The awful dry eye problem explained and what to do about it....

[Obita]

This PDF file has it all.  It even explains the excess saliva when chewing -  Kathy 


http://www.levine-eyesurgery.com/pub/acoustic3.pdf

[Pembo]

This is a great article. I wish I had read it 2 years ago! It shoud be required reading for postop AN patients with eye problems.  My facial therapist also told me about an exterior eye weight. Here's the link http://www.meddev-corp.com/1%20product/Eyelid%20Closure%20Products/External%20Weights.2.htm

[amymeri]

Really helpful!  Thanks

[Joef]

has anyone here used exterior eye weights ? .. sounds like a good idea for long road trips !!! (driving many hours)

[ppearl214]

thanks for the links Kathy and Pembo.

Would love to get an idea of any radio-folks that also have run into dry eye, like myself.  Using Systane by day, GenTeal at night (ointment). 

Thanks.
Phyl

[ratthebrat]

Obi,
I have had dry eyes for almost 3 years since surgery and the doctors keep telling me there is nothing wrong. they say my eyes are lubericated and they can't find a problem. My eyes burn so bad at times that all i can do is close my eyes and rest them sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. i also try and use refresh eye drops they are supose to be non addicting for your eyes so i am told. Hope this helps some what still looking for answers my self.

[tony]

Sorry to but in here - the dry eye has little to do with tear production
You can have 100% tear production and still have dry eye.
Basically if you dont blink often enough (20-25 per min) , or the eye does not
completely shut - it will get dry.
(and red, and painful etc etc etc)
The blink function doubles as a "wash wipe" - like the wipers on your car ?
The eye lids transfer the fluids across the eyeball.
Folks who have a limited blink function (us for example)
or folks who watch too much TV/computer screens
get dry eye - the blink rate falls to 5-10 per min.
What to do.
1.In summer I always where sunglasses
2.I now have clear (non corrected) glasses for eve/winter/dark conditions
(cost about $15 - but they also disguise the facial surgery quite well)
3. I now practice remembering to blink esp, when driving or watching screens
4. I use in adittion eye sprays which help protect the tear from evaporation
makes the eye drops last longer
5.Finally a tiny amount of the night-time ointment on the inside corner
of the exposed area can help - too much and you wont see
- its the non-shutting area that benefits the most.
Its taken 4 weeks to sort with trial and error
- but I now have 2-4 hrs with  99% visibilty between treatments
Sorry for the sermon
Best regards
tony

[windinthesails]

Hey Obita, Thanks for posting the link to that page. It was very helpful, I have been going through the dry eye problem and the doctors just say all this stuff like we are suppose to know.  I had to have plugs put into my eye because it got so bad and the article really helped explain everything. So thanks!

[Terri]

This is a reply to Joef's question about the Meddev exterior eyelid weight. I tried to use one for a while. Unfortunately, the weight is stuck to the eyelid with a small piece of double-sided tape. In my case, the weight continued to droop due to the effects of gravity and within 15 minutes or so of applying it, the weight would either fall off or drag my eyelid down over my eye. I never seemed to be able to wear it for more than 15 minutes, so I abandoned it. I eventually (2 years after surgery) had a gold weight implanted in my eyelid, and it has worked well.

[windinthesails]

Hi Tony, I was wondering where you were able to find your clear glasses w/o any perscription, the only kind I can find is the ones with +1.25 or whatever. Thanks!

[Terri]

This is a response to ratthebrat's question about burning sensations in the eyes. The burning sensations and irritation are most likely due to either the preservatives or the methylcellulose in the Refresh eye drops you are using. I am 3 years post-op, and I used Refresh Liquigel almost constantly during the day until I had my lower eyelid repositioned and a gold weight implanted in my upper eyelid. Then I was able to switch to Refresh Tears, which are less viscous, and I was encouraged because my need for eye drops declined dramatically. (I had been using them every 5 - 20 minutes, and I was able to go an hour or two between application.)

I never understood why I needed to use drops so frequently, especially after the gold weight was implanted. I tried other drops (Genteal and Systane) but they weren't as effective. Then, a month ago, my eye started turning red and burning. I started applying drops more frequently to try to stop the pain.

On a hunch, I put drops in my normal eye, and it turned red. I realized that the culprit was increasing sensitivity to something in my eye drops.

I picked up a package of Bion Tears, which are single-use vials with no preservatives. Within 24 hours of use, my red eye cleared completely, and my need for eye drops plummeted to 3 times PER DAY. Within 48 hours, my eye began noticeably making its own tears again.

Needless to say, I am thrilled after 3 years to both see and feel a normal right eye again. After finishing the package of Bion Tears, I picked up Tears Naturale, followed by Refresh Plus, which are much less expensive single-use options. They are working great, and I'm down to about 1 vial per day now.