Eyeball Problems (Dry Eye Syndrome)

[Oh Shoot]

Fun Fact:  Restasis for the treatment of KCS was first invented and patented as a medicine for dogs ...

Probably costs a lot more for humans, though.

 

Yeah, can be kinda pricey if you have to pay street price. My geezer price under Medicare Advantage Plan is $112.00. Thing is, that's technically a "90 day supply", but it actually lasts almost a year!

 

- OS

Edited June 16, 2015 by Oh Shoot

[GlockSpock]

Well, just got back from another optomotrist. I give that office much more confidence than the other three places I have been combined. She thinks I experience the gritty feeling in the morning because my left eye is dry. At night the dry eye sticks to the eyelid. In the morning your eyelid is seentially ripped from your cornea in a way.

 

The allergy drops all along may have caused the issue, but she thinks my left eye may just have lesser vision altogether and I haven't noticed it until now.

 

How often do each of you close and open each eye testing each individual eye strength?

 

Consensus was the I shall use lubricating dros at least three times a day for a week or so. She thinks all of my symptoms will probably dissapear and I will be happy with my vision at that point.

 

Come to think of it, my new task at work involves riding in a vehicle all day. Me sitting in that vehicle with the A/C blasting towards my face, using allergy drops that are drying, washing my eye out with saline solution, it's a wonder that I can even see at all.

 

Saline solution like I posted above is ok for flushing but not good for long term use, as stated by many above. She gave me some lubricating drop samples as well as some cream samples that I can put in my eyes before I sleep each night. Hopefully that will take care of the gritty feeling in the morning. Right now the lubricating drops makes the gritty feeling dissappear.

 

Feeling pretty optimistic right now about everything. Honestly I do feel like vision is slightly improved from yesterday in my left eye.

 

She seemed to think 20/20 in my right eye and 20/30 in my left eye. I will tell you, it's a very blury 20/30 though.

 

Told her I would follow up with her in a few weeks if I need to. She seemed to think keeping them lubricated was all that was needed for now.

 

She said that there are signs that they would have seen had it been diabities or blood pressure related. That is comforting as long as you assume they would have noticed them.

[No_0ne]

I remember seeing the leaves on the trees in detail for the first time.  Now I think I need bi-focals; I can't read the date on my watch clearly.

 

I've heard many optometrists over the years relate that seeing individual leaves on trees for the first time is the most common comment they get after initially fitting people with contacts or glasses .  I can also vividly remember the first time I was able to to focus in on the "big green blurry things" ...

[Ron_TN]

With all do respect I cant beleive what I am reading.   A word of warning if you ever get chest pains ........."PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR BETTER YET CALL 911.  And if you can read this I hope you seek medical attention about your eyes and not a gun fourm.

[GlockSpock]

With all do respect I cant beleive what I am reading. A word of warning if you ever get chest pains ........."PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR BETTER YET CALL 911. And if you can read this I hope you seek medical attention about your eyes and not a gun fourm.

So.

I saw 4 doctors in 7 days. Does that count?


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[GlockSpock]

With all do respect I cant beleive what I am reading. A word of warning if you ever get chest pains ........."PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR BETTER YET CALL 911. And if you can read this I hope you seek medical attention about your eyes and not a gun fourm.

Also, I feel like Oh Shoot's diagnosis was more accurate than the first three doctors. Yesterday the 4th doctor practically all but diagnosed me as having dry eyes.


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[Hershmeister]

For How long were you using the red eye drops?

[GlockSpock]

For How long were you using the red eye drops?

Very occasionally every few months for a year or so. Then quite a bit last week. Really do think that magnified any issues.


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[GlockSpock]

Happy to say that I feel my left eye has nearly fully recovered.

I think it was dry.


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[Oh Shoot]

With all do respect I cant beleive what I am reading.   A word of warning if you ever get chest pains ........."PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR BETTER YET CALL 911.  And if you can read this I hope you seek medical attention about your eyes and not a gun fourm.

 

Your average OD (Doctor of Optometry)  is quite capable of ruling out any serious eye condition that would necessitate more advanced treatment from a specialist.

 

- OS

[FTE]

Glad you're getting better. This has been painful to read.


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[TnShooter83]

I have some sort of issue with my eyes that cause them to be very sensitive sun light.
I always wear sunglasses outside. If I don't, my my eyes begin to hurt and if I go too long
it causes blurred vision and head ache for hours.

I have seen different eye doctors and the best way they explain it to me is that
my eyes filter light different than most people. And prolonged uv exposure can make the condition worse. Which is what I did, as I am outside for hours at a time. I now must/should wear sun glasses when outdoors.

I would recommend every one to wear sunglasses when in light with uv or outdoors.

I hope you get back to normal sooon. Eye issues are not fun.

[GlockSpock]

So, as an update to this. Over the past year I've struggled with left eye being dry. It sort of comes and goes and honestly it was something I became complacent with.  I was using some cheap drug-store equivalent drops.

Earlier this week I decided to research and find out what is really helping others. The first thing I purchased was Allergan Refresh Plus Lubricant Eye Drops. They seem to be about the best. Well, they arrived yesterday and I've tried them. I can honestly say from the first drop in my left eye that they feel better than the drug-store equivalent drops I had been using. They felt much, much more "buttery smooth" than with the others. I plan on using these at least twice a day until I run out.

I also have been reading some about "hydrotherapy". This is where you take a warm wash cloth and hold it over your closed eyelids. Supposedly one of the biggest reason for dry eye syndrome is clogged oil glands/ducts. Holding warm water/warmth near them for several moments a day can help unclog them. Of course this only helps if that's the reason you have dry eye syndrome. Well, I randomly stumbled across Thermalon Dry Eye Compress on Amazon and noticed it had over 1,000 good reviews and the comments have people raving about it. Will it work magic? I don't know. I certainly am hopeful that it may help. It gets here tomorrow. For the price it can definitely be a splurge purchase even if it doesn't work.

Going to give these two products a try for a while and see what happens.