A few questions for the group...

[LasikLady]

Hello, I go see my corneal specialist tomorrow and I have a few questions for the group before I go:

1. My doctor plugged my bottom punctum with silicone plugs 1 year ago. He only put collagen in the uppers because he said he NEVER puts permanent plugs in the tops. I had no over tearing from having the tops done but he said he wouldn't do the permanents because most people over tear. But I didn't. Should I push him further on this and ask again for the tops done? Luckily my plugs are comfortable and never bug me. It's been 16 months since lasik and I am thinking this is going to be a chronic life thing so I want to do all I can to ease my symptoms. Other than other tearing does anyone know why it would be bad to plug the tops? I think I read something about a "cess pool" effect somewhere. Any thoughts on that?

2. I bought Dr. Holly's drops, all 3 of them, and I'm waiting their arrival. I know they must have some kind of preservative in them. I have never been allergic to a thing in my life but I've really only been using preservative systane and gen teal gel at night. Are the preservatives in Dr. Holly's drops something to be concerned about? And can you use them as much as you want?

3. Obviously my dry eye was caused by Lasik. Should I still be doing lid scrubs and massages even though I have no other eye condition? I think I have only an aqueous deficiency because I was told I have no dry spots on my corneas and my vision is perfect. Isn't it weird that I should have had such good vision since day 1 with eyes so dry? That doesn't make sense to me either.

If anyone can help me with these questions I would be very grateful!

[Lucy]

If your eyes are still dry after 16 months, I see no reason NOT to plug the uppers. If you do have ephiphora for a bit, it usually switches back. I am plugged one upper and cauterized one upper. My lowers are scarred shut from so many pluggings. It is not like major surgery to have upper plugs. If you think you need them, well.........you're the patient. We ALL have different ideas and you may hear some others here. (Plugs are no big deal.)

. I bought Dr. Holly's drops, all 3 of them, and I'm waiting their arrival. I know they must have some kind of preservative in them. I have never been allergic to a thing in my life but I've really only been using preservative systane and gen teal gel at night. Are the preservatives in Dr. Holly's drops something to be concerned about? And can you use them as much as you want?

Not as far as I'm concerned. I have post-lasik dry eyes (8 years), post corneal abscess (7 years), 8 years SPK, 3 years post op cataract surgery OS, 6 months post-corneal scraping OS........and sjogrens. I've used all of Dr. Holly's tears since "we all" found them in 2001. Again, you'll get different answers.

3. Obviously my dry eye was caused by Lasik. Should I still be doing lid scrubs and massages even though I have no other eye condition? I think I have only an aqueous deficiency because I was told I have no dry spots on my corneas and my vision is perfect. Isn't it weird that I should have had such good vision since day 1 with eyes so dry? That doesn't make sense to me either.

I don't know. And you are very lucky you have good vision. Mine sucks.

Lucy

[Maenad1]

Hello! I haven't had Lasik or plugs, but I do have Dr. Holly's drops. I think many people here find them helpful, even though they do contain a small amount of preservative. If you've never been allergic to a thing in your life, you're definitely a good candidate to try them. They seem to last much longer than other lubricants, but they're not thick and gooey like liquid gels. For me, they make my eyes very comfortable and I think they help me to tolerate the hours I spend at the computer (I'm an editor). I find I only need to use Dr. Holly's drops every 2-3 hours, whereas with Refresh Tears I had to dribble that in every hour.

Good luck!