Dry spots on cornea

[chella21279]

Has anyone experienced dry spots on the cornea from severe dry eye? If so, how soon can dry spots occur once dry eye symptoms begin? What are the symptoms of these spots? And how is it cured?

Last time I checked I don't have any dry spots. However my doctor keeps emphasizing on how important it is to not have them.

[cathy8889]

Hey, I think you can only see them when a ophthalmologist puts fluoresceim drops in and examines you under slit lamp. My tear film is unevenly distributed due to meibomian gland dysfunction which shows up as dry spots on cornea. You need to find out the cause of dry spots. Having these dry spots is what causes the sensation such as grittiness and light sensitivity etc. I think this correct, someone please step in if it's not.

If you go down to the staining section on this web page it explains it http://www.aao.org/publications/eyen...707/cornea.cfm

[chella21279]

Hey, I think you can only see them when a ophthalmologist puts fluoresceim drops in and examines you under slit lamp. My tear film is unevenly distributed due to meibomian gland dysfunction which shows up as dry spots on cornea. You need to find out the cause of dry spots. Having these dry spots is what causes the sensation such as grittiness and light sensitivity etc. I think this correct, someone please step in if it's not.

If you go down to the staining section on this web page it explains it http://www.aao.org/publications/eyen...707/cornea.cfm

Yes, I understand how it's detected. I also have MGD. However I don't have any dry spots yet. I wanted to know how soon can a person get dry spots on the cornea after having severe dry eye? And how is it cured?

Reason why I'm asking is because I don't use artifical tears for my severe dry eye as much as I should since they can sometimes irritate my eyes. I do get grittiness and foreign object sensations frequently but I learned to tough it out and not use anything for it. But is this bad? Can I continue on like this? Or do I need to go back to the doctor for another treatment?

[cathy8889]

Sorry chella I misunderstood. I think the only way to cure it is continue with warm compresses and all the other treatments. When my eyes feel gritty I have to do a warm compress as putting drops in when my eyes feel like this just makes it worse and my vision totally blurred.

What treatment are you on at the moment? Has a doctor said you don't have dry spots?

I'd say it's not good leaving your eyes to battle through grittiness, it's got to be doing some damage. I know now I have my mgd diagnosis that when my eyes feel gritty my tear film is messed up and I've got to sort it out. I have 2 pinguecula in each eye though so if my eyes are slightly dry all veins come out with avengence towards pinguecula.

Experiment with drops too, took me 2 years to find some and it was only because another dry eye member told be about then that I found them, make sure they are preservative free too. When my eyes are gritty I literally have to close my eyes.

John Hovanesian does some good lectures in it all on you tube.

From my own experience, I had grittiness in night for a long time, id say about 2-3 years, I've had problem with my eyes for long Time before with pinguecula so I never really dealt with it, I just thought that was that. Then over last year things got worse and I'm guessing my mgd must have gone up a level and my glands couldn't cope in day either. I have to do a warm compress 5 times a day and once in night and I've just started sleeping more upright which is helping. I'm on oral doxycycline too for a year too. Even when my eyes feel ok in day now I still do hot compress as it's important to keep glands flowing.

Sorry if this is no help, it's just I didn't know any of this 9 months ago and I was in ridiculous pain and discomfort in the night and then in day.

Cath

[cathy8889]

Forgot to mention I do eye exercises too http://www.harvardeye.com/about/patient_resources.html

[dominorose]

I can definitely see my eyes lack a layer just with the naked eye, it is really visible.

[cathy8889]

Yes me too thinking about it, the whole eye has a matte look rather than being glossy, I just can't see specific dry spots

Cath

[chella21279]

Sorry chella I misunderstood. I think the only way to cure it is continue with warm compresses and all the other treatments. When my eyes feel gritty I have to do a warm compress as putting drops in when my eyes feel like this just makes it worse and my vision totally blurred.

What treatment are you on at the moment? Has a doctor said you don't have dry spots?

I'd say it's not good leaving your eyes to battle through grittiness, it's got to be doing some damage. I know now I have my mgd diagnosis that when my eyes feel gritty my tear film is messed up and I've got to sort it out. I have 2 pinguecula in each eye though so if my eyes are slightly dry all veins come out with avengence towards pinguecula.

Experiment with drops too, took me 2 years to find some and it was only because another dry eye member told be about then that I found them, make sure they are preservative free too. When my eyes are gritty I literally have to close my eyes.

John Hovanesian does some good lectures in it all on you tube.

From my own experience, I had grittiness in night for a long time, id say about 2-3 years, I've had problem with my eyes for long Time before with pinguecula so I never really dealt with it, I just thought that was that. Then over last year things got worse and I'm guessing my mgd must have gone up a level and my glands couldn't cope in day either. I have to do a warm compress 5 times a day and once in night and I've just started sleeping more upright which is helping. I'm on oral doxycycline too for a year too. Even when my eyes feel ok in day now I still do hot compress as it's important to keep glands flowing.

Sorry if this is no help, it's just I didn't know any of this 9 months ago and I was in ridiculous pain and discomfort in the night and then in day.

Cath

Thanks for the info Cath! Sorry to hear about your experience. I totally know how it feels. I just can't believe you went through it for that long

When you're doing the hot compresses, how long each time do you do them? I try to do mine 5 minutes each time but some times I get so busy. Also, has the hot compresses helped you? I've been doing them for about two months now and I'm not really sure its helping but I just do them anyway.

I also heard that dry spots on the cornea, disrupts your vision. How is your vision with the dry spots?

My current treatment are warm compresses, and preservative free artificial tears. I also have plugs in my lower ducts. I try to use the drops as much as possible but I feel its making them more dry...even with preservative free drops. What kind of artificial tears do you use?

[chella21279]

I can definitely see my eyes lack a layer just with the naked eye, it is really visible.

How can you tell? Is it the glossiness as what Cath stated?

[dominorose]

It is the exact description Cathy : matte look, with some irregularities. For example, I have a big vein on the left eye and it seems to be in "3D" on the surface...disgusting

[cathy8889]

Hi chella, thank you I'm just so glad I found this forum. I just thought it was normal to feel like that I think cos I knew noting else and had been so busy with Uni and finding job just neglected how I was feeling physically. It really sucks doesn't it, I hope things get better for you soon.

I do mine for between 5 and ten mins, I know what you mean sometimes it's hard to fit them in like today I went out for day and was panicking thinking need to do hot compress, as long as I do one in morning and night I hope that's enough.

I didn't notice at first but this was when my lids were really inflamed, I think hot compresses coupled with taking the omega 3 and seabuckthorn oil have helped and then being on the doxycycline has made most difference. I would definitely stick with warm compresses, I don't think it's some then you feel a difference from overnight. Have you been diagnosed with mgd sorry?

Yes I was experiencing blurred vision quite frequently and still am, I went out today and the atmosphere must have been quite smokey, I'm on holiday and everyone seems to have a cigarette hanging out there mouth, and all of sudden vision went blurred and it's horrible, have to wait for the tear film to restabalise, I was told my an optician that my dry eye was caused by me straining my eyes to see :s, it worries me how many other people she has said that to!

I haven't had plugs yet, I would like them if I continue to have blurred Vision and stinging/burning sensation, it's just horrible. I don't even know what causes the burning, I thought it was The bad oils seeping in to my eyes but not sure now.

I know what you mean about drops making eyes feel
More dry sometimes, I use vismed multi pres free 0.18% and thera tears, everything else seems to make them redder. The vismed helped me bring down inflammation around my pinguecula, but was applying it all time. I'd love my eyes just to do if themselves even if it means having plugs.

I'm still learning new things all time and what works better. Hope my message makes sense, I'm still confused about it all myself to be honest lol

Cath

Thanks for the info Cath! Sorry to hear about your experience. I totally know how it feels. I just can't believe you went through it for that long

When you're doing the hot compresses, how long each time do you do them? I try to do mine 5 minutes each time but some times I get so busy. Also, has the hot compresses helped you? I've been doing them for about two months now and I'm not really sure its helping but I just do them anyway.

I also heard that dry spots on the cornea, disrupts your vision. How is your vision with the dry spots?

My current treatment are warm compresses, and preservative free artificial tears. I also have plugs in my lower ducts. I try to use the drops as much as possible but I feel its making them more dry...even with preservative free drops. What kind of artificial tears do you use?

[chella21279]

Hi chella, thank you I'm just so glad I found this forum. I just thought it was normal to feel like that I think cos I knew noting else and had been so busy with Uni and finding job just neglected how I was feeling physically. It really sucks doesn't it, I hope things get better for you soon.

I do mine for between 5 and ten mins, I know what you mean sometimes it's hard to fit them in like today I went out for day and was panicking thinking need to do hot compress, as long as I do one in morning and night I hope that's enough.

I didn't notice at first but this was when my lids were really inflamed, I think hot compresses coupled with taking the omega 3 and seabuckthorn oil have helped and then being on the doxycycline has made most difference. I would definitely stick with warm compresses, I don't think it's some then you feel a difference from overnight. Have you been diagnosed with mgd sorry?

Yes I was experiencing blurred vision quite frequently and still am, I went out today and the atmosphere must have been quite smokey, I'm on holiday and everyone seems to have a cigarette hanging out there mouth, and all of sudden vision went blurred and it's horrible, have to wait for the tear film to restabalise, I was told my an optician that my dry eye was caused by me straining my eyes to see :s, it worries me how many other people she has said that to!

I haven't had plugs yet, I would like them if I continue to have blurred Vision and stinging/burning sensation, it's just horrible. I don't even know what causes the burning, I thought it was The bad oils seeping in to my eyes but not sure now.

I know what you mean about drops making eyes feel
More dry sometimes, I use vismed multi pres free 0.18% and thera tears, everything else seems to make them redder. The vismed helped me bring down inflammation around my pinguecula, but was applying it all time. I'd love my eyes just to do if themselves even if it means having plugs.

I'm still learning new things all time and what works better. Hope my message makes sense, I'm still confused about it all myself to be honest lol

Cath

Thanks Cath! I hope you get some relief soon as well!! I also love this site! Isn't it wonderful we can all share our experiences and learn about new things from one another? Its amazing!

Do you do hot compress or warm? every time I do hot compress, it makes my eyes feel worse

Yes, I was diagnosed with mild MGD. Are the omega 3's helping you? I recently bought a bottle of flaxeed oil and will start taking them tonight. I hope it helps!

Sorry to hear about your blurred vision. I hope you're still able to drive, walk etc. Has your doctor said anything about your blurry vision? Will it get better if you keep these treatments?

Well i believe plugs are mainly for people with aqueous dry eye (not producing enough tears). Have you taken a schirmers test before?

I would like to try vismed. Can i purchase that online? Do you know where?