As some of you already know, I'm another LASIK dry victim, after having LASIK November 2017 at one of the large high street providers here in the UK.
It appears I was already starting my dry eye journey before LASIK!
Currently receiving some good care here in the UK on the NHS. Finished steroids, 3 months into Ikervis and plugs.
In an attempt to keep pushing to understand my condition better and move to "healed" and "better", I saw a new consultant/doc Mr. Simon Walker at his private practice https://www.thebestsense.com/.
Mr. Walker has the best attitude and approach I've come across in my journey so far. His best side manner is excellent, talking to me, not at me and he listens! He's also got nothing to do with LASIK, LASEK, PRK etc, in fact, believes it to be a fundamentally bad idea.
He apologised to me on behalf of his profession for the pain and suffering I've experienced since LASIK.
So what did I learn?
- Definitely got mild anterior blepharitis
- Neurotrophic keratitis left eye not so bad, with only the top right quadrant showing reduced sensitivity. The right eye he could poke all day long with the sharp corner of a tissue, without me reacting! My NHS consultant told me my nerves where fine!
- Oily tear film.
Positives:
- Few dry spots noticed on my eyes.
- Lids a little loose and baggy but not causing issues.
- Close my eye properly, so no issues when asleep.
- Decent observed tear lake.
- Didn't mention conjunctivochalsis , he lists it on his site as a cause, so I'm assuming it checked for it. He spend more time then anyone oberving my eyes in the slit lamb. https://www.thebestsense.com/good-bye-to-dry-eye
Tests not done:
- TBUT already told him my numbers, but he feels it's a very subjective measure, which seems a common theme.
- Schirmer test, same opinion.
He was interested in my hormone results from Forth and encouraged me to see my GP for my NHS blood results and pursue the hormone side.
Finally, I'm down to three plugs, having lost the upper one in my right eye. We agreed not to replace it as this eye was causing a little over tearing.
So treatment wise:
- Get on top of blepharitis using Ocusoft scrubs and tea tree facial scrub recommending these in the UK https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/sh...5?skuid=092515 and https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/sh...3?skuid=083623. He also feels controlling Demodex is important! His full regime is here https://www.thebestsense.com/blephar...walker-regimen
- Investigate the availability of Oxervat in the UK http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-rel...637622853.html, to treat the neurotrophic keratitis.
- Get off the anti depressions as soon as practically possible. He's the only one who understands my eyes are the issue, my mental health is a symptom.
More interesting opinions:
- Not a fan of any form of serum drops or AMT. Said he'd recommend the finger prick method if he thought it would help!
- Reckons I would be wasting my time with confocal microscopy as my problem is with the surface nerves.
I value all your opinions and thoughts, please comment away.
It appears I was already starting my dry eye journey before LASIK!
Currently receiving some good care here in the UK on the NHS. Finished steroids, 3 months into Ikervis and plugs.
In an attempt to keep pushing to understand my condition better and move to "healed" and "better", I saw a new consultant/doc Mr. Simon Walker at his private practice https://www.thebestsense.com/.
Mr. Walker has the best attitude and approach I've come across in my journey so far. His best side manner is excellent, talking to me, not at me and he listens! He's also got nothing to do with LASIK, LASEK, PRK etc, in fact, believes it to be a fundamentally bad idea.
He apologised to me on behalf of his profession for the pain and suffering I've experienced since LASIK.
So what did I learn?
- Definitely got mild anterior blepharitis
- Neurotrophic keratitis left eye not so bad, with only the top right quadrant showing reduced sensitivity. The right eye he could poke all day long with the sharp corner of a tissue, without me reacting! My NHS consultant told me my nerves where fine!
- Oily tear film.
Positives:
- Few dry spots noticed on my eyes.
- Lids a little loose and baggy but not causing issues.
- Close my eye properly, so no issues when asleep.
- Decent observed tear lake.
- Didn't mention conjunctivochalsis , he lists it on his site as a cause, so I'm assuming it checked for it. He spend more time then anyone oberving my eyes in the slit lamb. https://www.thebestsense.com/good-bye-to-dry-eye
Tests not done:
- TBUT already told him my numbers, but he feels it's a very subjective measure, which seems a common theme.
- Schirmer test, same opinion.
He was interested in my hormone results from Forth and encouraged me to see my GP for my NHS blood results and pursue the hormone side.
Finally, I'm down to three plugs, having lost the upper one in my right eye. We agreed not to replace it as this eye was causing a little over tearing.
So treatment wise:
- Get on top of blepharitis using Ocusoft scrubs and tea tree facial scrub recommending these in the UK https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/sh...5?skuid=092515 and https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/sh...3?skuid=083623. He also feels controlling Demodex is important! His full regime is here https://www.thebestsense.com/blephar...walker-regimen
- Investigate the availability of Oxervat in the UK http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-rel...637622853.html, to treat the neurotrophic keratitis.
- Get off the anti depressions as soon as practically possible. He's the only one who understands my eyes are the issue, my mental health is a symptom.
More interesting opinions:
- Not a fan of any form of serum drops or AMT. Said he'd recommend the finger prick method if he thought it would help!
- Reckons I would be wasting my time with confocal microscopy as my problem is with the surface nerves.
I value all your opinions and thoughts, please comment away.
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