Hi I am Cabut, and I have questions!

[Cabut]

Hi,

I am a 61 year old male bothered by dry eye since moving to Az. five years ago. I have found an eye surgeon in Tucson, and was prescribed restasis, which seemed to work. Until a few month ago when it would really sting when I put it in sometimes. The before bed dose would make my eyes ache.
So I went back to the eye guy (Dr.Fishbein,Tucson,Az.. Anyone know of him?) and he gave me Lotemax to take 5
minutes before the restasis. This worked for a month then they hurt like heck. After reading a bit here, I decided to try nothing, and they feel ,a bit better.(I use Alcon drops in these little plastic nibs)
This year where I live it has been painfully dry, we haven't had rain in months. I think this is the main contributing factor to my discomfort. I run a humidifier but can't get the room I am in above 15%. Without humidification, it is sometimes 1%. Yes, that is right, 1 %!

Lately I have been experiencing dry mouth at night as well and began worrying about Sjordrens! I know this is a hard disease to accurately
diagnose. Also 90% who get this are female. What other symptoms have people suffered with this. My skin is really dry too, but it is super dry in the desert!

Anyway, I look foward to any hints or imput you dear people can give me. I am really suffering this year!

Cabut

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi Cabut and welcome!

Phew. With that kind of humidity problem I'd definitely be in goggles. Check out the Eyewear tab in the DryEyeShop - especially onion goggles, Panoptx and Wiley-X for some ideas. (Not trying to be a salesperson - you can get those things from lots of different places online or locally.)

I think I remember meeting your doctor at a conference last year.

[Cabut]

Hi Cabut and welcome!

Phew. With that kind of humidity problem I'd definitely be in goggles. Check out the Eyewear tab in the DryEyeShop - especially onion goggles, Panoptx and Wiley-X for some ideas. (Not trying to be a salesperson - you can get those things from lots of different places online or locally.)

I think I remember meeting your doctor at a conference last year.

Hi Rebecca,
How do you use the goggles. Put drops in first,etc.?
Are they really effective? I am surprised my doctor hasn't recommended them.

Cabut

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi Rebecca,
How do you use the goggles. Put drops in first,etc.?
Are they really effective? I am surprised my doctor hasn't recommended them.

Cabut

No real rules - some use them instead of drops, some in addition. Yes, they definitely are effective. Of course there's nothing that works equally well for everyone but in a truly dry environment I'd be very, very surprised if you didn't see a substantial difference quite quickly. Most of the folks here with severe dry eye wear this kind of thing outdoors because of irritation from wind etc and some wear it indoors at least some of the time.

Many doctors are unaware of the benefits of these kinds of foam-lined glasses and also of how many types are available. It's hard for doctors to keep up with consumer-type products for dry eye - they mostly keep on top of the medical side (drugs & plugs). That's why I encourage people to always tell their doctor about anything they've found that is truly helping them. - Also, some doctors who are aware of the products simply assume their patients wouldn't be willing to use them.

[Cabut]

No real rules - some use them instead of drops, some in addition. Yes, they definitely are effective. Of course there's nothing that works equally well for everyone but in a truly dry environment I'd be very, very surprised if you didn't see a substantial difference quite quickly. Most of the folks here with severe dry eye wear this kind of thing outdoors because of irritation from wind etc and some wear it indoors at least some of the time.

Many doctors are unaware of the benefits of these kinds of foam-lined glasses and also of how many types are available. It's hard for doctors to keep up with consumer-type products for dry eye - they mostly keep on top of the medical side (drugs & plugs). That's why I encourage people to always tell their doctor about anything they've found that is truly helping them. - Also, some doctors who are aware of the products simply assume their patients wouldn't be willing to use them.

Thank you Rebecca!

Cabut

[Terri]

Cabut: I live up the road from you in Phoenix. I agree completely with Rebecca's recommendation. I have a pair of 7Eyes (formerly called Panoptx) with 24/7 lenses. I wear them when I'm outside on a walk or when I go into stores like Costco or Home Depot, where the A/C units are blowing dry air. The 7Eyes give me instant relief. In fact, I consider them to be like armor against environmental assault.

My office is very dry. I run a humidifer most of the time, which helps, but the air handlers in my building seem to keep the humidity very low.

Home is a different matter. Even when outside humidity drops, my house seems to stay around 30%, which is quite comfortable for me. (I think I'm desert-adapted. )

A couple of other suggestions: 1) drink plenty of water, if you're not doing so already; and 2) try fish oil supplements at a dose of about 1,700 mg per day of combined DHA/EPA (or eat wild salmon three times a week, if you prefer).

And I'd recommend Cetaphil Cream for your dry skin. It's fragrance-free, and you can buy a large jar of it for a reasonable price at Costco.

[nahzee]

Welcome! I just escaped from Arizona. I am now living in wetter places.

I cannot stress how helpful a pair of fitting sunglasses or especially goggles can be in AZ- it drastically increases the humidity around your eyes, and thus your comfort. It's pretty safe to say most people on this site are converts.

Playing the eye drop game may also help! Consider trying new drops after researching (through this site's very helpful and extensive encyclopedia, or even the maze that is google) the ingredients and preservatives used. There is of course Dwelle, sold at the dry eye shop, but many of the drops sold at a local drug store might grant you better / longer relief.

Re humidifiers: we run more than one in the house. It's pretty much essential in Arizona- you'll dry out like nothing without them. One option that might work for you is to keep a larger one running in the room in general, and a 'mini' humidifier on the desk where you work, the table next to the couch you sit on to watch tv... ect.