Unique Symptoms...Am I alone?

[sixeyes]

This is my first post...Hello Everyone!
I'm a 44 year old woman and my symptoms coincide with my hormonal cycles, occurring about 3-4 days before I menstruate and ovulate, then peaking to near tortuous levels when the event occurs, tapering off over the next few days. During a given month for about 8-10 days my eyes are near fine, with just a few moments here and there. NOTHING has ever helped...not drops, diet, vitamins, water intake...it's been a nightmare I've learned to live with.
I've had this since I've been at least 24 and only recently I have found relief with Restasis. My complete story is in the personal stories forum.

Please read as I've never met anyone with dry eye as how it manifests in me. I've never been formally diagnosed, because the symptoms have never been present in the doctor's office and they've looked at me as if I were nuts.

Dani

[Rebecca Petris]

Hi there,

You're definitely not alone! I read your other post and all of the symptoms are familiar. I am sure there are others here who have noticed the pattern with the hormonal cycle.

I think you really need to get to the right kind of doctor. Only a small minority of ophthalmologists - even of corneal specialists, I'd say - can diagnose this accurately. Check out the dr. recommendations in the Plug a Doc section and on the Dry Eye Yellow Pages. If it's not too far away for you it may be worth going to see Dr. Latkany but I think there's good ones in New Jersey as well.

You do not have to be symptomatic at the time you show up for an appointment to get a correct diagnosis - a doctor with the right experience and skills can probably figure it out from taking a really detailed history.