Dry Eyes and Environment

[portrgirl]

How possible is it that environment is the cause of my dry eyes?

I ask because my very dry eye problem began for the second time in my life last November after my company moved into a new building the month before. It's slowly gotten worse to the point where I can't wear contacts even for a few minutes, my eyes are in pain and nothing (including Lotemax and Restasis and the home remedies: wet/dry warm compress, wet/dry cold compress, all sorts of drops, sleeping with a mask, lid scrubs, not wearing eye makeup...) has helped. When in the old building, my eyes would only get sore/dry if I stared at the computer for too long or had my space heater blowing in my face, but both situations were easily remedied with breaks, drops or moving the heater.

The one other time in my life that I've had dry eyes like this was my freshman year of college when I lived in the dorms way up on the 17th floor of a big building. I don't think the air quality was great and it certainly was dry. I saw a doctor, switched contact lens brands and cleaning solution, used rewetting drops and just sucked it up as I was a silly, vain 18-year-old who wouldn't wear her glasses. I don't know if the problem cleared up while I was still in the dorms, but I moved out after the first year and didn't have problems the summer after or ever since until now.

The one thing I haven't tried yet is a humidifier, either at work or at home. I'm starting to wonder though if one on my desk at work would "cure" my dry eyes. I have to say, I really don't think the Restasis will (I'm starting to wonder if it's making them worse actually...).

Does anyone have any thoughts on the topic of environmental dry eye causes and humidifiers?

[GinaJ]

Hi. I moved to Ca in Sept of last year. I never had any eye issues and was a contact wearer. Anyhow 2 months later I developed severe blepheritis and then a few months after that severe dry eye plus the bleph. Since then I have went to 6 opthamologist and I would say 30 eye apts with no relief. My eyes were so bad about 4 months ago I moved back to my original home town MI with hopes it would get better. It has just gotten worse and now I have facial/ear pain from this. During this time I also went to Fl for 3 weeks with little change possibly a little better there. My symptoms do go up and down but always painful. Some days though crying pain. I have tried humidifer and I know many here like them so you may want to give it a try. I will start in the winter to use one again. Hang in there. Also have you been to an allergy doctor? I ask because I went and have only dust mite allergy but you may want to look into an allergy.Also hope your not in contacts with this issue. I had to stop and have not been back to them in 8 months. This was hard at the start but now I just want to be pain free and be able to see better.

[portrgirl]

GinaJ: I'm so sorry to hear your symptoms; they sound awful. I saw an allergist to recheck my many allergies about two years ago. I should double check the list, but I'm fairly certain that my eye dryness is not due to allergies as they're not itchy (at least not until my seasonal allergies start up). I completely sympathize with the difficulty of giving up contacts. Around May I gave mine up 100%. Before then I was still trying to wear them when I had a social event (aprox. once a week). I'm now at that point of just wanting my eyes to feel well again.

[GinaJ]

Thanks you are very kind. I don't have any itchy either. I think after so many eye apts and I have other health issues so I had been to neuros though may go back I wne to an allergist just to see. I also went to another internist and a reumo. Not to be too personal but do you have any other health issues? I do but they don't think they are contibuted to this. I would try the humidifier cause basically I don't think it can hurt if you keep it clean. Also things like heater or air not blowing on you and supplements. Hang in there.

[Jen72]

I am really interested in this subject as well. I have dry eye as a result of Lasek (8 weeks post-op). I am on Restasis, have 4 punctal plugs and freshkote. Anyway, my dry eye is much worse in my own house! We have done everything possible to remedy the situation here. I got an air purifier that I run constantly in the bedroom that may be helping. I run my humidifier occasionally however I was afraid that the moisture may create mold or make allergens worse. I live in Fl where the humidity is so thick anyway. I am going to see an allergist in a few weeks. The humidifier would'nt hurt I'm sure, maybe your work will purchase a purifier for your office?

[portrgirl]

GinaJ: I totally think that one health issue can affect another. I need to work on keeping my stress levels down as I've heard it can aggravate dry eyes. How I'm not quite sure, but I know it affects whole body and mind wellness, so I can believe it can make dry eyes worse. So I'm trying that, but otherwise keep my eyes clean from makeup debris, eat a whole foods diet to the best of my ability, exercise regularly, and get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I'm also trying to breath deeper and more regular since that can help with stress and bring more oxygen to cells in general. Maybe it'll help my eyes?

Jen72: Maybe allergies is part of your problem... my allergist told me that even pet dander can stick around a house years after all pets leave causing problems for those allergic.

[GinaJ]

Hi again. I think for me stress and anxiety makes it harder for me to cpe with the symptoms so it makes it even worse in my mind. It is a vicious cycle cause when in a flare up of course the stress and anxiety will rise. I try to distract or self talk to calm myself. Are you using only preservative free wetting drops?
Jen a few things. I was tested and had a severe allergy to dust mites which everyone has in there home but some people are more sensitive. I was reading in the info pack that things like humidifiers increase dust mites so I stopped. Plus it was summer. I am worse now so it made no difference and in the winter I will restart the humidifier. Also though I may go back on restasis that really flared me up and the plugs I could not tolerate at all. Lastly I have never had lasik but I was reading and some people take awhile to adjust after. So maybe with time your eyes will get better. Not trying to take away from the current just trying to add some hope.

[gz9gjg]

Hello portrgirl,

I suggest you look into getting a pair of "moisture chamber" glasses for daytime wear. 7Eye (PanOptx) has "Day/Night" lenses that are very clear, with a great foam gasket that helps keep moisture around your eyes. I wear these when driving my convertible, and outdoors when it is windy. 7Eye glasses can be expensive, but the optical quality and fit is superb.

Also, check out the drops offered at the Dry Eye Shop. I really like NutraTear. When I do have dry eye problems, these drops sting slightly, but for me that goes away with regular use. I do not like Dwelle because it tends to leave deposits on my eyelashes.

I have also been trying a new over-the-counter drop that comes in single use vials, called EyeCept. I really like it, but generally have to get it via mail order. Also, the vials do not have caps, but I have found caps from other vials fit.

Try the suggestions for clearing your Meibomian glands - there are lots of posts on this subject. It is fairly simple to do, and may improve your tear quality.

Good luck,

Lynne

[rubyslippers]

I work in a very dry environment with no windows and recirculated forced air going all the time. I run a humidifier 24/7 Monday thru Friday at work. I don't need one at home in the summer, but I run one all winter long as we use wood heat. I experimented with not using the wood heat and using just the heat pump but the heat pump was actually worse. I have to be very careful with space heaters and cannot be near a fan of any kind.

[portrgirl]

gz9gjg: I'll look into those moisture goggles, although with needing prescription glasses to see and contacts being impossible for me to wear now, I think it would likely be very expensive and not something I'd be okay to spend now. I actually have a post on another board here regarding the three Dr. Holly drops. I'm not sure which one(s) I should try for my symptoms.

rubyslippers: Does the humidifier at work seem to help you significantly?

[Jen72]

Thanks Gina- I am wondering if its allergies too. My cat leaves alot of hair around the house, I am wondering if she is the problem. We got her because she is a Bengal and supposed to be "hypoallergenic" because she has a pelt and not fur. I was never really allergic to her before, but my eyes feel their worst in my house. Yesterday the cat scratched me and it became swollen and itchy around the site. I see an allergist this month. Somethings gotta give, me and my eyes are miserable.

[GinaJ]

I know for me my days can be very random. At first I thought it was from something like the weather,a dog etc. Now sometimes there is no rhyme or reason. What I have been told by many and many doctors is this just sometimes happens to people. I still feel though people should eliminate all possibilities. For me though a nice non windy 75 day outside with bright sunshine I feel my best.