chronic dry eye - Eye & Vision Message Board

11-21-2000, 11:39 AM

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!

thegriffin · 12-09-2000, 07:41 PM

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

joy · 12-13-2000, 12:38 PM

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?

12-14-2000, 09:56 AM

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!

joy · 12-14-2000, 06:19 PM

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