Just wondering....

[erinlins]

Hey everyone,

I was just wondering how many people on the board are in their early 20s and 30s. I have talked to many specialists about our condition and little is actually understood why young people get this disease.


Do you have a specific reason for DES?


Did it come about over years or literally seem like it happened over night?


How has your eyes improved since diagnosed?







Mine was probably contact lens induced---cuz no tears but eyelids fine



I woke up with dry eye



I am pretty much okay---except for annoying red eyes! lol

[Francesco]

I have dry (mild) and red eyes since mmm 7 - 8 years ago (I'm 23)....no cause....perfect vision also ...I just don't know what to say ....I hope that my eyes get better with plugs and maybe a 2 weeks steroid like Lotemax.......

[Isis]

Do you have a specific reason for DES? Meibomitis


Did it come about over years or literally seem like it happened over night?
It developed over about a 3 month period


How has your eyes improved since diagnosed?
I have good and bad days. So yes and no.

[LouSam]

I'm 28 and was diagnosed in January but probably had mild dry eyes for a long time before that. Has been attributed to contact lens wear, MGD, rosacea, but these diagnoses were all from different doctors, so I have no idea. My eyes have been getting better in the past 3 months since I finally found a doctor who cared enough to help! They still hurt a lot if I am in the wind, if I spend time in heated rooms, if I travel, etc. It's really hard to get used to being limited in doing things. How are you all coping with this at such a young age?

[brd888]

Do you have a specific reason for DES?
No

Did it come about over years or literally seem like it happened over night?
Over night

How has your eyes improved since diagnosed?
Not at all - although they are not much worse either.

[Tetley]

I'm 27

Do you have a specific reason for DES?
Maybe Contact Lenses

Did it come about over years or literally seem like it happened over night?
Years

How has your eyes improved since diagnosed?
Not yet, but I'm not giving up

[dryasadesert]

27/M

Doctors seem to think that a bad bout of pink eye caused it, including Dr. L.

Destroyed goblet cells, atrophied M glands and aqueous deficiency.

I am basically screwed is what he told me.

[LouSam]

desert,

Who told you that you are "basically screwed?" I've gotten similar feedback from certain doctors and went home with my eyes in agony. I've also gotten more hopeful feedback from other doctors and was able to take steps to get things into better shape. Don't take one doctor's opinion as the final word. There's always hope out there somewhere.

[Amy09]

I am 20 and have had dry eye problems since I was 14. Since then I have been to probably 10 different doctors and none of them are sure why my eyes are like this because my dry eye problems are partly caused from another eye disease called SLK, and they don't know what caused me to get SLK.

I've heard so many possible causes from doctors: thyroid problems, sjogrens, allergies, contacts, perscription meds (when i was younger i took strattera and zyrtec), or just being born with bad eyes because I've had slight problems w/ my eyes since I was in elementary school.

My serious dry eye problems literally happened overnight... the night before my high school orientation as a freshman. I woke up with my eyes very red and the visits to eye doctors started from there.

My eyes have improved since being diagnosed, but it took lots of doctors and lots of patience... i've had several eye surgeries and I've been taking restasis (twice the recommended dosage) and plasma tears for over 3 years now. all of these things have helped my eyes so far.

[IanJ]

Age?
42

Do you have a specific reason for DES?
- No.

Did it come about over years or literally seem like it happened over night?
- Blepharitis in both eyes....over a period of years.
- Lacrimal gland deficiency in right eye....overnight.

How has your eyes improved since diagnosed?
- No. But it is under better control.


Ian.

[sai1930]

28 Male

Do you have a specific reason for DES?
Excessive Computer Usage (coupled with NightShifts) caused Meibomitis


Did it come about over years or literally seem like it happened over night?
Over the years (Felt helpless most of the time, since diagnosis was pretty late)

How has your eyes improved since diagnosed?
No improvement yet.. Pain is really what ticks me off.

[stella]

Age - over 50
Reason for DES - blepharitis(MGD) following an acute eye infection (most likely viral)
It happened over night
My eyes have improved with use of eyelid hygiene nightgoggles and goggles for the computer, and appropriate lubrication -
Understanding the condition has helped enormously ,especially to allay my fears and give me realistic expectations
Other things that helped - doxycillen which i no longer need
? an androgen based HRT, also ? omega 3 and flaxseed oil
If i were to single out the most helpful - I would have to say good regular eye lid hygiene