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First, a huge thank you to everyone who contributes to the boards. i've lurked here for over 2 years and the sense I'm not alone combined with great information has made me feel feel much better
My story is probably a lot like the rest of you:
I'm 41 and a 25 year veteran contact wearer. Back in April 2007, after a dinner in a smoky restaurant and a party held outdoors, I woke up with bright red eyes. Startlingly red eyes. The red disappeared over 24 hours only to repeat the next week but taking longer to clear. Saw my optometrist who tried allergy meds and antibacterial rxs to no effect. I was referred to an ophthalmologist who dxed "dry eyes" with no other explanation and only a slit lamp exam. I was surprised as the redness was my only symptom and otherwise I was very comfortable. He put me on lotemax, which cleared the redness but the redness came back as soon as I stopped. By the end of the summer, the redness had cleared on its own and the fall months were uneventful.
By December, though, I first started feeling that my eyes were actually dry and I was waking in the night very uncomfortable. Regular drops (Systane) weren't working, so the dr. suggested Genteal gel, which did the trick and I was comfortable and otherwise symptom free until the following spring.
Spring 2008 rolled around and my eyes became red again. This time the dr put me back on Lotemax for 6 months (without a followup although I expressed concern re. possible pressure issues). It worked for several weeks and then stopped, so I returned for another appt. At this point my eyes were also streaming tears daily. He discussed plugs, which I agreed to, then on examination noticed my ducts seemed to be obstructed with "scar tissue." He also measured my pressure, which was in the low 30s. Eek. He then referred me to a lid specialist to look at the obstructed ducts. He also agreed with me that perhaps steroids weren't the answer. Sigh.
The lid specialist noted my ducts were swollen shut, not scarred, and she dxed me with blepharitis and started me on lid scrubs, which have seemed to help. The fall of 2008 and the winter was somewhat better although the eye redness seemed to be a constant. Tried Azasite with no success but my eyes cleared beautifully on their own in December '08 through the spring.
Right on cue, my eyes got worse again in March 2009 (see a pattern?!) I was getting so aggravated with drs just throwing whatever they could think of at me that I decided to experiment myself. I tried Zaditor, thinking this pattern of early spring flareups must be allergy related and behold, the drops worked. For about 2 months. Then things really got out of hand...reddened eyes, swollen lids, excessive tearing, and raw skin around my eyes from the constant moisture. I finally went back to the specialist in June when my eyelids started cracking from being so chapped.
At that point she suggested Tobradex on a limited basis to get things under control. She also suggested that I could use it very sparingly when things got out of hand. It works beautifully, but obviously it's not a final solution and as soon as I'm off of it, the problems recur. I also started Restasis.
At this point, I've been on Restasis for 6 weeks. I'm thrilled to report that the eye redness has cleared and my eyes feel comfortable during the day. That said, my lids are swollen, esp. in the mornings, the skin around my eyes is raw and flaking, and I'm just now starting to see dry, flaky skin at the base of my lashes. The dryness at night is a little worse, even using Genteal gel. So, my eyeballs look OK, but my eyes themselves look horrible. It seems as though something new is always cropping up.
Anyway, if you've had the patience to read my disjointed story, there it is I'm glad to finally delurk and it's good to have a like-minded community to share ideas with!
Beth
My story is probably a lot like the rest of you:
I'm 41 and a 25 year veteran contact wearer. Back in April 2007, after a dinner in a smoky restaurant and a party held outdoors, I woke up with bright red eyes. Startlingly red eyes. The red disappeared over 24 hours only to repeat the next week but taking longer to clear. Saw my optometrist who tried allergy meds and antibacterial rxs to no effect. I was referred to an ophthalmologist who dxed "dry eyes" with no other explanation and only a slit lamp exam. I was surprised as the redness was my only symptom and otherwise I was very comfortable. He put me on lotemax, which cleared the redness but the redness came back as soon as I stopped. By the end of the summer, the redness had cleared on its own and the fall months were uneventful.
By December, though, I first started feeling that my eyes were actually dry and I was waking in the night very uncomfortable. Regular drops (Systane) weren't working, so the dr. suggested Genteal gel, which did the trick and I was comfortable and otherwise symptom free until the following spring.
Spring 2008 rolled around and my eyes became red again. This time the dr put me back on Lotemax for 6 months (without a followup although I expressed concern re. possible pressure issues). It worked for several weeks and then stopped, so I returned for another appt. At this point my eyes were also streaming tears daily. He discussed plugs, which I agreed to, then on examination noticed my ducts seemed to be obstructed with "scar tissue." He also measured my pressure, which was in the low 30s. Eek. He then referred me to a lid specialist to look at the obstructed ducts. He also agreed with me that perhaps steroids weren't the answer. Sigh.
The lid specialist noted my ducts were swollen shut, not scarred, and she dxed me with blepharitis and started me on lid scrubs, which have seemed to help. The fall of 2008 and the winter was somewhat better although the eye redness seemed to be a constant. Tried Azasite with no success but my eyes cleared beautifully on their own in December '08 through the spring.
Right on cue, my eyes got worse again in March 2009 (see a pattern?!) I was getting so aggravated with drs just throwing whatever they could think of at me that I decided to experiment myself. I tried Zaditor, thinking this pattern of early spring flareups must be allergy related and behold, the drops worked. For about 2 months. Then things really got out of hand...reddened eyes, swollen lids, excessive tearing, and raw skin around my eyes from the constant moisture. I finally went back to the specialist in June when my eyelids started cracking from being so chapped.
At that point she suggested Tobradex on a limited basis to get things under control. She also suggested that I could use it very sparingly when things got out of hand. It works beautifully, but obviously it's not a final solution and as soon as I'm off of it, the problems recur. I also started Restasis.
At this point, I've been on Restasis for 6 weeks. I'm thrilled to report that the eye redness has cleared and my eyes feel comfortable during the day. That said, my lids are swollen, esp. in the mornings, the skin around my eyes is raw and flaking, and I'm just now starting to see dry, flaky skin at the base of my lashes. The dryness at night is a little worse, even using Genteal gel. So, my eyeballs look OK, but my eyes themselves look horrible. It seems as though something new is always cropping up.
Anyway, if you've had the patience to read my disjointed story, there it is
I'm glad to finally delurk and it's good to have a like-minded community to share ideas with!Beth
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