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  • #16
    P.S. My post doesn't refer to Rebecca's post and site as it's dealing with pre-menopausal women. My theory mostly relates to what happens later.


    The longer I read about "it" and experience "it", I still think perhaps the color of your socks makes as much sense as anything. Back in the early days of lasik, it was "always women" who had dry eyes--until fellows started joining the brigade. In the early days post-lasik, it was always "older women" (meaning post-menopausal) women who had dry eyes. That is until women post-lasik who were in their 20's or 30s came along (Rebecca and Diana for example). Then it was talked about being mostly women, period. Then--as we can see from this board TODAY that many men (both pre and post-menopausal) IE. young and old, are suffering just like women. I just want to add all this to some of the newbies who think they have it figured out. We just go round and round with theories. We have made a lot of progress with things that help, but the actual why's and wherfore's are still a mystery. Ya think it's because your post-menopausal? Maybe, and probably you'll never know.

    Think it's because you're pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal? Chances you'll probably never know. Is it because you take HRT? Is it because you are NOT on HRT? Would you have less dry eyes on HRT? You'll probably never know.

    As a point, I watch this discussed for a long time-especially the female hormone (or lack of) aspect. I was on HRT for a long time (even during my lasik) and wondered like so many women it that made "it" worse. Well, for other reasons recently, I had to stop the HRT cold turkey and now, a few months down the road, I can tell you flat out that it has not made one iota of improvement in my eyes. So "I" can lay that mystery to rest (for me at least). Back to the sock theory.
    Lucy
    Don't trust any refractive surgeon with YOUR eyes.

    The Dry Eye Queen

    Comment


    • #17
      Originally posted by Lucy
      P.S. My post doesn't refer to Rebecca's post and site as it's dealing with pre-menopausal women. My theory mostly relates to what happens later.


      The longer I read about "it" and experience "it", I still think perhaps the color of your socks makes as much sense as anything. Back in the early days of lasik, it was "always women" who had dry eyes--until fellows started joining the brigade. In the early days post-lasik, it was always "older women" (meaning post-menopausal) women who had dry eyes. That is until women post-lasik who were in their 20's or 30s came along (Rebecca and Diana for example). Then it was talked about being mostly women, period. Then--as we can see from this board TODAY that many men (both pre and post-menopausal) IE. young and old, are suffering just like women. I just want to add all this to some of the newbies who think they have it figured out. We just go round and round with theories. We have made a lot of progress with things that help, but the actual why's and wherfore's are still a mystery. Ya think it's because your post-menopausal? Maybe, and probably you'll never know.

      Think it's because you're pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal? Chances you'll probably never know. Is it because you take HRT? Is it because you are NOT on HRT? Would you have less dry eyes on HRT? You'll probably never know.

      As a point, I watch this discussed for a long time-especially the female hormone (or lack of) aspect. I was on HRT for a long time (even during my lasik) and wondered like so many women it that made "it" worse. Well, for other reasons recently, I had to stop the HRT cold turkey and now, a few months down the road, I can tell you flat out that it has not made one iota of improvement in my eyes. So "I" can lay that mystery to rest (for me at least). Back to the sock theory.
      Lucy

      You've made some good points. I don't know exactly what has caused my dry eye problem but I do know that HRT is helping for whatever reason. It may not help other people for various reasons but I'm certain I'm not the only person HRT will help with their dry eye problem.

      Laura

      Comment


      • #18
        wow, I was on holidays and came back today and wanted to start a new threat because I noticed that my eyes are worse when I have my period. They are so inflamment then. I didn't notice that before but I had to change my birth controll pill two months ago and now my eyes are horrible during the break.

        Comment


        • #19
          Dr. Latkany says that androgen, male hormone, seems to be protective but that as men age and that drops for them that they too are more prone to dry eye. Anyway this was my interpretation. I read somewhere that they are experimenting with androgen replacement and even some given to women for dry eye. I just wish they would hurry up with the research!!

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          • #20
            I know this is an old thread but I definitely think there is something to this, does anybody else notice a pattern?

            Originally posted by Rebecca Petris View Post
            Fascinating study from Italy published in Gynecological Endocrinology (July 2007). See blog for details.

            Girls... anybody ever detected a pattern of worse dry eye symptoms at that time of the month? Seems like it could be interesting experiment to have a bunch of us take an OSDI test then and another time of month for a few months running.
            27, pinguecula, dry eye, Wirral, UK

            Comment


            • #21
              Even though I am post-LASIK I felt that my eyes got worse after I started taking evening primrose oil, which I stopped about two months ago. I've just read that it has anti-androgen properties. My skin use to be very oily, and I have noticed that it had gotten much drier after taking these supplements.

              For me I don't think time of the month makes a difference, but maybe I should have my hormone levels checked.

              Have you had yours checked? Are they like other tests which could have missed something?

              Comment


              • #22
                Hi dl,

                Yes I started taking evening primrose oil and stopped after reading same. I have never had my hormone levels checked, I'm not really sure how to go about doing this, would my go be able to arrange this on the nhs if I put a string case forward that it could be affecting my eyes do you think?

                Thanks, cath x

                Originally posted by DryLondoner View Post
                Even though I am post-LASIK I felt that my eyes got worse after I started taking evening primrose oil, which I stopped about two months ago. I've just read that it has anti-androgen properties. My skin use to be very oily, and I have noticed that it had gotten much drier after taking these supplements.

                For me I don't think time of the month makes a difference, but maybe I should have my hormone levels checked.

                Have you had yours checked? Are they like other tests which could have missed something?
                27, pinguecula, dry eye, Wirral, UK

                Comment


                • #23
                  I think your GP could refer you, I think my surgery might actually do these in-house. I would place emphasis how much this is affecting the quality of your life.

                  Have you had thyroid etc checked?

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Im not concerned as I don't have any periods for 5 years (anorexia, recovered but...still nothing). But they came back all of a sudden in march, and disappeared at the end of april. 5 days later, BIG worsening in my dry eye pain.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Dominorose - do you mean to say you are concerned? Didn't you have some hormone tests, and you were 'out of whack'?

                      Is your redness getting any better? My eyes look so horrible now, it's embarrassing. I hate hate hate having red eyes.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Check out this old thread too: http://www.dryeyezone.com/talk/showt...7540#post87540

                        I remember posting about a study that showed that pre-menopausal women felt *better* on day 21 compared to day 12 and day 2. The researchers used the OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index), a "valid and reliable instrument for measuring dry eye disease (normal, mild to moderate, and severe) and effect on vision-related function". The OSDI is assessed on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores representing greater disability. Female patients had OSDI scores on day 21 that were significantly lower than those on days 12 and 2.

                        Pubmed abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24332276

                        I always thought that measuring hormones was kinda weird... I mean, women's levels fluctuate normally during cycles. I guess I don't really understand what "low" or "high" really means because of that.

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                        • #27
                          Yes DEL my estrogens and progesterone are those of a menopausal woman... I'm 26!

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            How would I go about having a hormone test, should I go to my gp and ask them to out me forward for one? I had a hard time getting my ophthalmology appointment so I might have a challenge on my hands :S

                            Thanks x
                            27, pinguecula, dry eye, Wirral, UK

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              I'm on the day 2 of my period and I've been through hell since Wednesday (after a few bearable days), so I think it can definitely make sense that menstruation and dry eyes are related.
                              I've read that some of you say that evening primrose oil can worsen this disease and I'm surprised: I thought and took for granted that if anything primrose oil would help, as it contains Omega 6.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Your cycle can also be tied to histamine levels in the blood, at least in some of us: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/973560

                                Try a low histamine diet just before your period, and see if you feel better on your dry eye days. I don't know if it will work for you, but it might.

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