Today is bad -- and some other questions

[lboogie]

I'm not sure why.........I've tried some of the nutra tear and dwelle drops -- mixed in with thera tears, maybe my eyes don't like mixing it all up.

I have eye pain and my headache is WAY worse.........does that mean that maybe my headaches are indeed linked to my dry eye? Any suggestions for a really bad day?

On a side note as I've been worried about all of t his -- I'm 29 and might want to have a family some day. Will my lasik dry eyes get way worse during pregnancy?

Also -- when I consiously blink all the way --it feels sticky -- what does that mean?

I am almost 3 months post-lasik, still hoping, but it's hard, and I'm so sad that I feel so sad. I want to be happy and normal.

[Jade9923]

Have you tried cleaning your eyelashes with baby shampoo? We call it lid scrubbing and it can remove any debris on your eyelashes that cause them to feel sticky. Very often if you have debris on your lashes, you also have a lot of burning.

[Lucy]

On a side note as I've been worried about all of t his -- I'm 29 and might want to have a family some day. Will my lasik dry eyes get way worse during pregnancy?

lboogie, you should ask Diana about this. She had a baby after her disastrous lasik and I think he's about 2 years old now. Lucy

[dianat]

lboogie,

At only three months post-LASIK, please don't pressure yourself yet about what pregnancy will do. You need to find a healthier state mentally and physically before worrying about.

I do have some information for you, and I've been right where you are. I'll private message you soon.

Diana

[LasikLady]

Iboogie, it has been 16 months since my lasik and I can tell you I am WAY,WAY,WAY better than I was at 3 months post lasik. I was SO severly dry then and now am mildly dry. The mild dryness still bugs me but is nothing like those early horrible months. There will be tons of healing in this next year. You might end up like most people with no dry eye issues. You might end up like some of us here who have chronic dryness but you have so much time to heal you will improve from where you are now. I think it's so important not to let this thing stop us from doing what we want and acheiving what we want. Since my lasik I have accomplished so much. I have changed jobs twice and am now making about 6 dollars more an hour than when I had my surgery. Even with lasik dryness I tested, interviewed and landed 2 jobs. The first one was a big step up, but my latest promotion has set me very well until retirement. And all with dry eyes. We really cannot let this totally control our lives and decisions. You will improve and I hope you have all the babies you want!

[Maenad1]

I haven't had Lasik, so take this for what it's worth, but while I was pregnant, my dry eyes were actually better! I was able to wear soft contacts for 14 hours/day. It's ever since I stopped breast-feeding that my eyes have gone down the tubes and I'm struggling to wear contacts.

[LasikLady]

Iboogie,

I wanted to re-read my reply to you to make sure in no way I was minimizing your pain and what you are going through. I hope you didn't feel that I was.

I was only trying to share my experiences and to offer you hope. I think especially with lasik patients, there is a very good chance that with time, corneal healing, and a good regimen, that you will greatly improve from where you are now. I tried for the jobs I did when my eyes were moderately to severely dry (schimers 2 and 3) because I didn't want to pass up an opportunity when I had hopes to improve. Thank God I did improve.

It just made me so sad to hear that you were fearing your lasik dryness would get worse if you ever got pregnant. My 3 kids are the greatest blessing of my life so that really plucked at my heart strings and led me to want to encourage you.

Please give yourself time to heal and like Diana said, worry about that issue down the road. Chances are you will be at a manageable level by then and it won't be as bad as you fear.

[odydnas]

I second Jade on the sticky eyelashes. My doc attributes that to meibomitis as well. Having done Dr. Latkany's lid therapy everyday for 3 months and lid scrubs with ocusoft foaming lid cleanser, my eyelids have become less sticky. Maybe you can add that into your routine and see if it helps.

I hope you feel better soon!