The nurse called me while ago and said Dr. Teague wants to see me in the a.m. I told her about Barb's two dental appointments tomorrow, but she made an early appt. for me to be seen regarding the blurring and jumpiness when I read, of the eye. Things look a bit better this afternoon, and the quiver isn't quite as bad, but it looks like he wants to be sure of what is going on. I will report back on what transpires from that visit.

Hi Tony!

I'm glad that you were able to get a docs appt today. I hope that it went well, and he said that everything was normal. I'm glad that you seemed to have a pretty good day yesterday other than the bit of blurriness! Good luck at the docs!

Michelle :)

Thanks, Michelle-- I've not gone yet but am in 30 minutes. I'll try to let ya'll know what he says.

Hugs at ya',

t.

Well, it seems I chopped the steroid drops off too soon, and it caused some rebound irritation. He told me to go back on them 3xs a day for a week, then 2xs, then 1 time for a week, then off. The eye sure got sharp after he used the anesthetic drops to check the pressure! Anyway, that's what happened. I go back the 30th for getting glasses made.

I'm glad that your doctor checked you out and has a plan to solve the problem. I hope that the eye continues to feel better. :)

Howdy, Missy & thanks! Yepper, I whoa'd up too soon on the Econopred. We've been running our tails off today with appts. and one more dental to go for Barb, but tomorrow will be a good starting point for me to get back with the program, and have the time to use it 3 times.

Hugs,
t.

Whoa! I forgot to mention that he said the blepharitis looked good! Cool!

That's great Tony!

Tony, I am so glad that you got an appointment so quickly and that it seems the problems you are experiencing will be easily fixed. I like to hear good news. :)

My eyes, however, are giving me nothing but trouble. :( I actually had to get an emergency appointment for this afternoon because the right eye is so irritated and painful. I kept apologizing for being such a pain in the neck, but he said he'd rather me come in immediately when I have a problem, rather than wait too long. Even if it turns out to be nothing, he said he'd rather check it out to be on the safe side, given the past problems I have had, especially with my right eye. I always get nervous when the right eye starts to act up because I had the ulcer in that eye. It was so painful (I can remember crying from the pain). I never want anything like that to happen again. This time I thought for sure that I had an abrasion on the right eye, or something in it. But he said it just looks really, really, really dry. I don't know what else to do. I have used so much Bion Tears in the past few weeks that I really need to buy stock in the company!

I am really going to look into getting a pair of goggles to wear when it is really windy out, or when the heat is on. You know, big Mets fan that I am, I noticed that one of their backup catchers always wears goggles when he plays. So I just have to try to convince myself that this is the *cool* thing to do!

My eyes were so dry today that I couldn't even keep them open for the 5 minutes he needed to look in them. :( But I'm relieved that right now it is nothing more than severe dryness.

The right one hurts very badly from the dryness, no matter how much I lubricate.

I am going to go try the gel drops again.

Thanks, Purple Elyse Sis. I'm sure sorry to hear you're having yet another in a series of battles. We bought a humidifier today for the apartment. This one has central air, and is so much more dry than our old place. The eyes are screaming with dryness, and it doesn't help the nasal passages either. I can't tell how good the thing is going to be, but it's running anyway.

I wish I had as good a news about Barb. Two dentists have been shuttling her back and forth and the news is she is going to lose at least one front tooth! That fall last August damaged the surrounding bone. She will either wind up with a bridge of some sort or maybe crowns, not sure yet. That's had us both down this afternoon, that depressing revelation.

Hi Tony,
Sorry Barb has that dental problem, especially with a front tooth. That can be very traumatic for a lady. But sure they will do all they can to make her feel better and look as beautiful as ever.
And glad the eye doc gave you a good exam and plan to get the most benefit from the steroid drops. And really good to hear the blepharitis is looking good. Maybe all those drops after the surgery have helped. THe humidifier should help with the dry eyes & nose,too. Any moisture in the air will help counteract all that dry heat that cranks out when your central heat kicks on.
Have a good night.
And hi to Michelle, MIssy & Elyse.
Faith

Howdy, Sis Faithy! Yep, Barb hugged me while ago, and said she would be just fine. What a brave warrior I wed! I'd be a basket case, given that kind of news! I'm always in the room with Barb when any Dr. or dentist is working on her, but when extraction day comes, I don't know what I'll do. I don't want them having to give me smelling salts as I lay reclined on the dentist's floor!:eek: As much as I love her, I'll be there if I have to double my lorazepam dosage! We'll cross that bridge when we get there, I guess.
You have a great night too, Faith.

t.

Good evening everyone! :wave:

Tony - Glad to hear that the appt went well, and the doctor gave you some new instructions. Hopefully all will be back to normal with your operated eye soon!

Elyse - Sorry you are still having such problems. I'm glad that you are thinking about getting some moisture googles...I really hope that they help you! I dont' know if this will mean anything to you, but I just want to say how much I admire your strength and courage when dealing with the whole dry eyes thing. I only have to deal with a small fraction of what you have to go through and have only been dealing with it for a small fraction of the time you have, and there are days where I am a COMPLETE basketcase! I don't know if it's because I've never really had a health problem before, or if I am just a really weak person (I never thought I was before this though), but my situation just completely destroys me on bad days and all I can seem to do is sit around and feel sorry for myself. It is like I CANNOT think anything positive even though I have SO much in my life to be greatful for. Like my emotions won't listen to my brain when I tell them to suck it up and stop being such a baby! I just want to crawl under the covers and hide and come out in 6 months when (hopefully) this is all over. Anyway, I'm sorry to sound so dramatic, but today is one of my "basketcase" days and after reading your post, I was just incredibly amazed by your strength in dealing with all this, and I just wanted to let you know.

You guys are just all so wonderful and you all deserve to be happy and healthly. I pray and pray and pray that God will heal all of you because it breaks my heart to see such good people have to deal with this stuff! Again, sorry for the drama...I'm just having one of those nights i guess! Thanks for listening though. I think I'm going to go do a cold compress or something. I've been crying for the last 2 hours and my eyes are not happy about it!

Michelle

Michelle - I'm really sorry that you are feeling so upset. I really do think that some of it must be related to hormones b/c last night I felt the exact same way and my eyes weren't even that bad - just a little pricky and scratchy. Dry eyes are just miserable! I felt like I just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. I didn't even want to spend time with my husband, which is sad, I just wanted to sit and be miserable by myself. When I am feeling down I just feel sooo alone. Like no one in the world cares about me. I don't know what I would do without you guys. Being able to talk with all of you and write out my feelings helps so much. Otherwise I really do think that I would go crazy.

Elyse - I agree with Michelle, you are one of the strongest people that I've ever met. You deal with all of this so well, I should take lessons from you.

I'm so sorry that your eyes are feeling so dry. Do you have any idea what is causing them to be so dry?

I really do think that some of the moisture goggles might help you out. Also, maybe you could try some of the Celluvisc gel tears. I use them sometimes if my eyes are really fussy. I usually put them in and do a warm compress. It seems to help. ((Hugs))

Tony - I am really sorry to hear about Barb's tooth, but I'm sure that they will be able to fix her right up. Those dentists can do some pretty amazing things! Please give her a hug for me!

Faith - Hi! I hope that you are doing well! :)

Missy

Oh Michelle :(
I'm sorry you're having such a hard day coping with all of this. If a hug would help, I sending you the biggest one out there. I always wonder why it seems like it's always the nicest and sweetest people who have to suffer with such problems in life, and I still can't figure that out.
Sometimes life is just miserable sometimes, and when you're in the midst of it, it seems like it's never going to end. But somehow, we get thru all these trials and we come out stronger in the end. It's hard to see now, but you will get thru it and one day, you won't even think of it. It'll just be a memory of that awful time you went through.
And you are right about Elyse...she is an inspiration to all of us. She's half my age and has been thru more than anyone should have to go through. And she faces it head on. She takes each battle by the horns and pushes thru it.
Elyse is brave & strong and a fighter. And she will come out a winner, of that I am sure. Everyone always looks up to sports figures, or actors, or whoever as heros, but Elyse is true hero, and inspiration.
Michelle, you go ahead and cry all you want. They say it makes you feel better. (It always just made my nose run & gave me a sore throat!) And find something funny to laugh about today (maybe a TV show or movie). Laughing really does make you feel better than crying.
Hope you wake up feeling better (eye-wise) and in your soul.
I'm praying for you too Michelle.
Faith

Hi Missy,
Yes hormones can make everything worse (and I don't even have any anymore...Sorry Tony!) And you're right, dry eyes are miserable. I woke up with my eyes all irritated and got little blurs off & on, but seemed to get better as the day went on.
Sorry, you felt the same way as MIchelle did. Boy, I wish I had a fix for all of these eye problems. Not fun when you just want to be left alone, and hide away from the world. Lord knows, I've done that too. Living alone, it's easier for me to do that.
Everyone needs time to be alone & deal with things sometimes, and I'm sure your husband understands that, and wishes like anything that he could help in some way.
Bet he feels a little helpless right now, too, when you want to be alone.
Hope you're feeling better too, with each passing day.

Elyse,
Sorry you've had more eye irritation again. Glad it isn't a scratch or ulcer. You're doc is so exceptional, that he'll see you so soon, when you have a problem. THe goggles sound like a good idea. Certainly couldn't hurt to try them out. Hopin gyou also feel better tomorrow.
God Bless everyone!
Faith

H E L L O ??? :confused:
Tony? Elyse? Where'd everyone go?
Is everyone OK? I worry about you guys when you aren't around. I hope that means everyone is feeling good in every way and out & about having fun.
Well, must be the cold weather or something because my eyes felt fine today and everything was crystal clear all day long! Usually by the end of the day my vision has gotten fuzzy and contacts feel like potato chips. But the heats been cranking so I don't get it. Anyway, hope you all are having good eye days too.
Faith :)

I'm having problems with my ringing ears wanting to ring in time with my pulse sometimes--this upset me doing this early this a.m. before I got up, and it's never done that before!

Barb woke me up crying her heart out about having to lose the bad tooth she injured in that fall. Not a good day at all for either of us.

Not to mention, half the internet has been down, most of my favorites sites gone.
Be glad when this day's done.

Hi Faith!
I guess it was kinda quiet out here today, wasn't it? Well, I hope that everyone is doing OK too. I am doing much better than I was last night. Well, my eyes aren't really better than they were yesterday, but I'm not freaking out about it like I was yesterday :) . Thanks alot for your post last night Faith. Sorry to come out here and have a pity party for myself, I was just feeling so alone and helpless for some reason. I used to feel like that alot more than I do now, and the one thing that I think has helped me is you guys! I remember week long periods where I would just come home from work and hop in bed at 6:00 and cry or just lay there with my eyes closed frustrated, hoping that resting them would help them get better quicker! Anyway, I only get REAL upset like that every so often now, and I think it is because I have someone to talk to now. So, thanks so much to all of you for being there, and thanks again for your help last night Faith!! I'm so glad to hear that your eyes felt good today! You definitely deserve a break!!!

Tony - I meant to tell you that I was really glad to hear that the doc said your blepharitis is looking good! That is really great news!

Elyse - I hope that your eyes are feeling a bit better today than they were yesterday.

Missy - Thanks for the help last night too. I'm sure it was just hormones because I've felt like this since Monday, and am finally today feeling a little better. I'm sorry that you have days like that too. I wish there was something to fix those kind of days, but unfortunately there is not. We are lucky to have everyone out here though. I am so glad that I found you guys. I really don't know what I would be doing if I hadn't!

Well, I really hope that everyone had a great day! ((((HUGS)))))

Michelle :)

Hi guys!

Well I've survived my field trip today and it was not fun. It was very COLD and very WINDY... two things that my eyes did not like. Thankfully I made it through, although my eyes feel a little worse for the wear. I hope that with a little extra attention and drops I can get them back on track.

I'll check back in a little later. Gotta run cook some dinner. I'm starving! and cold b/c I'm afraid to turn up the heat.

Lots of hugs and love to all of you!
Missy

Hi Tony,

I think we were posting at the same time before, and I just saw your messages. Sorry to hear that you and Barb are having a rough day today. Sounds kinda like my day yesterday...its hard when nothing seems to go right, isn't it?! Just try to stay positive about tomorrow though...it is a new day and hopefully you will feel all better. This time yesterday I was out here bawling my eyes out, and somehow today I feel alot more optimistic and am dealing alot better with the discomfort from my eyes. So, I really hope that tomorrow brings better things for you too!

Hugs and Prayers-

Michelle :)

Hug & Prayers to All, too.
I guess it's been a pretty bad day all around for everyone. I blame it on the darn full moon!
Hope everyone has a good rest tonight and tomorrow brings everyone a better day.
Sorry, Tony, that you & Barb are having a difficult day. Life's never easy is it?
Michelle, It's ok to have bad days and just let yourself be miserable. We all do it. Hope you're feeling better each day.
Missy,Hope you enjoyed the field trip at least, and a little extra TLC will help any ill effects the wind & cold had on your eyes.
Elyse, if you're out there...hope your eyes are feeling better today too.
Faith

AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! You guys are making me blush! :o Thank you all for saying such sweet things about me. :) But you better stop, or you are going to give me a swelled head!


Tony, I am so sorry to hear that Barb is going to lose one of her front teeth. Can she possibly get an implant at some point in the future?

My eyes are feeling better today. Well, they are back to their normally crappy selves at the moment, anyway. I haven't been on the computer much because it's not good for my eyes right now. They are certainly not feeling good, but they are not painful today.

I am such an idiot. I was at the eye doctor yesterday. Do you think I got the prescription that I needed? Do you think I even knew I needed it? I didn't realize that I had no refills left on my FML ointment. So stupid me went to the doctor yesterday and didn't get a new prescription. I came home and went to call in a refill and discovered that not only was my tube completely empty, but there were no refills left. So I called Walgreens to have them call the doctor, but it was too late already. He was gone for the day. Now, considering the pain I was in, I could not exactly just not use it for the night and call him in the morning. Do you know that the pharmacy did for me? They are so good. They said that for this one time, they would add a refill to my old prescription and give it to me anyway. There is some way of getting around it. They told me that they were going to call the doctor, but he wasn't there. So I asked them what I should do now, and they said "well, just come in about an hour and half. We took care of it."

I never used to be so strong. But when I started having all of these chronic problems, I kinda realized that if I don't fight it, it's going to get me down and stop me from doing what I want to do with my life. I rest when I need to, and if I need a day to feel sorry for myself, I take it. BELIEVE ME, there are days when I just don't even want to get out of bed because I feel sorry for myself. But then I look at people who have it worse and I feel stupid for feeling bad for myself.

I do feel very lucky to have found such a wondeful eye doctor. I think he is a big part of the reason why I can handle all of this. He takes me seriously, where a lot of doctors would have had me committed a long time ago! He's the smartest person I have ever met. And believe me, there were times when I was calling him every day with a new eye problem, and he was not bothered by it. If I did not have him to depend on, I would be a wreck both physically and mentally. It's because of that that I have not lost my sanity! I could not imagine having to go to twelve different doctors and not have anyone be able to treat me for my dry eyes, let alone not being able to find someone who cares. That happened to me when I was a kid. I was always, always sick as a kid. I had your usual run of the mill ear infections and tonsillitis and all that other good stuff. But I also had very odd food allergies, that nobody could figure out until I was about 8 years old. My pediatrician wracked his brain trying to figure me out! I was a medical anomaly! (some say I still am!) I had a list of about 20-30 different foods that I was allergic to, but the allergic reaction didn't manifest itself in the usual way, with hives and that stuff. No, I got irritations down much lower, if you know what I mean, ladies. (sorry Tony!) My mom ran with me from doctor to doctor until we finally found someone who could treat me. Thank GOD I grew out of those allergies when I hit puberty. (well, we *think* I outgrew them. Now it seems they have manifested themselves in my eyes in some odd form!) I also had terrible aches and pains as a child, from the time I was 10 until I was about 12 or 13, and nobody could figure out what it was from. Now I know it was a precursor to my MS. Somewhere in there, when I was about 12, I also had severely infected sinuses that required surgery to drain the cyst that had developed. I was a walking disaster when I was a kid!

I guess always being sick and having *weird* illnesses as a kid prepared me for a lifetime of this stuff as an adult. Pathetically enough, it's nothing new to me. I also learned from my parents how to deal with it but not let it take over my life. Yes, there were years when I missed 40 days of school, but my parents always tried to keep me involved with art classes and music lessons and little league and basically whatever else my little brain could come up with! It was their way of keeping me occupied so I didn't think about not feeling well. So now I try to do that myself. I try to keep myself occupied and just push it to the back of my mind. But when you've got a sharp sticking pain in your eye, you can't push that to the back of your mind! That's when you have to say "hey, something is wrong here, I better get this looked at."

Hi everyone :wave: ,

Wow Elyse, you have been through so much. I suppose that it has toughened you up a bit when it comes to dealing with the dry eyes. You really are a fighter though, and I do agree with Faith that you will come out a winner!I'm really glad that your eyes are starting to feel a little better and that you seem to be over the infection and the allergies. I hope they they continue to feel OK!

Tony - Hope that you and Barb are having a better day today! :)

Hi Faith - I hope that your eyes feel good again today like they did yesterday! It is starting to get real cold down here as well! I had to pull out my heavy winter coat this morning!

Missy - Hope that your eyes feel good today. I have a question for you....before my surgery, I always used to wake up with sleepers in my eyes..you know, that gunk that kinda forms in the corners at night? Anyway, occasionally during the day I would have to clean something like that out as well. I think it is normal and happens to everyone. However, ever since my surgery, I have rarely had that at all...not even in the mornings. I figured that it was due to the dryness some how. I know it might be hard to notice since you have all that ointment in your eyes in the mornings, but have you noticed anything different with that type of stuff?

I ask because yesterday my eyes were extra red and inflamed and itchy (especially my right). A few times during the day I felt something in there, and when I looked it was that stuff. Just kind of yellowish-white gunk that I used to get in my eye before surgery. It was only in my right eye though...then this morning, it was there again, but only in my right. So, since they are extra red and itchy I'm a little concerned. If they weren't bothering me, I would probably be pretty excited about it, because it would be a sign of them being normal again maybe, but I'm a little worried that it is only in my right eye which is extra sore the last few days. This morning, I rinsed both my eyes out real good with some thin drops since they were both itchy, and after I did that, I saw some of the gunk rinse out of my left eye as well, so maybe it is all normal? Not sure why they would all of a sudden be producing that stuff now, but who knows. Anyway, I just wanted to see if you still get that normal gunk or not? Or if anyone else has any ideas on the matter, feel free to chime in! I was thinking about trying to go see my doc today, but I think I might just be over reacting to someting that could be perfectly normal?

Michelle :)

Michelle, I have that stuff in the morning sometimes. A couple of weeks ago I had a lot of it every morning for a week or two and sometimes even during the day. I was worried I had a infection. When I would put drops in it would wash out. I don't know why I had a lot then. Some mornings I have it now and some mornings I don't. I hope it's just mucus - but I don't know. :confused:

Maybe our eyes make extra mucus when they are irritated.

Hello. I'm better now with my ears, but I take Barb to the dentist in an hour or so. For those who do it, a prayer would be so much appreciate for her. We don't want her to have to lose that tooth! I realize this doesn't pertain to eyes, and no comments were made about it the last time I posted about her problem, but I like to share other things with you guys too sometimes.

Have a great day.

t.

Missy - thanks for the info.! I suppose I will not panic anymore! I feel like that mucus in some way is good, because the only times that I ever did notice it since surgery were on good days? And since it was always there before surgery, maybe it is not necessarily bad :confused: :confused: ? Anyway, thanks again, I feel a little better about it now.

Hi Tony! :angel: :angel: I'm praying for Barb and that all goes well at the dentist. They really can do WONDERS with dental work these days, so I hope they can find something to fix her tooth up!

Michelle :)

Thanks Michelle! That's mighty sweet of ya'. We hope they can pull a dental miracle out of that black hat of theirs too!;) This issue has had us both very depressed. Our pastor was nice in coming by the house late last night and saying a prayer for us, after a tiring day of visiting folks in the hospital.

Hope you and our folks here are doing better. Again, thanks for those prayers! I'm using the steroid drops, but still blurred as a goose! I don't get it. Oh well, maybe one day, I'll see right in that operated eye.

Have a great day-

t.

Hi Tony! I'm sending up a prayer for Barb right now! Good luck and let us know how everything goes.

Missy :angel:

Tony, I too am hoping and praying that Barb does not lose her front tooth. That would be awful. Please let us know how the appointment goes.

Michelle, I would be concerned if it were me waking up with yellowish white stuff in the eye. Yellow could mean infection.

Missy, sometimes when I get pink eye I get that feeling of something being in the eye. Just be sure that your eye irritation is not from that.

I had to do lunch duty today (supervising the kids in the lunchroom.) One of the second graders was very upset about something and she was crying, and would not eat. I brought her lunch, but she didn't touch it. Instead, she sat there rubbing her finger into the corner of her eye, not too gently, for 45 minutes. I went over to her several times and told her to stop rubbing or she would hurt herself, but she just rubbed harder and harder. I thought she was going to rub her cornea off! Then she started on the other eye! AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!! You know me, I get very upset at those things. I don't like to see anybody touching their eyes with dirty hands!

My eyes are "normal" today. They are very dry, but they're better than they were yesterday and the day before.

Hi guys,

Tony - How did it go with Barb at the dentist?? I hope that they were able to do something for her. I hope that your eye is doing good today too!

Elyse - Glad to hear that your eyes are back to "normal". Sorry that "normal" doesn't necessarily mean good, but I'm glad that you are alot more comfortable now! About the stuff in my eyes....it looks exactly like the stuff that I used to have before surgery. However, I will keep a close eye on it, and try to get an appt. tomorrow if it gets worse.

Hi Faith and Missy! I hope that you both had a great day!

My day has been all over the place. One second I feel OK, the next I'm competely freaking out about this. It's just been a rough week for my eyes and my sanity! Not sure if it is the weather or what, but my eyes have just felt extra lousy this week. I'm just glad that it is the weekend though, and that I am at home now. My office is so hot and so stuffy and I just felt like I was going to suffocate today! Thank God for the weekends! I dont' know what I would do without them. Hope everyone has a great one!

Michelle :)

Well, I would just like to say that the cold weather and wind associated with fall have finally arrived, and I would like it to go back where it came from please. I don't like having windblown, chapped eyelids. They feel like chapped lips. They get wet from my excessive tearing, which is created by too much cold and wind. The wind creates the excessive tearing, which then causes my eyelids to get wet, which then makes my eyelids get irritated and chapped from being wet and windblown. Then they get more irritated, and they tear more, and they get more chapped, and more irritated, and tear more, and it's a never ending cycle. This always happens during the winter. Fortunately if I put the steroid ointment on my eyelids at night, by the time I wake up in the morning the irritation is mostly gone. But then it just starts all over again when I go outside the next day. I am going to look into the moisture goggles this weekend, now that I have time. I think I need something to protect my eyes from the weather. I would never wear them when I am out with friends, but it would certainly help when I am walking to and from my car, and when I am in a particularly dry building. It might look a little weird, but at this point I don't really care. If I am just wearing them to walk someplace outside, who will notice? (well, nobody *important* will notice, anyway!) My lips are chapped, my nose is chapped, my skin is chapped, and my eyelids are chapped. So now I will go put on Vaseline for the lips and nose, dry skin lotion, and eye ointment. I'm a walking medicine chest.

Does anybody know roughly how much a pair of these goggles would cost? Do you think my health insurance would cover it if I get a letter from my doctor to prove it is for medical reasons? (I usually have to pay out of pocket for my glasses. They only allow a new pair once every two years, and even then, they pay less than half of the actual price. My glasses usually wind up costing me about $300 every two to three years, with all the special stuff I need, like the Transitions Lenses and the anti-reflective coating.) I wonder if I could get goggles with Transitions Lenses. If not, it wouldn't be worth it, because the sun glare is so bad during the winter that I'd have to put my regular glasses with the Transitions Lenses to be able to drive!

Tony, how did the dental appointment go? I hope the operated eye is seeing better today.

Sorry, I don't mean to ignore Faith and Missy and Michelle. I hope you are all doing better today. :)

:wave:

Morning everyone.
With all the cold and wind affecting everyones eyes when outside at this time of year, I think we need to come up with something stylish & protective for sufferers of dry eye problems. It shouldn't be such a hard thing, don't you think? I have carpentry sunglasses for outside that have a bifocal lense in them that wrap around more than regular sunglasses. IF there was some small cushion to block even more air getting in (without fogging up) that might work. Must be a way af adapting them for that purpose.
Elyse, I do know they make special eyewear for tradesmen (even skiers & swimmers), but am sure they must be pricey. My old (retired) optician had them in his showcase, but I never priced them and that was years ago. I never understood why glasses aren't considered a medical RX and covered by insurance. It's not like we're all wearing them because we want to. They're "medically" necessary as far as I'm concerned.
Tony, hope Barb found some encouraging answers at the dentist. And your eyes aren't suffereing with the wind & cold, too. Hope the new humidifier has helped.
Hi Michelle & Missy!
Hope you all have a good weekend. HAve some fun! That's an order!
Faith

Hello, folks-
Well, the dentist told Barb he had a gut feeling the two teeth may eventually have to be removed, but that he wanted to wait and see how they do. He's not anxious to get them out, in other words! She goes back Jan. 2.

Me, I wake up every a.m. with extremely blurred vision in both eyes. I think the dry eye problem is completely out of hand, and I will never see well as long as I have it. No tears, no vision, adds up, right?

Hi everyone :wave:

I'm feeling a little better today than yesterday...I hope it continues. Elyse, I'm with you on sending the cold and wind back to where it came from! Last week my eyelids had that chapped feeling that you were describing, and I just wished that I could put something lke chapstick on them! Unfortunately that would mean having to try to see through a bunch of goo, which is nearly impossible! Maybe you should ask your doctor about the moisture goggles to see if he has any ideas on where you could get them? I imagine that they might be kind of expensive since you would need to get them with a prescription. I hope that somehow you can get insurance to cover some of the cost. I agree with Faith...maybe the 5 of us could come up with some sort of new stylish invention that we could wear out in the wind :D !

Tony - Sorry to hear that Barb might have to lose those teeth. Glad it doesn't seem like an emergency though..maybe things will work out before she has to go back! Sorry that the dry eyes are being a pain with your vision lately. Maybe just try using your drops a little more often until they get back to normal. Sometimes that helps me if I am havinga bad day.

I hope everyone is having a great day and staying safe from all this cold weather! I was talking to someone at work yesterday, and he mentioned having a whole house humidifier. Somehow it is hooked up with their heating so that when the heat turns on, along with the heat, it kinda has a mist with it to keep the air moist. That sounds like what we could all use!

Michelle :)

Howdy, Michelle! So glad you are doing better. That's what we need around this place, ain't it?;)

My operated eye vision is a bit better. As always, the first part of the day is really blurred, but by later, it seems bit better in that eye. What I see actually, is double vision. I don't know how familiar any of you are with the way a color TV works, but it's like when one of those, the picture isn't converged right--you see two more more images instead of one converged image. Kinda reminds me of an out of convergence TV, in other words. I'm beginning to kinda worry why what I'm seeing isn't "converging" yet. It's lots better right now, and I'm using the steroid drops.

One thing for sure, the Dr. said I have a far sighted lens, but I'm about to decide it's too strong that way! Infinity looks too strong at present.

Well, enough of my complaining for now.

Barb sure has a time eating. If she touches those teeth with food or fork, it does hurt! She's having to bypass those teeth and not bite anything with them like a sandwich. I'm so scared that isn't going to improve.

Well, hoping everyone has a great day too, and we'll scat for now.

A whole house humidifier sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately I don't think that my apartment will ever have anything like that. I guess that means I'm sticking with my little humidifiers.

I hope that everyone is having a good Sunday. Maybe our eyes will give us a break this week in honor of Thanksgiving. I would be soooo Thankful if that happened! :)

It's been almost 4 months since my second cataract surgery. Even with the advent of the heating season, my eyes are less dry now than they've been in 25 years.
They were at the peak of dryness during the first 3 months after the surgery.
Maybe I'm just more sensitive to air conditioning than heating. Time will tell.
Or maybe it's because I'm putting Refresh Celluvisc drops in every night.

Tony, I really feel for Barb, not being able to eat comfortably. Did the dentist give you any timeframe as to when you will be able to know for sure what has to happen?


I tried to post friday night, but I accidentally hit some button on the keyboard and the whole thing got deleted, and then I was just mad and I didn't feel like retyping the whole thing! Saturday was a total wash for me, but more about that in a minute.

I think I found the cure for my chapped eyelids. It's very simple. I just have to stay in the house! LOL! Friday night we went out to dinner and the movies, and just walking from the car to the door of the restaurant, and then from the car to the theater with all of the wind and cold weater, really did a number on my eyelids. I put my steroid ointment on and they were much better by morning. Saturday I was sooooooooo LAZY!!!! I cannot believe that I did this! I went to sleep around 3am on friday night/saturday morning because that's when I got home, and I did not wake up until 5:00 the next afternoon!!!!!! :eek: I shocked the hell out of myself! I woke up and I thought I was dreaming or something, when I looked at the clock! Apparently my parents tried to wake me up earlier but I just mumbled something at them and went back to sleep! I got up and ate something and freshened up and stuff, and do you know I actually fell back to sleep for a few more hours after that? I think I slept for 20 hours total on saturday. Sometimes my MS makes me have extreme fatigue to the point where I can't get out of bed. I guess that was it! But I didn't even know I was tired! Well anyway, aside from the fact that when I woke up after 14 hours straight (with no drops and no ointment left in my eyes) I was so dried out that my eyelids were plastered to my corneas, my eyes felt soooooo much better! (after I put some drops in, of course!) I did wake up with a lot of crud and stuff, but I kind of expected that after sleeping for 14 hours straight! I also have another cold besides, plus the late night before, and I worked the whole week, so my body was really feeling the fatigue.

Today was not much more productive, but it was not as good of an eye day as yesterday either. You know why? Cause I went out. So the key to unchapped, mosit eyes is to sleep for 20 hours a day. Today I got in the car and went to Staples and 7-11. My eyes felt a hundred times worse as soon as I hit the outdoors, with all the wind and cold. Part of the reason my eyes were feeling so good in the house yesterday was because usually I shut my humidifier off in the morning when I wake up. Yeah, well I didn't wake up until 5:00 in the afternoon yesterday, so it kept going the whole day! My eyes didn't have very many tears in them, or any ointment left, but I was saved by the fact that the room was so moist and warm. Too bad I can't leave it on all day everyday.

We actually had to get a DE-humidifier for my basement, because it used to flood and create mold. So getting a whole house humidifier would probably not be an option, although I would sure love it.

I'm sure getting behind on here! I guess the bad days I'm having with hemifacial spasms is knocking me for a bigger loop than I thought.

The dentist told Barb he had a gut feeling the teeth would have to eventually come out, but that he wanted to wait and watch them. She goes back Jan. 2 to see how things are. They do bother her horribly when trying to eat, not a good indication!

The Dr. put me back on the steroid drops last week, and I'm staying the course. The scary and disappointing thing about this is I'm seeing exactly as distorted as before the cataract surgery! I still can't get a good focus when running reading material in and out from the eye with the bifocal, just like with the cataract! If you hear how your boss is doing, Faith PLEASE let me know! I AM DISCOURAGED!!

I wish that I could just stay in the house sometimes. Maybe we all need to find work from home jobs. Unfortunately, being a teacher I can't do that - plus my husband is in school right now getting his degree so he can only work part time. We don't have the money for me to stay home.

I've been doing some online research about Meibomian Gland Dysfunction - I just can't seem to stop trying to learn more about all of this stuff. I really should just stay away from some of these sites. After reading about MGD online I have to say that I am feeling very discouraged. I'm very confused about how bad my MGD might be and if I can ever get it under control. I read somewhere that the oil glands can actually close up - PERMANENTLY! It really scared me. Elyse, I was wondering if your doctor has told you anything about all of this. Is it possible to get MGD under control and have the oil glands flow normally?

Hi Tony,
Well, my boss just got back from vacation today. He saw his eye dr last Wednesday, and orignally was supposed to get a new glasses script, but they told him the eye was still healing and to come back in 3 weeks, so he can't see you-know-what either!
Let's see, he had his done oct. 21st, so that's just a month today. Still early in the healing stage, I guess. 3 more weeks will put him at the 7 week stage.
Remember Tony, you're trying to read & focus with old (pre-surgery) prescriptions, and having the cataract out & an IOL put in, is going to change your vision. So it's good to keep up with the drops like they tell you. And although it seems like it was ages ago you had it done, you're only 3 weeks out, so I think you've still got some healing to do before it all works itself out, so you can get glasses that will let you read clearly. You said the lense they put in was for distance. How's the distance vision?
Think it's just going to take a little more time.
Oh, and they did take my boss off all his drops last Wednesday. So, it's just a waiting game for him now.
So, don't get discouraged yet. Way too early for that.
And sorry Barb is having such a horrible time eating with her teeth pain. Hope they heal on their own & she doesn't have to have a lot of extensive work done.
So you hang in there Tony, Too early to be discouraged, ok?
Prayers & Hugs to both you and Barb.
Faith

Howdy, Faith! It looks like there is more healing time involved than I thought, going by your boss. What concerns me I guess is that things at a distance looked sharper and more "together" a few days after the surgery than now, but it may be too, the steroids need more time. My tear quality in both eyes is horrible lately. If I yawn at night, I may get clear vision after one blink! But I do feel more encouraged by what you told me about your boss.

Poor Barb is still having some pain if food touches those teeth. I'm so scared and afraid she may lose them. Of course, we're praying she doesn't.

Thanks for those prayers, Faith, and they go to you too along with our hugs.

Tony & Barb

Hi Tony,
I think even your distance will change after the surgery. You've got a whole new lens in there and it's not shaped precisely as your orginal God-made one was.
I just remembered that my boss also said when they did their eye test on him last week they expect his vision will be 20/15 (distance) when he's all healed up & has new glasses. They best I can get with the astigmatism I have is 20/25. I guess if you have 20/15 that's gotta be close to eagle eyes!
Sorry you're having a hard time with the hemifacial spasms. Did the doc give you anything to help with it? I think you mentioned something about seeing a doctor about it. Have you seen him yet or is it coming up? Hope they can fix you up with something that'll give you some relief from it.
Well hope you & Barb get a good nights sleep, and you're both feeling better tomorrow.
Faith

Monin', Faith-
A few weeks ago, our g.p.'s assistant gave me something called Cerefolin to try for facial spasms. It's some B vitamins and an active form of folate. I finally gave in to trying it, and either my face is in remission, or it's working! They use the stuff for Ahlzeimer's patients and to help prevent or delay dementia also. But, as is always the case with me, there seems to be a down side. My tinnitus (ringing ears) is going overtime!! I have no idea what there could be in a few B vitamins to cause that to spike! All I know is, about 45 minutes after I took the thing yesterday, a spike hit my left ear like lightening then spread to the right. I seemed to get a bit better as the day wore on, but they were ringing pretty bad when I went to bed, and I woke up with the left one pretty loud. So, I'm hitting all the tinnitus boards trying to find out if this stuff is harmful to ears. As usual with me, I fix one thing, and break something else! Many folks get in that shape, they become suicidal. I'm determined not to become that way.

Hi everyone!

Oh, I'm so sorry that everyone has been having troubles lately! Elyse - have you looked into the goggles anymore? It sounds like they would definitely be beneficial to keeping your eyelids from chapping in the cold. My eyes are so weird...I almost feel a little better when I'm outside. But then when I get inside from being outside for a while, they will feel worse. I honestly think that it is the heat that has been driving them crazy lately, and not the cold. Who knows??!! I was so sad the other night, and I had been stuck inside all day, and I just needed to get out. So, I went for a walk...actually I just did laps around my building and it was very cold, but for some reason, it was very refreshing to me...I felt kinda normal for a while and forgot about this whole mess. Funny how it is refreshing for you to be inside and me to be outside! I'll never truly understand all these eye messes that we have to go through!!! Oh, and I HATE when my posts get deleted! Sometimes I preview them to check for errors and then when I go back to fix it, it has disappeared! If it is a long one now, I will copy it before I do anything just to make sure I can paste it if it disappears on me!!

Tony - Sorry to hear that you and Barb are both down lately. Faith is right about the fact that you are still early in the healing process. I know that it is so hard to be patient though, I really do. I'm still told that I'm "early" in the healing process and I'm at 5 months! BUT, everyone telling us this stuff is right, regardless of whether or not we can believe them. Just try to be patient and think of happier days when your vision will be better, and this will all be worth it! Also, I hope that Barb's teeth stop giving her so much trouble and that the dentists can come up with a solution that will work for her.

Hi Faith and Missy! I hope that you guys are both feeling great today. I think that my eyes might be ever so SLIGHTLY better than the last few days, but I can't say for sure. Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better :rolleyes: . Hugs and happy thoughts for everyone!!!

Michelle :)

Howdy, Michelle! I'm doing my best to hang in. I know it will eventually come together, but I guess what is freaking me is how much like things look as they did when I still had the 'ract. I know it's gone, but this is kinda freaky in a way. I'm using the steroid drops right on schedule. I just hope the inflammation stays gone after I quit 'em. The reason I say that is I had the very same distortion and irritation from dry eye before the surgery as I do now! In other words, I hope the dry eye doesn't keep it going after I'm done with the drops. That's a concern. Well, me and the doc can cross that bridge if it comes. Thanks, about Barb too. I hope the same things too. She's using the peroxide/water mix nightly as the dentist instructed. We are praying she can keep those teeth. It's so sad to think otherwise.

Hugs & good stuff at you too, Michelle-

t.

Hi Tony,
I don't know why b vitamins would increase tinnitus symptoms. The body needs b vitamins to function. But don't really know very much about tinnitus at all. Mine is pretty occassional, with just some high -pitched constant tones that come & go. Unless I'm in total silence (not likely to happen where I llive & work) like out in the country. I have been getting more lately...but can't identify why. Haven't added any new meds or anything like that. Unless it is affected by the weather and changes in air pressure. It's good that the cerefolin is working for the spasms, though. Cause that sounds like a pretty uncomfortable situation.
Hi Michelle...glad your eyes seem a bit better. I always find being outside in "fresh" air feels better on my eyes too (except for obvious dust & pollen blowing around), but it does seem to help me, too. Luckily I have a window I can open in my office and that helps to get some fresh air in there (although too cold in the winter!)
Hi to Missy and ELyse, hope you two are hanging in there and doing ok.
Faith

Howdy, Faith! I skipped the Cerefolin today, and the ears seem better, but I'm going to try one tomorrow and see what happens. If they spike again, I'll know for sure! I just hope and pray they don't because the Cerefolin not only may help the spasms, but seems I felt less depressed and more energy on just two days' of 'em! I sure hope that wasn't the cause. I "guess" they are compatible with the lorazepam I take, but the doctor Rx's them and knows I take 'em.

Tony, The b vitamins positively help with mood & energy, so sure hope taking them isn't the cause of the ear ringing, because if they helps the spasms, that is surely a good thing. Certainly is hard trying to find things that work for our problems that don't cause other problems isn't it? We almost have to become detectives or researcheers to try and resolve all these crazy things we experience. (getting older stinks!)
Hope you have a great night.
Faith

You sure said it on the dollar, Faith! Cure one thing, hurt another! As Barb's late cousin's husband's tee shirt once said, "Growing old ain't for sissies!" :D Says it right!
That's right about being detectives. I've spent most of the day checking out Cerefolin and posting on tinnitus boards about my problem!

You have a great night too, Faith-

t.

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I was so tired yesterday after work and exercising at Curves that I think I fell asleep at like 9:00! My eyes feel no better. In fact, today they are a good deal worse. I had a little bit of yellowish goop this morning in the corner of my right eye, and that's been the one that's been bothering me the worst, so I'll have to watch that and see how it plays out.

You know, I think I have an even better word for this crap than "goop"! It's an old yiddish word - "Schmutz" Anyone ever heard that before? It basically means gooey, muddy, sticky crud! I remember when I was having gallbladder problems. I was really sick, and before they could even do the surgery to get it out, my Gastroenterologist had to go in with a scope and make sure there was nothing blocking any of the bile ducts. When I woke up from that procedure and asked him how everything looked inside there, he said "well, you had a lot of schmutz in your bile ducts!"

So, my eyes are rather schmutzy today. :(

I have not had a chance to look into the goggles anymore. I want to really be able to sit there in front of the computer and try to find the best possible pair for me. Plus, I wouldn't be able to order them until after my next eye doctor visit, because I need him to write down my prescription for me so I can tell them what to make. By the time I get in the house at the end of the day, my eyes are so dry that it's all I can do to come on healthboards.

Tony, I am so sorry that you are not feeling well. I wish your body would just give you a break already! How is Barb doing with the Peroxide wrinses? I used to have to do that for Canker Sores, and I just remember it was really gross! I feel bad for her!

It is so true that you can't fix one thing without breaking something else. The medications we take for one problem can cause a whole new set of problems of their own. For example, I take Rebif, which is an Interferon injection for my MS. In some people it can cause their liver to function improperly. So twice a year I have to go for blood tests to make sure my liver is still working! One of the eye medicines that I used to use was really really great for my inflammation and allergies. I felt great while I was on it. But it made my pressure shoot up so high that they were afraid I'd go blind if I kept using it. See? Fix one thing, break something else!

Evenin', Purple Sis Elyse! Schmutz says it all! That's our new official word for goop! It really sounds goopier than goop!:D My rt. eye feels schmutzy right now! I don't get the schmutz I used to, but the dryness is still very much there. If anything takes away from the acuity I want from a cataract surgery, the dry eye will be it.

Thanks about my ol' bod. I know--I don't know why something good has to be offset with a bad. Well, I skipped the Cerefolin today, but may try another one tomorrow to see what my ears do. They've been pretty ringy today, and really not much better.

Barb is doing those rinses, but I'm so afraid it's in vain! She still has pain when food touches those teeth. I just pray she won't lose those teeth. That's one grave concern around here right now.

Well, that's about it for now. I've been depressed as *heck* today also! Yesterday, I felt high as a kite and like I had some life back, but square one today. Guess I'm a bit sick of it all by now, ya' reckon? :rolleyes:

Hi everyone!

I'm headed out of town tomorrow morning for the long holiday weekend, so I just wanted to drop in and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! One thing I am definitely thankful for this year is finding all of you wonderful people out here for support and encouragement! You guys are the best! I wish everyone clear vision and certainly a "schmutz" free holiday! Talk to you all next week! ((((HUGS)))))

Michelle :)

Tony, have they mentioned anything to Barb about getting some sort of dental implants or partial denture to replace the missing teeth if they are unable to be saved? It is always a possibility once the surrounding bone and tissue is healed. I hope she is seeing a good oral surgeon. Are the teeth turning black at all? My little cousin thought she was an acrobat and tried to fly off of the top of their stairs. She learned the hard way that kids can't fly! She bumped her mouth really badly. I think it was her two front top teeth that eventually turned black and had to be removed. But they were only her baby teeth, so it didn't matter. She just walked around toothless for a few years until they grew in. Don't you worry. Barb's smile will be beautiful again when this is all said and done. Tell her she should feel very blessed to have such a caring husband. :)

I sincerely hope that the ears stop ringing. I get that very occasionally after a loud noise or something, and I know how annoying it can be even though mine only lasts for a minute or two. I can't imagine what you must go through with that.

So I see you like my new word. :) Yes, Schmutz is the perfect description for what our eyes produce. If you want to try to start up our little production business again, I am manufacturing it by the gallon over here! We could call it "Tony and Elyse's Gen-u-wine schmutz". Good for all of your schmutz needs. I think I am cornering the market on it over here.

I have to go get a chisel and break away at the schmutz now. Or, maybe I'll try a warm compress for a few minutes. That might be better than a chisel.

And I really need to go to sleep at a normal time tonight! I'm so sleepy!

Goodnight. :yawn:

Happy Thanksgiving to you too Michelle! Enjoy your long weekend! I hope your eyes allow you to enjoy the holiday. I too, will be counting you and all of the friends that I have made here among the things that I am thankful for this year. Have a safe trip! :)

Because I know everyone will be busy with the holiday, just wanted to wish you all
a very safe & happy Thanksgiving. Be safe, have fun, and hope everyone has no eye problems and enjoys all the festivities.
I am thankful for each & every one of you, and am blessed to have found these boards and the many friends I've "met" here.
God Bless!
Faith

Mornin', gang! Well, my ears are better, so I don't know whether to risk another Cerefolin or not. As long as my face isn't doing the boogaloo, I may leave it be! I'm expecting a return call from my doctor's nurse so I can report that. I don't know if not taking it yesterday did it or not, but I was so depressed, I would've nearly welcomed a semi to flatten me! Not good! I'm feeling more chipper this a.m., thankfully.

Yep, we're gonna start up that company making schumtz!:D I hardly get it now, but still get my Col. Sanders original crust! I have some now I need to hammer and chisel off. The operated eye isn't schmutzy probably due to being treated with steroid drops. I dread going off it because I'm afraid the eye will get irritated and blurred again, if not from surgery, from dry eye! That is a definite concern here. It threw me another bad burning spell after I woke up this a.m. It felt like it was right on where the incision was, though it has long healed. I don't know what that's all about, but it burns like fire now and then!

They have offered Barb some options if the teeth are lost, Sis Elyse. They aren't dark, which is hope right there. The first dentist mentioned tying the two together somehow. I guess that would let one help another, lean on it, or something.

Well, we want to wish all a Happy Thanksgiving. Barb is in there right now whipping out a pumpkin-pecan pie! Is that drool I see on my keyboard? Yepper, sure is!:D

Yakkin' later-

Tony

Tony, have you discussed with your doctor the option of possibly staying on a low dose steroid drop? It really helps me with the irritation and inflammation. I still have a lot of symptoms but they would he a hundred thousand times worse without them. Even with the possibility of Glaucoma, there are some that won't make your pressure go up as much as others. With careful monitoring you might be able to do that.

I used a warm compress last night. My eyes were veyr crusty and itchy and full of schmutz. So I decided that it can't hurt to put a warm compress on them for a few minutes to try to clean them. I didn't make it as hot as I used to, and I sat with it for about ten minutes. It really helped. My lids were so irritated but the warmth seems to have gotten rid of some of the chappedness (if that's a word!). I think I am going to use it every night. I woke up irritated and dry this morning, but with not so much mucus. So maybe it will help.

The other good news is that when I went to Curves the other day, they weighed and measured me. Since I started working out there at the end of July, I have lost 19 pounds, and 27.25 inches! :bouncing:

Happy Thanksgiving all! :)

Well, I'll be ding-dangies!:eek: I didn't know, or forgot you were on steroid drops all the time, Sis Purple Elyse! I didn't realize a person could do that, and that there are some that are more pressure-friendly than others. I'm definitely going to bounce that one off him to see what he says! They would probably help my rt. eye too, as it gets to feeling gummy by afternoon, and by night, I can't watch TV!

Glad the eyes got better from the compress too. Also glad you are thinned down enough to put some back with turkey day!:D We all do that. I know I have my pigging out cut out for me. Anyway, thanks for letting me know that a person can use steroid drops at low dosage. For all I know, it may be what helps my tinnitus when it's not waging war in my ears!

Happy Thanksgiving all over ya' too, Sis Elyse, and family-

t.

There is something happening to my operated eye that does have me concerned. I've noticed this for two days now.

I am seeing a streak across that eye from any bright light source, just like you would see a streak on dirty glasses like from grease or something on the lens! I don't know if the steroid drops are doing that or not, but it's there, and it can't be gotten to, to be cleaned! If it wasn't a holiday eve, I would call the Dr. about this.

Well, I DID call his answering no. and he returned my call, as he always does. He is going to be at the office in the a.m. Thanksgiving Day, due to checking on another patient that he had to do emergency surgery on today, and he will check out what's going on with me with this horizontal streak I see when looking at a bright light. The clarity is so good tonight, though, as the drops seem to be clearing things up that way!

As long as your pressure doesn't go up too high from the steroids, I don't think there's any reason why you can't be on steroid drops. I started with the less potent ones, and when they eventually stopped helping my severe inflammation, I moved on to the stronger ones. There was a time that I had to get them specially made from a pharmacy out in California that compounds ophthalmic drugs. I was so sensitive to the preservative Benzalkonium Chloride that is in a lot of the steroid (and other) drops, that I had to get them made preservative free. I also had to get preservative free Dexamethasone ointment and FML ointment. It was costing me and my family hundreds of dollars a year. Dexamethasone was the most wonderful eye drug I have ever been on. It stopped a lot of my symptoms and I felt sooooooo much better on it. But the problem is that some steroids do not get absorbed too much, and they don't cause the pressure go up. Dexamethasone is the one steroid that really gets absorbed into the eyeball. I felt great on it, until it made my IOP go up to 35 and threatened to cause me to develop Glaucoma. I cried when I had to come off of it. I mean, I sobbed. I had seen my doctors associate who checked my pressure and immediately made me come off of it. I walked out to my car and sat there for 20 minutes and bawled. But then my doctor suggested some other things, andeventually I was able to go on FML again without my pressure going up. I was even able to stop getting my meds specially made, because we found an FML ointment that is made by a regular manufacturer that has a different preservative in it, that I am not sensitive to. We even found out that I could use TobraDex on my eyelids and not have a problem with the Dexamethasone, as long as it doesn't melt into my eyes. And I am on an FML drop called Flarex. It's not widely used anymore so it took my pharmacy a few days to get it. But it has helped a lot.

So you see? You can be on steroids and not have a problem with IOP. I am on three different ones, and my pressure has been steady at 13 for months. I just stay away from getting the Dexamethasone (my very very favorite!) actually in the eyes. I use it on the lids though, in the form of TobraDex ointment. If your doctor knows what he is doing with steroids, he can find one that works for you and won't cause a problem. Besides, even if it does cause high IOP, you would just have to come off of it and maybe use Glaucoma drops for a few weeks to get it back down. I had to do that when mine went up. You just have to be careful because it can shoot up overnight.

Thanks for the advice-- I will ask him about that "if" nothing has gone awry with the surgery, which I don't think it has. I've been reading on a post op site about cataract surgery, and one question to that Dr. was about seeing halos so long after the surgery. He said it was either refraction needing correction or some swelling of the cornea. I feel this is a minor thing, but it's not really normal either, or my Dr. wouldn't want to see me on a holiday.

I have a diagonal streak in the eye that got the crystalens implant. Another crystalens recipient on this board said he had it too.

Wow, thanks for giving me great "hope".:( Sorry to disappoint, but this is an AcrySof Lens NOT a crystalens.