Has anyone tried these - I think they may help me as they are supposed to help with the tear break up time.

Any experiences?

Nobody ever been on these for dry eyes??

NikiJo

I didn't post sooner because I thought someone would give you an answer that more closely fit your situation.

I have been using the autologous drops since mid Dec., but since I must use a Boston Scleral Lens, I add them to the saline solution that fills the lens resevoir. Needles to say, this would not affect my personal TBT, since I have very little tears, thus the reason for the lens. However, I really do think they (the drops) have helped with pain, but it took awhile, since I only use two drops a day in each scleral lens.

I spoke with the good doctors at the Boston Foundation for Sight, and they said that autologous tears help some people, and others not. It's like everything else it seems, depends on the person.

So, ya just never know until you try!

God Bless,
Charon

Hey Charon..im going to be fitted for the Boston Scleral Lens soon...just waiting for everything to go through with insurance..I got dry and irritated eyes..with severe burning...and blood vessel inflamatation..my blood vessels have become more prominenent as the weeks go by...did the lens help with the burning and irritation.??? And did u get any "red veins" ...after...using the lens..and how long were u able to wear the lens....I met..Dr Perry Rosenthal...and his staff..theyre great..the best ive seen yet...goodluck with everything..

Hey Soulution,
Sorry to hear you're having such problems...

I can only answer your questions as they pertain to my experience, 'cause every person and their situation is different. My eyes are at the far end of the spectrum for severe dryness. Nothing else worked for me. I have been wearing them for about six months.

Yes, the lens does help me with burning and irritation as long as I am wearing them, which is about 13 hours a day. The little corners at each end of my eyes still sting and burn, because the lens doesn't cover that part, so I still have to wear goggles in wind, etc. But that is better than having the entire eye disabled, which is what I would be without them, because my eyes are so dry. I have the upper and lower puncta plugged, also, which helps my eyes blink over the lens without feeling so dry. I don't use artificial
tears to wet the lenses while I'm wearing them, but other people do if they need to.

I do have some larger and smaller red veins in my eyes due to the lens, but they are not that noticeable to other people and they don't hurt or anything like that. Dr. Rosenthal assured me that they would not be a problem. My eyes get redder when the lens is out, but it's probably due to increased dryness and "backflow" from released lens pressure. The lens only rests on it's rim, on the sclera (white part) the rest of the lens domes over the eye slightly in order to hold fluid.

I had to gradually increase my wearing time, in about two weeks I was wearing it 12 to 13 hrs a day, which I think is about average. For severely dry eyes, the lens can cloud or haze within a few hours due to accumulated
tear debris, then it should be removed and fresh solution put in. This happens with some people, and others not.

For people like me, this lens is a wonderful device that has given me sight that I otherwise would not have due to such severe dryness.

Good luck, and please let me know how it goes!

Hugs,
Charon

Hey Charon.thanks for the reply..much appreciated..I do not have any underlying conditions..but my eyes are irritated..alot!!! You said that u developed a couple of RED Veins due to the lenses??? That scares me..cause I already got enough of those blood vessels on the whites of my eyes due to the burning...thats weird.how that lens..which gives oxygen to to the cornea.would cause the veins to grow.....the biggest thing im worried..about is..wearing them during the day..then taking them out..and getting irriation..like what would i do...with those couple of hours before..bed...thats still gonna casue dryness and irritation...so that concerns me..I have no vision problems whatsoever..but...I wish u the best..of luck...and I hope everything works..out..

Hey Soulution,

As I said, every situation with this lens is different. I was giving you my own dry eye scenario, which is not uncommon with eyes as dry as mine, but you may have even better results, as your eyes probably are not as dry and you have no other underlying conditions...Dr. Johns is very good and Susan Hebard is very knowledgeable, too. I don't think the lens actually supplies oxygen to the cornea, as much as it ALLOWS oxygen to be supplied via the lubricating qualities of the lens, plus the gas permeable effect. Ideally, we get oxygen supplied the best way if we have well-operating lubricating structures in the eye, so the lens sort of allows that to happen when our own eyes aren't working they way nature intended.

All the best of luck & hope you keep in touch
God Bless
Charon