Very Bad Mornings

[inthedark]

I suffer from a rather severe case of dry eye, with my light sensitivity being completely unbearable (hence the name). I basically live indoors and even when it's raining, I require sunglasses. My eye doctor has attributed this to severe dry eye. OK so that's an introduction.

Now in regards to a specific question, I have horrible trouble in the morning, especially with light sensitivity. It can take around 2-3 hours before I can even comfortably open my eyes because the light sensitivity is so bad. It also seems like the more light, the drier my eyes become.

So my question is: what can I do so that my eyes perk up in a much shorter time period? FYI: I sleep with my eyes closed and I've used a humidifier which didn't help.

Thanks in advance for the help. Also, I'd just like to add that it's really comforting to know that other people are suffering as well.

[inthedark]

Add something to above

I forgot to add that, to relieve the pain in the morning, I've also tried pouring hot and cold water over my eye. This hasn't decreased the amount of time until I feel ok. I also can not even put in eye drops because I couldn't keep my eyes open for long enough to put the drops in (not just due to light sensitivity, but also lots of other pains associated with DES). Putting in eye drops is not a pleasant experience for me (opening the eye very wide and staring is extremely painful).

[IanJ]

Hi,

Like you I also have trouble some mornings putting in drops, and I attribute some of that with trying to pull the lid down and tilting back whilst enduring the pain.

For those mornings I use different eye drops called Hycosan which are not contained in the usual vials. Just point towards the eye and pop off a few drops and as long as it hits the lid margin somewhere then it'll get there. No need to tilt back or pull the lid down.

Piccy:-

[dianat]

Dwelle is a heavier drop is sold in the "dry eye shop" here. Us it at night and during the night and your mornings may go better. Also, try Tranquilieyes also sold here.

[Rebecca Petris]

inthedark,

Welcome, and sorry to hear what you're going through. I know a few other people with light sensitivity this severe. Sometimes it's from severe clinically obvious dry eye conditions and sometimes not.

Can you share with us anything more about your diagnosis than "dry eye", if you know? For example - do you have aqueous deficient dry eye (or Sjogrens), or do you have blepharitis/MGD, or any other clues you can give? Have retinal explanations for the light sensitivity been completely ruled out?

Also any more clues/information you can provide about your history, what you've tried and what treatments you're on now would be a help. Do you have punctal plugs? Are you on any prescription medications?

Meantime a couple of thoughts...

If you can't get lubricants in, and you're very dry, IMHO you've got to trap moisture around the eyes to get more comfortable. So, I'd definitely go with (a) Sleep mask or (ideally) moisture goggle at night, and (b) moisture retaining glasses for around the house in the morning, and also (c) warm compresses (not hot - just warm & moist) for awhile when you get up, and see whether this helps.

[inthedark]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

@ Rebecca:
I have blepharitis/MGD. I have seen a retina doctor and he said I had no problems there. My most recent eye doctor, a corneal specialist, is positive that all my symptoms and his examination of my eye point to DES. I've also had all four punctal plugs which have not helped.

In regards to the sleep mask, what exactly is that? Can I buy one of those on the website? About the goggles: how exactly can I sleep with large goggles on? Would I have to sleep on my back and have my head not touch the pillow?

[inthedark]

Adding something

Sorry for the double posts but there's no way to edit my previous posts.

About the goggles, can someone provide an explanation regarding how exactly they work and what they do to help dry eye?

Also, will the "Escape sleep mask" (the one that doesn't touch the eyelids, which was a problem that I couldn't bear when I tried a sleep mask a few years ago) provide the same relief as goggles?

[Terri]

About the goggles, can someone provide an explanation regarding how exactly they work and what they do to help dry eye?

I'll respond about how Tranquileyes goggles work. The goggles provide a restful, humid, dark environment around the eyes at night. When combined with a great eye drop, like Dwelle, they prevent damage to the eye surface that may occur if the eyes are slightly open at night (as they are for people with lagophthalmos). The humid surface provides hydration for both the eyes and eyelids.

You can sleep on either your back or side, but it would be difficult to sleep on your face unless you want a goggle imprint in the morning. I have a memory foam pillow that is concave in the center (higher on the top and bottom edges) that is perfect for side-sleeping with the goggles on.

[Rebecca Petris]

I have a memory foam pillow that is concave in the center (higher on the top and bottom edges) that is perfect for side-sleeping with the goggles on.

Terri!!!! I can't thank you enough for this. It never would have occurred to me!! I regularly get calls from side sleepers asking for help figuring out ways to make this work better for them. Concave memory foam pillow. Wow, this is motivating me to write up that list of Tranquileyes troubleshooting tips I keep meaning to work on.

inthedark, the Tranquileyes goggle can be used without the moisture pads (the removeable ones in the middle) for those who can't have anything touching their lids. It's very comfortable by the way - quite different from what the word "goggle" conjures up - nothing like say a swim goggle. It's lined with a very thick open cell viscoelastic foam that's quite soft, and held on by a stretchy fabric wrap.

[inthedark]

Quick question:
Would the Escape sleep mask work as well as the Tranquileyes goggle?

[liz56]

Quick question:
Would the Escape sleep mask work as well as the Tranquileyes goggle?

Hi, inthedark.

I used the Escape sleep mask at first, while my corneas were healing after being so dry during the night that they would stick to my eyelids and tear as a result. The mask helped for a time when I did not want circulating air to pass over my eyes at night. It also helped, because I was fearful of anything touching my eyelids. However, in December, I bought a pair of Tranquileyes goggles, and they made a huge difference. They are really soft for one thing, and they provide a much better seal than the mask. The humidity that they offer in terms of soaking the inner pads is really great.

--Liz

[Terri]

Terri!!!! I can't thank you enough for this. It never would have occurred to me!! I regularly get calls from side sleepers asking for help figuring out ways to make this work better for them. Concave memory foam pillow. Wow, this is motivating me to write up that list of Tranquileyes troubleshooting tips I keep meaning to work on.

Glad to help!

[inthedark]

@ liz:
Thanks for the advice.

Anyone else care to offer an opinion regarding how well the Escape mask works (as well as comparing it to the goggles)?

[Lucy]

The difference between a Ford and a Cadillac sums it up nicely.
Lucy