Lubricants & Eyelashes

[nancyann]

Well, since we've touched upon this in other topics for eye care, I just bought the Ocusoft Eyecleanser (thank you 4!!).  Unfortunately they didn't have the extra strength stuff, so I bought the regular cleanser pads.   I just tried it - of course I'm impatient & wanted my eyelashes free of lubricant, but who am I kidding??  After 15 months of applying lubricant to my eye, I can't expect miracles - it will probably take months of using this stuff daily to get rid of the buildup.  After I used it & then washed with H20, of course I had to put in MORE lubricant because my eye burned, which will eventually get onto my eyelashes, is this a VISCIOUS CIRCLE joke or what?
I'm going to use the cleanser pads religiously, eventually I hope it will balance out.   Thanks again for the suggestion 4.

[linny]

Hi NancyAnn, I use refresh LIquigel  lubricant drops., during the day. works for me. They can do a eye duct surgery I forgot  what its called. But maybe you will need that. (If I can ever think again I will tell you what its called )    Today both my eyes went heywire      Good luck

[nancyann]

Hi Linny:  I asked my doc about the tear duct plugs - he said I'm not a candidate (or for the Restasis eye drops) because my eye makes tears, they're just useless because they sit on the lower lid & then drop out (due to the paralysis).  I just tried the Genteel Lubricant drops (I had a tube in my closet), but they're not thick enough - my eye kept burning, so I stick with the thick Refresh PM lubricant 'till my facial surgery 11/20 (can't wait!).  Always good thoughts, Nancy

[Jeff]

I have NF2 and have experienced eye issues on both sides.

After my first AN was removed, although I had no facial paralysis, the amount of tears my eye produced decreased dramatically.  I got a punctum plug that solved my problems well.

During my last AN surgery in April, my facial nerved snapped due to some complications that I had. The ends were patched together with surgical adhesive as my doctors did not want to take the time to stitch them together.

I think that I have some nerve function since the exterior of my face feels normal. However, the inside of my mouth is numb.

I got a gold weight and my lower lid was tightened. This helped tremendously. The period of time after I was released from the hospital and before my eye surgery was tough. I used drops every 15 minutes and had quite a buildup on my lashes. I picked the dried lubricant off my lashes and that mostly worked. I also held my eye closed in the shower and let the water run on my face for a while. This too helped. One time, however, I was cleaning up the gunk using the first method when I accidently pulled a big clump of lashes out. That solved the problem for a while but it hurt for a while too.

I consider myself fortunate now as my need for lubrication has declined greatly. It is Sunday afternoon and I have only put drops in once this weekend in addition to using my normal nightly lubricant. And, my vision has really benefitted from using less drops. I have even begun to read again!

Best wishes to you all,

Jeff

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Nancy, Linny & Jeff,

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.

I know (I know) I am in the USA but our farmhouse smells like roast turkey... mmmm.. all but my almost 9-year-old (the "vegtabletarian" who won't eat vegetables) are getting hungry... My dear American husband is doing the roast this year as I still recover from AN surgery.

Many blessings to count this weekend and again on American thanksgiving... (Having opportunity to correspond with you-all is one)

Back to "the eye" ... Nancy are you taping your eye on the side? I ordered most of the books from ANA...

https://secure.baxinternet.com/~anausa/for_sale.html

I suggest these:

Eye Care After Acoustic Neuroma Surgery (AN6)
Details on caring for eye problems caused by facial weakness following acoustic neuroma treatment. Includes information on corrective procedures and patient-maintained eye care.
$3

The Facial Nerve and Acoustic Neuroma: Possible Damage and Rehabilitation (AN4)
Tips and information for patients who have facial weakness or paralysis after treatment for acoustic neuroma. Includes an explanation of the facial grading system and some exercises that can be performed at home to improve facial tone.
$2

These were helpful to me... however there is a contradiction on gum chewing. The eye book says this can increase tear production (i.e. good) and the facial palsy booklet says gum chewing is not recommended with palsy as it promotes asymmetry (i.e. bad)... the eye book has good suggestions (but does not talk about the bubble being a 'germ incubator' - perhaps some revision is still needed to my June 2007 edition) ... however the drooping lower lid technique of tape is illustrated (Illus.5 ) is clear and is working for me.

Now the question is can us AN'ers walk and chew gum at the same time...

Anyway ... just a FYI ...the ANA eye care booklet does has some taping suggestions to help hold those moisture tears in.

Cheers,
4

[nancyann]

Hey 4 - I had gotten those pamphlets when I 1st joined the ANA - for the life of me I don't know where they are!!   I don't tape the 'side' of my eye.  I'm okay with the lubricant during the day, especially at work (wouldn't want to look like any more of a 'freak' then I already do (vanity wins again), & it's still 'the bubble' when I go to sleep.
I'm just counting down the days for my 'extreme makeover!!'

[nancyann]

Hey 4 - wanted to let you know taping the lower lid (even tough I had the lateral tarsal sling done) DID help me - I seemed to need 'something extra' last night while watching TV, & it DID help!!!!  Thank you my friend,  Nancy

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Partners in eye goop, fly poop eyelid cleaners and tape...    LOL
 
Glad to hear something worked.

cheers,

4