Dry eyes....need advice - Eye & Vision Message Board

jackey · 06-04-2003, 09:16 PM

I have in the past few years developed dry eyes. I also suffer from post nasal drip and seasonal allergies. The thing is that in the winter it is pretty much bearable, but once spring hits it is awful. My optometrist told me to use refesh drops, without preservatives, as often as needed, but they don't always help. Also, it seems that as soon as I go to bed it feels like someone poured sand into my eyes, they are so gritty. I also notice that I have this sort of pulling annoying pain, not really painful but more like weight, on top of my eyes.

I know that this is a common problem and I am sure that there must be someone out there who can help me with it. I also want to mention that with my risk factors for acute glaucome attack, I get very worried about any eye pain and I would like to be able to deal with this so that I am not always thinking that an attack is coming on.

Hoping for some help and peace of mind....Jackey

purple2067 · 06-04-2003, 09:32 PM

I don't know much about Glaucoma, but I can offer some suggestions for the dry eyes. If you don't like the refresh plus, try using some other preservative free tears like Bion Tears or Thera Tears or Tears Naturale Free. If it gets really bad at bedtime, you can use a preservative free tears ointment like Tears Naturale PM Lubricant Eye Ointment. If your dryness is caused by allergies, have you tried an allergy drop? You can also use a cold wet washcloth on your eyes at bedtime (or at any time during the day) to help alleviate the discomfort. If you have seasonal allergies, have you tried taking something like Claritin or Clarinex or Allegra?

purple2067 · 06-05-2003, 09:26 PM

I am using Restasis. I cannot tell yet whether or not it is helping. My ophthalmologist says it can sometimes take up to 3 months to notice a difference. I have been using it since it came out in the beginning of April. I have had all 4 tear ducts cauterized. That is what has helped me the most. Plugs were alright, but they irritated me sometimes and they CONSTANTLY fell out. I never had one plug for more than 2 weeks. Plus, my dr said that even with plugs, some tears can still seep out because there are spaces btw the plugs and the ducts. Before cauterization, I didn't have a single tear in my eyes. But now I have enough, it's just the quality that is very poor. My ophthalmologist says that he does not see much of a difference in the quality of my tear film, but to give it time. I also use steroid drops, which are my savior. But steroids are not for everyone and can have some bad side effects, so we are being extremely cautious. I also use Refresh Endura, which is supposed to help with the tear film quality as well. As for the Restasis, I have to give it some more time before I can judge it.

purple2067 · 06-07-2003, 08:44 PM

I've got the same dilemma. I have all 4 ducts closed, and I am using steroid eyedrops (anti-inflammatory) as well as the Restasis. So, is restasis actually going to help me? I asked my dr this and he spoke with Dr. O'Brien about my current condition and gave him all of the drops that I am on. (if you read my earlier posts, Dr. O'Brien is a world renowned dry eye specialist that I was sent to in Maryland. If ANYBODY knows about this, it's him.) Dr. O'Brien said to keep using everything including the steroids, and that sometimes it can take up to 3 months for Restasis to start working. I'm approaching the 2 month mark.

KathyJean · 06-08-2003, 08:43 AM

Hi all,

This has been great reading all of your posts. I've only known one other person with dry eyes. I've had my lower ducts successfully plugged for two years and use TheraTears and Refresh--mostly because they leave the least residue, and all of you know what I mean by that!

Recently I had the upper ducts plugged but they came out. But I must say, it was a glorious two weeks when they were in because my eyes were drenched in tears every day. Curiously I still had dry eyes at night but not nearly as bad.

My doctor just put me on Restasis a week ago so I won't know if they work for a few months as well. I hope they work because these dry eyes interfer with everything in my life.

Good luck to everyone.
Kathy