Here's a very interesting article about corneal inflammation and it's role in dry eye

[Phillips55]

If you don't want to read the whole article skip to the last section where it pertains to us, but this could be huge if the inflammation cycle is the main culprit behind a lot of dry eyes out there.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0711141404.htm


I don't come on here as often I used to. I see some other folks have gotten the Prokera treatment and my heart goes out to you if it didn't work.
I spent a very long time living in indescribable misery after I got Lasik. You folks out there are the only ones who know what that sensation is like. It's impossible to get someone with healthy eyes to understand. As screwed up as my life still is because of my eyes I count myself damn lucky to have found a few things that brought me back to functionality. My point is please don't give up hope. I know that putting all your hope into some untried treatment or future cure on the horizon can leave you in even deeper despair, but I look for articles constantly about corneal treatments and dry eyes and I honestly think that some of these "dream" cures we hear about may be closer now than we think.

[pythonidler]

The future keeps getting better for those with dry eye, in terms of potential treatments. Unfortunately for many, it can't come soon enough.

[waterbee]

how did u get better Phillip? was it with Prokera?

[Phillips55]

Hi waterbee, yup I had Prokera (which is a form of amniotic stem cell transplant) done and it did help tremendously. LASIK is the reason for my dry eye and Dr. ****** down in Tampa suggested it based on its success in healing corneal damage. From what I can tell some other folks here now have tried and if their issues are lasik related and it didn't help, that's really frustrating to hear. I really just wanted to help other people here because I was fortunate enough that it did help with me and was hoping it could help others.

[PhoenixEyes]

Interesting, thanks for the article. Does "a drug that blocks heparanase" for the eye exist or in trials yet?
Although my condition was medication induced I know that one other cause of Stevens Johnson Syndrome / Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is the herpes simplex virus mentioned in the study, and it does lead to chronic dry eye.

I tried Prokera Plus in my worst eye and the inflammation seemed to reset things a bit but within a month or two I was back where I started in terms of red inflammation, dryness and pain sadly. I'd still say it's worth a shot though if you have affordable access, especially early on after a trauma to the eye.

There's a lot of stuff in research (Lacripep, Lµbris, RGN-259) or out in US (lifitegrast) but like others have said I hate waiting with daily pain while it all takes years to get to the UK. =(

[waterbee]

phonenix eyes, just wondering if you had your prokera done in the uk?

[sophie0416]

Interesting, thanks for the article. Does "a drug that blocks heparanase" for the eye exist or in trials yet?
Although my condition was medication induced I know that one other cause of Stevens Johnson Syndrome / Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is the herpes simplex virus mentioned in the study, and it does lead to chronic dry eye.

I tried Prokera Plus in my worst eye and the inflammation seemed to reset things a bit but within a month or two I was back where I started in terms of red inflammation, dryness and pain sadly. I'd still say it's worth a shot though if you have affordable access, especially early on after a trauma to the eye.

There's a lot of stuff in research (Lacripep, Lµbris, RGN-259) or out in US (lifitegrast) but like others have said I hate waiting with daily pain while it all takes years to get to the UK. =(

Hey there, you mentioned your condition was “medication induced”? Does that mean Taking a medicine gave you dry eyes? When you stopped taking it, you never recovered? I’m sorry for being noisy, is just, I think I’m going through the same

[PhoenixEyes]

Hey there, you mentioned your condition was “medication induced”? Does that mean Taking a medicine gave you dry eyes? When you stopped taking it, you never recovered? I’m sorry for being noisy, is just, I think I’m going through the same

Hi, Certain medication can have dry eyes as a side effect so certainly worth checking side effects in the leaflet and discussing with doctor. Here's an article listing some:
http://www.reviewofcontactlenses.com...y_eye/c/28762/

If you stop the medication I believe it should stop the dry eye, I know I spoke to someone who spent years and a lot of money trying treatments and flying to other countries to try new treatments, then eventually after stopping their antidepressant they had a big improvement. Certain medication that affect the meibomian glands may cause chronic affects though sadly that are harder to correct. for example acne medication like Accutane and Retin A, which down regulate and eventually atrophy the glands.

Everyone is different though of course, I have taken some of the medications in the past and not experienced dry eye. Before TEN I had no chronic problems with my eyes.

The medicine reaction I had, called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) was to an over the counter NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) painkiller Naproxen and/or the antibiotic Penicillin V. However I had taken another NSAID, Ibuprofen, and penicillin, Amoxicillin, before without issue. But TEN is more a rare reaction of my immune system to a perceived invader (you can also get it due to viruses etc.), so it's possible it was just the strength / potency of those medications appearing offensive to my immune system compared to the others I had taken previously, but I have to avoid all NSAIDs and penicillins now.

With TEN the immune system attacks the skin and mucous membranes in an overzealous effort to rid itself of the 'invader,' the skin / membranes slough off and have to grow back, it not only affects the eyes but anywhere else with skin / membranes e.g. mouth, nose, throat, etc. In worst case scenario it can affect skin lining vital organs or the loss of skin can leave the body vulnerable to infection and lead to septic shock, in some cases people sadly die due to TEN.

The medication is stopped when doctors realize what is going on (which can take time as it's a rare condition so gets misdiagnosed at first often) but sadly the immune system powers on for awhile and the skin tries to renew itself, so it gets "worse before it gets better" as the doctors told me. I was given IVIG (donated immune system plasma to support my own immune system so it doesn't feel it has to be on such high alert) and had to be in the burns unit of a hospital for just under a month. After that the healing process can be imperfect and for me resulted in scarring and other defects that impacted my lacrimal glands (which produce tears), meibomian glands, skin under the eyelids etc. So I now have severe chronic dry eye. However some with TEN find their cornea doesn't heal, or they get limbal stem cell deficiency and other complications deeper behind the cornea (e.g. retina, optic nerves) and sadly go blind.

But more than likely if you stop the medication you'll find things soon improve. Be sure to discuss with doctor first if it's the type of medication you need to taper off first.

[sophie0416]

Well I’m scared now, I honestly started having symptoms when I started with birthcontrol April last year; I was taking it cause I was told I had Endometriosis (I don’t) it took me , sadly, more than 4 packs of pills to realize that’s what it was causing the dry eye.

Ive stopped for about 6 months now, my gynaecologist told me “I should be fine” but I was not noticing any improvement, until I started taking omega 3, flax seed oil, fish oil, and vitamin A; I just started with evening primrose and cod liver oil. I feel a LOT better,but still can’t wear any makeup (which I love and I’m depressed about this) as soon as the eyeshadow is near my eye, it disturbs my tearfilm and I can literally feel the burning. Without makeup I have pretty good days, sometimes I don’t even use eye drops at all.

[PhoenixEyes]

No need to feel scared, what I had is apparently a 1 in a million chance. A lot of doctors and nurses I encounter have never seen or heard of it before.

I did get issues with birth control pills in the past, I tried them to regulate my cycle and reduce my severe pre-menstrual tension symptoms. Didn't affect my eyes but did give me rhinitis and other problems so I had to stop. Hormones are so tricky since they don't seem to have a good way to monitor them, at least that's what I was told.

I see some threads from time to time on Facebook dry eye groups about make-up. I don't actively use Facebook for personal stuff much, mainly just use it to access discussion groups like that. You could do the same perhaps if you're not already on Facebook and search the groups for previous discussions about "makeup". I don't personally wear make-up as I've always had eczema so I don't know much about it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dryeyetalk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dryeyesupport/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/9471307532/

[waterbee]

Interesting, thanks for the article. Does "a drug that blocks heparanase" for the eye exist or in trials yet?
Although my condition was medication induced I know that one other cause of Stevens Johnson Syndrome / Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is the herpes simplex virus mentioned in the study, and it does lead to chronic dry eye.

I tried Prokera Plus in my worst eye and the inflammation seemed to reset things a bit but within a month or two I was back where I started in terms of red inflammation, dryness and pain sadly. I'd still say it's worth a shot though if you have affordable access, especially early on after a trauma to the eye.

There's a lot of stuff in research (Lacripep, Lµbris, RGN-259) or out in US (lifitegrast) but like others have said I hate waiting with daily pain while it all takes years to get to the UK. =(

phonenix eyes, just wondering if you had your prokera done in the uk?

[farmgirl]

Phoenix Eyes was what you had similar to Steven Johnsons?