Great appointment with Dr. Foulks!

[jenny2008]

Hi,

I just had to share with everyone that I had a fantastic appointment with Dr. Foulks today! He taught me how to do the warm compress and massage (no other doctor had even mentioned it). He also gave me a sample of Freshkote that I asked for and wants me to try the Systane Ultra that is out. I am going to see him again in September and I am probably going to start the blood drop serum. He said once I get the inflammation down, he can fit me for SCLERALS!

I am also part of a research study he is doing on the "TearLab Osmometer" that may be used in the future to measure the osmolarity of tears.

I finally found a great doctor who knows a lot about DES and how to treat it! I thank this site and especially Diana who referred me to Dr. Foulks in Louisville!

Jen

[Lucy]

Jenny, that is great. Thanks for posting about Dr. Foulkes. His name has been coming up here quite a bit.

Are the (possible) sclerals for correction and dry eye, or just dry eye?
Lucy

[liz56]

That's great news, Jenny. I'm so glad to hear that you are being treated in a way that might really help!

Dr. Foulks is such a generous person. I called his office and spoke with his secretary when I was in dire straights with RCE's, and I was not expecting it, but he personally returned my phone call and told me about Rebecca. The corneal specialist who finally helped me to manage my erosions and ABMD was a student of Dr. Foulks's so he was well trained in helping and being a kind doctor as well. I cannot say enough about how helpful and wonderful Dr. Gary Foulks is.

Please let us know about the osmolarity testing that you are doing. It could mean a lot to those of us who have RCE's due to ABMD. I have often wondered if it is really just an irregular basement membrane that is the problem or if the basement membrane just becomes a problem, because my tears are not doing their job.

Thanks for the post!

--Liz

[chapman]

I also go to Dr. Foulks, and he has been such a blessing to me and my dry eyes. He was the only doctor that would listen to me and didn't make me feel like I was crazy. I'm glad you had a good experience and I hope things will get better for you. I still have red eyes, but they don't hurt like they did.

[jenny2008]

Hi everybody! Yes,I actually feel some hope! Dr. Foulks is working hard to help people like us-it is so great to have finally found a wonderful doctor.

Lucy-the sclerals would be both to protect my dry eyes from the environment and for correction! I explained to him that while glasses are ok they don't offer me any kind of protection from wind, dusty conditions and when I need to focus on things-like my my job I have that is on a computer (working days are hard! ).. He said the sclerals would provide a sort of bandage for the eye providing them moisture and protecting them from irritants (normal environmental things that don't affect people who make normal amount of tears).. I am not wording it too scientifcally so I hope it makes sense. I will keep everybody posted on it-I don't think I will be trying the sclerals until the near future-I have to get my inflammation down first and get my eyes as healthy as I can with the massage and new drops and possible blood serum drops next month!


Thanks for the encouragement!

[jenny2008]

Liz-Yes I will definitely keep you posted about the osmolarity study--I guess I don't have the corneal erosions-just it just happen for no reason? Like my Sjogrens and ocular rosacea? Just curious! But yes, anything I find out from Dr. Foulks I will gladly pass along on here-it was great seeing many young doctors at the University watching and studying under Dr. Foulks--it gives me great hope that there are some really great doctors doing everything they can to help people w/ DES and all the other problems that come w/ it!!!

I have a newfound hope! I can't believe the difference in my left eye already-it actually is a light pink under my lower lid-even upon waking today it wasn't bright red! My left is severly clogged-MGD-since he taught me the 'correct' way to massage-wow what a difference.!!

Keep me posted on how are you doing. I read some of your past blogs about having to sleep in a recliner and such and using the gels for corneal erosions.. I used to have scratches on my corneas but I don't think that is what you are talking about.

Keep in touch.. And hope you are having a good eye day!