bad. I try so hard not to get distracted but I eventually give up since I think am the cause of the problem. Of late I have realised that probably my eyes have become shy and blink a lot. I think it is malfunctioning as a result of the reaction of people to it. I have some itchiness sometimes, tears and sensitivity to light and the right eye sometimes feels parched.

Am happy to be part of this group and any suggestions to me are more than welcome. Just talking with relieve some of my anxiety, and tips to use will definitely help. Thank you team for responding to my request for registration so promptly. Relating and sharing, with people in similar situations, will at least minimise the psychological stress am having. It is nice to be on board. Let me keep reading the posts to bring up my spirits, Some are hilarious, and most give so much hope.

[Guest]

Hey sounds like you really need to see a dry eye specialist which can do all sorts of tests to see if your eyes are really dry.
Look at this great post on all the tests a doctor can do: http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/forum...luate-a-doctor

Also with how you feel - I'm 27 and need to use a wheelchair a lot. People stare at me all the time probably thinking - 'what happened to her / thank god its not me / how sad' ect. I get kids asking their parents out loud - 'what is she doing in a chair' and babies staring at me from their prams, and people talking to me as if I'm really delicate.

It's really hard but you'll drive yourself crazy if you worry all the time what other people think, and probably half the time they are thinking about you less than you think. Keep searching for a cure and try and stay strong in the meantime.

[pythonidler]

Ryes What have you been diagnosed with specifically? I can think of two things that can cause excessive tearing - allergies and meibomian gland dysfunction. For allergies, it's a quick fix to take allergy drops. For MGD, there is no cure but there are a variety of treatment options.

From what you described, it sounds like you probably have MGD, but you need to see several second opinions and get someone who can give you a specific diagnosis (being diagnosed with dry eye is NOT a specific diagnosis) and potentially rule out allergies.

In the meantime, I'd suggest you read a couple of my posts: My Lessons Learned and How To Evaluate A Doctor (links are in my signature). These posts are aimed at people who have MGD caused by excessive computer use, but some of the info also relates to other types of dry eye.

[Ryes]

Hey sounds like you really need to see a dry eye specialist which can do all sorts of tests to see if your eyes are really dry.
Look at this great post on all the tests a doctor can do: http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/forum...luate-a-doctor

Also with how you feel - I'm 27 and need to use a wheelchair a lot. People stare at me all the time probably thinking - 'what happened to her / thank god its not me / how sad' ect. I get kids asking their parents out loud - 'what is she doing in a chair' and babies staring at me from their prams, and people talking to me as if I'm really delicate.

It's really hard but you'll drive yourself crazy if you worry all the time what other people think, and probably half the time they are thinking about you less than you think. Keep searching for a cure and try and stay strong in the meantime.

Thanks Lena11. Thanks for the response. I have read your advise on how to get a good Dr, and I will definitely use it. And on the psychological side, I will try. It is so difficult when so many people start touching their eyes, but I get it. I need to start ignoring that and I move on, the more I dwell on it the more I will react wrongly. It breaks my spirit and probably spirals me in the wrong direction. I will keep trying, I will stay strong.

[Ryes]

Ryes What have you been diagnosed with specifically? I can think of two things that can cause excessive tearing - allergies and meibomian gland dysfunction. For allergies, it's a quick fix to take allergy drops. For MGD, there is no cure but there are a variety of treatment options.

From what you described, it sounds like you probably have MGD, but you need to see several second opinions and get someone who can give you a specific diagnosis (being diagnosed with dry eye is NOT a specific diagnosis) and potentially rule out allergies.

In the meantime, I'd suggest you read a couple of my posts: My Lessons Learned and How To Evaluate A Doctor (links are in my signature). These posts are aimed at people who have MGD caused by excessive computer use, but some of the info also relates to other types of dry eye.

Thanks Pythonidler, I will go ahead and read your posts and get some more info. I was diagnosed with insufficient tears. I guess that is MGD. But I must admit that the few days I have spent on this forum is really what has made me understand more, what my problem is. The doctors really do not explain so much. I have started a long journey but I have friends now, I will survive. Thanks for being there.

[farmgirl]

Hey Ryes, help me understand how it is that you have been diagnosed with 'insufficient tears' and yet you complain of excessive tearing.

As regards your sensitivity to what others think, I believe in a large part it is exactly that, your sensitivity. I agree with Lena, and don't let it undermine your confidence. If others do have a problem let it be theirs, you have enough of your own....lol...cheers....F/G

[Jenn1]

Hi there, please dont let your condition affect your confidence and its a great start to have you join us here where you know youre not alone. This site has helped me through many difficult years with my eyes and each member and Rebecca have been invaluable.

You say you have MGD, are you on top of your eyelid cleaning regime and doing it correctly? Have you been prescribed any doxycycline as well as your eye drops? Are all of your eyelid glands blocked or partially? There's some great eye hygiene routines here.

You need to increase your confidence around the people and clients you meet despite your condition and I find humour always helps so maybe crack a joke or two their way to relax you both. Work it like a narcissist! If you feel it necessary in some cases maybe explain your condition as most people are very understanding and will ignore it after that and treat you like any other person they meet.