Poor dry eye man

[jazhou]

Hello, everyone. I am very lucky to find this site. There are a lot of information here. I hope this site can help me deal with my dry eyes:-)

Here is my situation(sorry for my English):
Male, 36, a computer software engineer(:-(). I was originally from China. About 10 years ago, I moved to Colorado. Due to my work, I spent long hours on computer every day. My eyes felt dry, but I didnt pay a lot attention at the time. Then my vision is getting worse over the years.(I am very near sighted.) I went to my doctor, and she gave me a new prescription(-8.5, -9.25). After I put on the new glasses, I had a hard tim to concentrate on the computer work since I constantly felt pain on my eyes. I went to the eye doctor, and was diagnosed with dry eyes. That was about 4 years ago.

Then I visited the eye doctor numerious times. I tried many prescriptions(restasis, ALREX). None of them was working. Then the doctor inserted the punctual plugs on my both eyes, and it still doesnt help much. The dry eyes drives me crazy! Also due to the dry eyes, and my deep near sightness, I stated to see floaters on my both eyes! Every day was a struggle for me.

Last year another disease hit me. I saw some red dots on my leg, and then was diagnosed with psoriasis(a skin disease). I went to see my family doctor to see if it is due to thyroid disorder on my body. But the blood result says my thyroid level is normal.

About 2 months ago this year, my wife and I made a big decision: we moved to Maryland from Colorado, hoping the reative humid weather on east coast will help me with my dry eyes and psoriasis. You can see the dry eyes has greatly affected my life. I've found a new computer job here. But so far, the dry eye is still bothering me a lot! right now I am trying not to look at computer as much as I can.

Anyway this is my story. Now I am on a crossroad. Shall I quit my job now, and take a long break? Or try some new ways to deal with the dry eyes? Panoptx seems to be a very good choice for me, but I have a very high prescription(-8.5, -9.25). I am not sure if Panoptx will accept my prescription.


Also I am wondering if anyone on this forum can recommend any good dry eye specialist in Washington DC region. Maybe I should also see some Endocrinologist since I have both dry eyes and psoriasis ?

Thanks

[bassfan]

jazhou

Im leaving work in a couple min I'll make my first thoughts short. Im also a software engineer with dry eye syndrome and MGD. I dont have near as bad vision as you though. I wouldn't quit your job because of it, only a last resort. First read this site through and through and try all of the things you read to see what might work for you. It sounds like you just found it and have read some...there is a lot of info.

I just got a little humidifier for my desk and for the three days I have had it, it has made a noticable improvement during work...which is by far the worst time for my eyes due to the moving air.

As for docs, I know nothing of DC...but I drove 4 hours to see Dr Latkany (posts on this site) and would highly recommend him. I think you'll find most doctors dont know squat about dry eyes...ok gotta run.

Daren

[calli66]

(I am very near sighted.) I went to my doctor, and she gave me a new prescription(-8.5, -9.25). After I put on the new glasses, I had a hard tim to concentrate on the computer work since I constantly felt pain on my eyes.

Hi and welcome!

I am a high myope like you (-8.25) (and lots of floaters, too). But for close work such as computer, I wear a reduced-strength prescription (at least -1.00 to -1.50 weaker). Using your eyes for close work makes you "accommodate for near" all day long--this is very stressful.

Add that to the fact that people don't tend to blink as much at the computer, and no wonder you are having a hard time.

Have you asked your eye doctor to prescribe a weaker pair of "computer glasses" for you? What I do is measure the distance to the monitor at my desk, and have the eye doctor give me an Rx just for that distance.

There have been several threads here about people trying to find opticians to make Panoptyx in higher powers--they haven't had much luck. Usually the glasses have lots of distortion due to the "wrap" design. There aren't any good answers right now.

C66

[Lucy]

Jazhou, I had a very similar RX prior to my lasik surgery 7 years ago. Bottom line is that I've had dry eyes since, diseased corneas, regressing vision and a whole host of problems that led to my going off work on disability. You should NOT consider giving up your work as Bass said. You're much younger than I and need to find a workable solution.

I have Panoptx for my dry eyes. One eye is -4.5 (a long story) the other about -1.0. The wrap feature does give a fishbowl effect and your glasses are too high for this. Don't give up yet. There are many people on here with different ideas and experiences. One thing you should not do is consider lasik surgery. Many times when people are contact lens intolerant, or have dry eyes, they think lasik is the answer. Well, we're here to tell you it isn't. Certainly not while suffering the dry eye syndrome.

Prior to my Panoptx, I found a pair of glasses that had a wraparound style that kept quite a bit of air out, but not in your heavy RX. Local opticians can make individual plastic side pieces for the temples of your glasses. You might check out a safety glasses website. My daughter is -10 and has to wear thick glasses with side shields. She normally wears soft contacts, but she works in chemicals and they do not allow contact lens. This might be a thought and it's inexpensive and fairly easy to obtain.

Good luck, Lucy

[GeorgeT]

Hi,
I truly understand your pain as I am using a computer all day. Read carefully through this website and you'll find several good eye doctors in the US as I found myself. This will help you to manage your condition like many others on this site.

Good Luck!!

George

[jazhou]

Computer glasses

Hi and welcome!

I am a high myope like you (-8.25) (and lots of floaters, too). But for close work such as computer, I wear a reduced-strength prescription (at least -1.00 to -1.50 weaker). Using your eyes for close work makes you "accommodate for near" all day long--this is very stressful.

Add that to the fact that people don't tend to blink as much at the computer, and no wonder you are having a hard time.

Have you asked your eye doctor to prescribe a weaker pair of "computer glasses" for you? What I do is measure the distance to the monitor at my desk, and have the eye doctor give me an Rx just for that distance.

There have been several threads here about people trying to find opticians to make Panoptyx in higher powers--they haven't had much luck. Usually the glasses have lots of distortion due to the "wrap" design. There aren't any good answers right now.

C66

Hi C66, thanks for your information. I am having a pair of "computer glasses", and they are 0.5 weaker than my prescription. My eyes do feel less pain after I wear the computer glasses. So maybe I should take your advice, and get another pair of computer glasses with about -1.25 weaker?

Also in your post, what does Rx represent? thanks!

[jazhou]

No lasik

Jazhou, I had a very similar RX prior to my lasik surgery 7 years ago. Bottom line is that I've had dry eyes since, diseased corneas, regressing vision and a whole host of problems that led to my going off work on disability. You should NOT consider giving up your work as Bass said. You're much younger than I and need to find a workable solution.

I have Panoptx for my dry eyes. One eye is -4.5 (a long story) the other about -1.0. The wrap feature does give a fishbowl effect and your glasses are too high for this. Don't give up yet. There are many people on here with different ideas and experiences. One thing you should not do is consider lasik surgery. Many times when people are contact lens intolerant, or have dry eyes, they think lasik is the answer. Well, we're here to tell you it isn't. Certainly not while suffering the dry eye syndrome.

Prior to my Panoptx, I found a pair of glasses that had a wraparound style that kept quite a bit of air out, but not in your heavy RX. Local opticians can make individual plastic side pieces for the temples of your glasses. You might check out a safety glasses website. My daughter is -10 and has to wear thick glasses with side shields. She normally wears soft contacts, but she works in chemicals and they do not allow contact lens. This might be a thought and it's inexpensive and fairly easy to obtain.

Good luck, Lucy

Hi Lucy, I would never consider to have lasik. Thanks for your suggestion. I am considering to have a pair of computer glasses.

[jazhou]

dry eye docs

Im leaving work in a couple min I'll make my first thoughts short. Im also a software engineer with dry eye syndrome and MGD. I dont have near as bad vision as you though. I wouldn't quit your job because of it, only a last resort. First read this site through and through and try all of the things you read to see what might work for you. It sounds like you just found it and have read some...there is a lot of info.

I just got a little humidifier for my desk and for the three days I have had it, it has made a noticable improvement during work...which is by far the worst time for my eyes due to the moving air.

As for docs, I know nothing of DC...but I drove 4 hours to see Dr Latkany (posts on this site) and would highly recommend him. I think you'll find most doctors dont know squat about dry eyes...ok gotta run.

Daren

Hi Daren, thanks for your information. Dr Latkany is a little bit far away from DC. Someone recommends some docs in DC region...

[calli66]

what does Rx represent? thanks!

Rx is an abbreviation for prescription--I don't really know why or what the "R" or "x" stand for.

Try to get the minimum amount of minus "power" you need to see the monitor comfortably. That depends on what the eye doctor finds during the exam and probably varies according to personal preferences. If you like to "experiment," you can try out the +plus "readers" from the drugstore worn over your regular full strength glasses (yes, 2 pairs of glasses). They are cheap and come in +1.00, +1.25, +1.50, etc. You could try this at home--put your monitor the same distance as you normally have it at work, and see if you like the effect or if it helps with strain. That would at least give you an idea of what power lenses would be ideal for you in computer glasses.

Hope I'm communicating this relatively well.

C66

[jazhou]

Reading glasses

Rx is an abbreviation for prescription--I don't really know why or what the "R" or "x" stand for.

Try to get the minimum amount of minus "power" you need to see the monitor comfortably. That depends on what the eye doctor finds during the exam and probably varies according to personal preferences. If you like to "experiment," you can try out the +plus "readers" from the drugstore worn over your regular full strength glasses (yes, 2 pairs of glasses). They are cheap and come in +1.00, +1.25, +1.50, etc. You could try this at home--put your monitor the same distance as you normally have it at work, and see if you like the effect or if it helps with strain. That would at least give you an idea of what power lenses would be ideal for you in computer glasses.

Hope I'm communicating this relatively well.

C66

Thanks, that is a good suggestion. I will try some reading glasses first.