Does anyone else out there seem to have this problem?

Last year around the new year, my vision in my right eye decreased drastically for no apparent reason. i can a CAT scan, MRI, and blood taken...no neurological reasons why. went to eye dr and she found scratches on my cornea...said this is what is causing the migraines and vision loss. She gave me a punctal plug and some ointment, Refresh PM and refresh tears, and said to use them! I did, but to no avail. So I went to a cornea specialist, and he said the same thing, but took out the plug (it was getting a little itchy and bothersome.)

Could my vision really be decreased to 20/100 from scratches? Is there any way this can be fixed besides squinting? I've worn glasses since I was 10 (ten years now!) and that doesn't bother me. it doesn't seem to help the problem at all though. I can't wear contacts because I had shingles on the right side of my face and on my right eyelid (didn't seem to have any effect at the time on my actual eye, and the Md's don't think any differently now)and now the prospect of seeing out of my eye is getting dim...

Just wondering if anyone else suffers as I do. Oh the drama.

Feel free to respond!

Hi,
I just joined this list. I too have chronic dry eye, badly. I keep the single use eyedrop companies in business!! And still it doesn't do much good.

But I'm also in what feels like a constant cycle of dry allergic eyes that are incredibly itchy, then get infected, my vision diminishes and I have to get on prednisone drops again to calm things down. But as soon as I get off the prednisone drops, the cycle kicks in again. The dry eye condition, I've been told by my doctor, is what starts the problem, and then the allergies.

My eyes "click" all the time, they get so dry. They surface does get scratched when the dryness is severe. No one has told me that it's contributing to diminishing eyesite though. I can't see well at night anymore, but not sure specifically why. I sleep with a humidifier on and that seems to help some. Use moisture drops all day. I'm back on the prednisone drops at this point and I'm trying hard not to get completely discouraged. Seeing is most important!

The choices I've been given have come down to: 1.) stay on the lowest dose prednisone drops and develop cataracts early, and possibly other complications, or 2.) stay off of them and develop glaucoma from rubbing the heck out of them because they're so dry and itchy and swollen.

If anyone has any suggestions or alternative medicine approaches, anything at all that might help, I would love to hear about it. I've already moved to different cities TWICE since I was told it was environmental. Didn't help. Must not be in that magical bubble-like environment yet! Sigh.

So, you hang in there, too. Don't give up yet. Maybe we can keep in touch as we try new things, and report anything that helps! Unfortunately, I'm crazy busy, so don't get much time to visit sites on the web. Please feel free to respond to me at my work email address: mtanner@lymphnet.org.

Thanks and take care ~ MT

I would see another specialist. I had Lasik and the doc gave me the CIBA gel which I put in at night and use Bion drops during the day. I know they don't do that much good, but it's something. What about new punctal plugs?

Wow, it's good to know I'm not the only one with this problem!! I was thinking about seeing another specialist b/c lately my eyesight is getting significantly worse. I used to be able to make it through the day only wearing my glasses to read the board in class or to drive, but now it's like looking through water in my right eye! I have to wear my glasses all day, and that gives me a headache.

When I see the new doctor, I'll ask him/her about another plug. It was a bit annoying, but I can tell a difference in the moisture in my eye.

Right now I'm still using the Refresh PM at night, and Refresh Tears during the day when my eyes click or get really scratchy...so far so good, but it's so incredibly annoying.



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Feel Free to Respond!

Good luck with new doc and plugs. I found Refresh not as good as Bion, though it's expensive. None of them work that great! I hope everything works out for you.
Joy

I have had similar chronic dry-eye problems that were put down to allergic reactions, computer use, air conditioned offices etc.

After 12 months of plugs, drops etc. etc., I finally have a solution - silicon-based contact lenses that have two benefits:
1. Immediately prior to placement in eye, use of special eye drop onto which the lens sits, thus holding the tear in place over the cornea all day (the lenses are not porous).
2. Any substances in the eye that cause allergic reactions with the cornea cannot get to the cornea whilst the lens is in.

Hope this helps - I had thought I'd tried everything and nothing was going to work.

i was once diagnosed as having "dry eyes" by one doctor who gave me some kind of an ointment to put at night and Refresh drops. another doc i've seen later said it was all bull.
this is only to say - always seek another opinion, especially cencerning your eyes - damage caused by a wrong diagnose , most of the time, can not be reversed.
i have another eye problem and found answers only after i've seen maybe 5 docs (i now go to a speciallist who charge about 150$ for the 1st visit, but my eyes are worth it).

Worth seeing more Drs. Have you been to rheumatologist for blood test for Sjogren's
Syndrome? I use Celluvisc in day (no preservatives) and Lacri-Lube ointment at night. Ditch the contacts b/c dry eyes can
become very damaged. Go to Sjogren's boards
and if you can't find them try all Lupus boards.I was surprised to find Sjogren (dry
eye, mouth) people welcome because it is an
autoimmune family and I gained valuable info.
from sufferers...more than from specialists!
I notice more mucus in allergy season and high humidity days. Symptoms: dryness, pain,
itching, mucus, etc. Cornea damage a real
threat. There are sprays for dry-mouth but
most of us suck lemon candies and carry bottles of water.You can wash eyes with diluted baby shampoo and I find that hot packs on eyes help alot but some people like
cold packs! See a Sjogren's specialist and an
EYE DOCTOR..to get to the bottom of this because you are young and eyes are so precious. Good luck!

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Dodi.. dcgpower@aol.com
Phil.4:13

I ditched my contacts because of dry eyes and had Lasik surgery. My eyes were dry for a while after Lasik,so I put a lot of drops in them. Now I find my eyes a little dry in the morning after being closed all night. No more dry eyes with contacts; I couldn't even keep the air conditioning on in the car with the contacts, and I live in South Florida. also, I believe staring at a computer drys out our eyes because we don't blink as much. I'm just so glad I don't wear contacts any more. My left eye has close up vision, and my right eye sees distance [like I had with contacts] After a fewweeks the dryness subsided a bit, and I never have to wear those drying contacts again. I still use drops but not too much anymore.
Joy