Sudden setback- I don't undertand!

[hosanna13]

I'm 1 year and 2 months post LASIK, and I thought things were slowly getting better...I've been on Restasis and serum drops while avoiding inflammatory processed foods. My upper glands have been producing clear oil since staring 1 tbs flaxseed oil/day. Then approx a week ago, I had sudden onset of severe lack of tears. My eyes get really red and painful. It feels really dry.

I just don't understand. Things are supposed to be getting better, but then I experience this sudden setback. I'm currently in med school and have to study many hours a day. It's stressful as it is with school, but this debilitating condition and the anxiety thinking about my future career doesn't help at all. How am I going to survive working in a hospital where there a drafts everywhere?! I did recently get scleral lenses, but can't really tolerate them. It's not very comfortable after 3 hours, so I've been hoping my eyes get better on their own to a point where I can function normally.

Are things going to get better? I want to believe and have faith. I really do.

Thanks for reading this rant...;(

[Faith1989]

Hi hosanna

I am in the same position. I was doing well for weeks, and my eyes flared a few weeks ago. I understand how you feel- going from hopeful and excited to frustrated and angry. I feel that flaxseed helps as well. Do not go off the diet, I find when I do things get worse.

Do you have allergies? Spring is the worst time. I know this is your rant lol... But can I ask? What do you use to get through the day when studying. I have an honours degree in Business and am still scared to get a computer job. The fact that you are getting through med school is amazing!

[hosanna13]

I don't have any allergies. Do your allergies decrease tear production? Or does it make your eyes watery?

If it's really bad, I'll use swimming goggles while studying (good thing about med school is all the lectures get recorded so I can just study at home)
Blinking exercises and hot compresses help. Try closing your eyes hard for 3 seconds followed by 2 normal blinks. Do this for a minute 4x a day or whenever you want to, e.g. at a red light.

[RFREITAS]

Hello Hossana!

Well... your eyes were already better... so you will feel better again

I think everyone has it! Are you near your cycle? Sometimes my eyes felt worse when near that time of the month.

I know how it could be difficult. I work in a bank... at least 7 hours looking at the computer and a/c. A master thesis to finish... but I try not to get anxious! When things are really bad... I have some gum to help to increase the tears production, I use any kind of drops that can help... I warn all the people around me (if familly) and take a deeph breath! Always thinking that tomorrow it will be easier!

And usually I eat chocolate! That helps my mood!

I know little about dry eyes... And I think mine are getting worse... But for now I try to concentrate on my mental area!

Also I pray And that helps me so much!

All the best!

Do your best, you can!!
R.

[DryInUpstateNY]

sounds like you're stressed from work/long hours studying.

stress equates to lack of sleep, even just shaving an hour off from sleep will compound over time.

therefore, stress equals lack of sleep, equates to tired eyes. now your tired eyes hurt. they hurt so you Stress out more. you are so stressed out now that you sleep even less.... the cycle continues.

it wasn't sudden. more than likely it gradually got worse w/ an increase in overall stress level and lack of sleep.

I find also that when my eyes are feeling good for a bit, I slack on the routines and regimen that got me there. then your eyes remind you. this usually means that I'm not resting eyes well, staying up later because eyes are better and I feel "normal".

[DryInUpstateNY]

experiment.

force yourself to go to bed early. ensure you drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water. example: if you weigh 140lbs., drink 70 ounces of water per day.

humidifier at night (hot steam). sleep 8hours.

I'm a computer programmer so for me the computer and more so the forced air is my bane. forced air is the devil, lol. I do my best to take breaks and when it's bad, stop for a while.

[Guest]

Hang in there - setbacks are frustrating, but you'll get past it.

As others said, do not skimp on sleep (even skimping on 1/2 hour a night adds up!) - eat an anti-inflammatory high-nutrient diet (low sugar, lots of freshly-prepared food, lots of vegies etc), and baby your eyes as much as you're able to.

Keep your mind focused on the long-term, try not to worry about the short-term and things will work out somehow - they always do. Whatever will be will be, just try to relax and let it happen however it happens. (easier said than done, I know) My eyes have been through many ups and downs over the years, and I'm currently doing the best I've ever been in terms of what my eyes are able to tolerate (heavy computer use and finally able to stop using my serum drops without my eyes worsening) - so there's always hope...

(I recently started seeing a naturopath - heck, I've tried everything that western medicine can offer, and while it helped, I felt like I'd reached a dead end with that.)

[hosanna13]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement--I'm doing much better (it's a roller-coaster ride, no?) since my sudden setback. I think it was a combo of pollen allergy (my eyes feel less irritated if I take Zyrtec, even though I don't have any other symptoms of allergy like runny nose) and stress.

It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there's no choice but to keep trying and living in spite of life's variable circumstances. I feel like I can write a freaking book on human suffering at this point

Praying for everyone's recovery and happiness.

[Guest]

It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there's no choice but to keep trying and living in spite of life's variable circumstances.

Exactly - and don't forget that even though this is dragging on way longer than you ever thought possible, odds are super high that relative to your life as a whole, this dark period will NOT be the majority of your life. There is every reason to believe that there are still many, many good decades ahead of you!!

[RFREITAS]

SAAG Time to make an update to your routine!!

Hossana, with time it will get better... Everything! The eyes of course but also the way you deal with the anxiety or everything else! (I wrote this, but I have to remember what I say/writte ehehe)

[hosanna13]

I went to see the Dr today to ask if she was willing to put in upper plugs, even if it's just in my right eye. The Schirmer score was 8mm (L) and 3 mm (R), which sounds believable bc my right eye is def worse. The left one seemed too high to be real, though. They're both pretty dry and painful.

The Dr refused to put in the uppers and just told me "to use more drops." Are you kidding me....I had to argue with the Dr and resident, but they were very short with me and tried to get me out the door. Would it hurt them to try? Worst case scenario, I take the plug out.

How can I find a dr who's willing to experiment with me without breaking the bank?

[Guest]

Unreal - reminds me of my LASIK surgeon who allowed me to suffer for 3.5 years before I finally realized the man was only interested in denying that his LASIK surgery had harmed me, and was not interested in helping me. I had to find a new dr.

Not sure if your current dr. is the one who did the LASIK, but either way, find a new dr. More than likely, a corneal specialist is your best bet - as it turns out, the new dr. I ended up seeing also performed LASIK as a side thing (ie. not his main bread and butter) - but he's been fantastic.

Over here, we get referrals to ophthalmologists via optometrists - find out how the system works where you live and then work it. Work it until you find a good corneal specialist with the patience to work with you, someone who has a heart. It'll be well worth the effort when you find him or her.