I am really worried!! Help me please!!

[jfbaro]

Hi,

My name is Jean, male, 30 years old, computer programmer, living in the UK at the moment.

Hope I can describe my problem in English.

I have never had any problem with my eyes before. But since this Jan I have been working 12 - 16h a day using the computer.

Then I started feeling strange things in my eyes:

- my eyes started being a bit sensitive to light;
- they started hurting (not so much).
- it seems sometimes I have kind of sand in my eyes (most on the left one).
- my vision on my left eye is blurry, some days more, some days less, but never as good as the right one or as it used to be.
- they are a bit sticky.


When I realised my left eye went blurry I got really worried and then went to the GP, he has examined my eye and said it could be a kind of conjunctivitis.
He prescribed me some eye drops and told me to return if the problem doesn't go away within 5 days.
I applied the drops, but nothing changed. (It seems to me the doctors here don't care so much about the people).
Then I went to the Eye Hospital at the Royal Hospital (here in Liverpool).
They made lots of tests and said there wasn't anything wrong with my eye. One of the doctors/nurses said I could try glasses and see if I feel any better and also said many people have problem in one of their eyes and don't bother wearing glasses. (WHAT ADVICE!!!)
She also said to be back within 5 weeks time.
Before coming back to eye hospital I went to an optometrist and took some tests there and at the end he said I have to wear glasses.
But I was still not believing it was a matter of wearing glasses as my vision was much better some time before, it couldn't be that bad in just some weeks.
So I didn't start using glasses and waited to go to eye hospital again.
after this 5 weeks I went there and they made more tests in my eye (also in the Eye Hospital's optometrist).
They said my vision was much better than the first time I went there and I wouldn't need to wear glasses cause my vision on my left eye needed only a small correction. It was indeed better. But not as good as it used to be.

Then the last test I took (only in the last one they said me the problem was DRY EYE!!!!!) another doctor tried to look "inside" my eye,by forcing her finger against my eye. Then she said my eyelids are scratched and I should
put hot flannels twice a day (for 10 minutes) and also put VISCOTEARS 4 times a day.

I always tried to make things clear in order to understand why I have this problem and mainly IF MY BLURRED VISION WILL EVER GO AWAY. But they don't seem to have
much time to talk to me, like they don't care about the patients. Don't know, maybe that was just my experience.

I have been putting the VISCOTEARS this week, but my vision is going worse now (LEFT eye only). I didn't use the hot flannel though (Which I intend to start next week).

Really, I don't know what to do, who to ask...

So after trying to describe my problem my questions are:


- Can dry eye damage the vision permanently?
- Is my blurred vision on my left eye ever go away and I'll have my vision as good as it used to be?
- Will the hot flannel make me feel better?
- Why are my eyes getting worse after I started putting VISCOTEARS in both eyes? (Can it be because the weather is getting cold now??)


Thanks very much!

[IanJ]

Hi,

>They made lots of tests and said there wasn't anything
>wrong with my eye.

The problem is that by the time you got seen by a doc, i.e. sat in a long queue at the hospital then your symptoms will have lapsed a good bit.
This frustrates me no end......there is a serious lack of "complete" diagnosis in the UK IMHO. It just confirms to me that for the most part UK docs know next to NOTHING about dry eyes diagnosis and how to treat it.

I had almost the exact same symptoms as you, including the blurred vision (in one eye).......and I can tell you there IS hope, and I might also add that you have come to the right place to seek help.

For me, I don't pretend to be an expert, I can only offer you my advice based on my own experiences. Here goes:-

Once you get on a good course of eye drops then you will probably find that your blurred vision will get better.
I haven't tried viscotears in a long time....am I correct in saying they are a bit like a gel rather than a liquid. You probably need a lighter eye drop, more liquid (runny) than gel. I find that some gel eye drops do make my eye feel better but can make them more blurry at the same time. For me I use OCUMED, but that's not available on the NHS.....nuy it online here:-
http://edinburgh-eyetests.co.uk/

The hot flannel was probably suggested to you in order to help clear your meibomian glands.....which secrete oils onto your eyes in order to help against tear film exaporation. Your tears may be evaporating.

Dry eyes can damage the eye......but only in extreme circumstances. I doubt you are anywhere near that phase.

PS. I also use a computer all day long as well.....I found good relief from turning the brightness down a good bit.

ian.

[Damocles]

I am really worried!! Help me please!! Reply to Thread

Hi,
I'm also suffering from dry eyes.
Age is definitely a factor; medication is another.
Certain medications like Accutane (for the treatment of Rosacea is one). If you have dry eyes, try to avoid medicines which will further aggravate the problem.
It is important to remember not to use steroid unless it is absolutely necessary because it can cause glaucoma and cataract as well as encourage infection of the eyes.
Always try the mildest approach first.
I had a bad experience with an ophthalmologist for my red eyes and he prescribed five medicines for my eyes, including steroid, eye drops (with preservative) etc.
After one month of using them, I develop severe eye pain.
I had to stop the usage on my own because I cannot bear the pain although he told me to carry on regardless! ANOTHER POINT TO NOTE - CHANGE YOUR OPHTHALMOLOGIST IF YOUR CONDITION DOESN'T IMPROVE!
I immediately went to see another eye specialist and he told me that I had ulcers in both my eyes due to the preservatives in the eye medication. SO, ANOTHER POINT TO BEAR IN MIND IS TO AVOID EYE DROPS OR MEDICINE WITH PRESERVATIVE!
He had to apply an aesthetic to my eyes so that I can open them for him to examine!
He prescribed Bion Tears (preservative free) and Duratears (an ointment to be used at night). Although the latter has some preservative, according to him it is mild and save to use long term (I have been using it for more than a month now).
Dry eyes do require frequent instilling of eye drops which is needed long term.
Wish you the best,

[Rebecca Petris]

Welcome Damocles. Good job being your own advocate and figuring out the preservative problem. Yikes!

Jean,

Sorry to hear what you're going through. I posted in another thread about checking for some computer-related tips - this forum is full of suggestions from people who have had similar struggles.

I think you've done a great job following your instincts about the vision problem being related to dry eyes and not prescription change. It's a shame you've got such uphill work against doctors who just want to give you glasses and send you on your way without properly diagnosing you. Misdiagnosis is a big problem in dry eye.

I really want to encourage both of you to check out our general background information on dry eye diagnosis and on the many different basic treatments beyond eyedrops and goop. So often the underlying problem is not simply poor tear secretion but meibomian gland dysfunction - and often allergies in the mix somewhere. Here's a thread with quick links to some articles that may be helpful.

[Bren]

I know how you feel. I have the same symptoms you are experiencing. I was diagnosed as having corneal abrasions caused by improper contact lens wear and also dry eyes. I have been on the drops for 3 weeks and still no improvement. My corneas are not healing. Mostly I am only having the pain and gritty feeling in my left eye - My vision is also blury because of it - some days worse than others. It is uncommen for the healing process to take longer than a week, so I am getting a bit worried my problem is a bit more serious than I anticipated - also I am worried about my vision returning. I have read that once your corneas heal, then your vision returns, unless you have scarring. There is hope here. I am trying to stay optimistic. I think we would love to hear from someone who has experienced this and everything worked out fine. I am also wondering if dry eye ever goes into remission. Good luck to you.
~Bren

[calli66]

II have been on the drops for 3 weeks and still no improvement. My corneas are not healing. ....It is uncommen for the healing process to take longer than a week, so I am getting a bit worried...

That seems like a long time. Do the drops contain a steroid? I have heard that this can delay healing. Did the doctor prescribe the Muro 128 type drop or ointment (the ones with saline in them)?

Have you been using lots of gel for nighttime? I have found this to be the most helpful for improving the corneal surface/ dry eye irritation during the day. I think a lot of healing goes on during the night.

Hope you get better soon.

Calli

[Bren]

That seems like a long time. Do the drops contain a steroid? I have heard that this can delay healing. Did the doctor prescribe the Muro 128 type drop or ointment (the ones with saline in them)?

Have you been using lots of gel for nighttime? I have found this to be the most helpful for improving the corneal surface/ dry eye irritation during the day. I think a lot of healing goes on during the night.

Hope you get better soon.

Calli

Thanks Calli. Yes, I was using Steriod drops. I have been off them for a wk. Hoping my next appt shoes improvement. I still have pain in my left eye & since the infection my dry eyes are worse. I bought the Muro today. The Thera gel was not that great & I noticed my eyelids were puffy in the a.m. That has never happened before. I have a doc appt in a wk. I think the eye infection made my dry eyes worse unfortunately. I have also used allergy eye drops for the last 3 yrs. I am learning from this site that was not a good thing. Thanks for the good wishes. I really appreciate it! Take care, Bren