You look great, by the way! I would never guess what you've been through from your picture.
My sentiments, exactly! The incredible strength and humor you have faced this challenge with really shine through...
Like Lori, I had a tarsorrhaphy (done while I was in the hospital for the original surgery) and, about 6 months later, a cauterization of my tear duct. It was experimental at the time, done by the wonderful, straight-out-of-med-school opthalmologist I'd just switched to (after 6 months of constant, maddening dryness, eye patch wearing, keratitis, and even a corneal abrasion under the care of a less on-the-ball eye doc)--I am forever in his debt, as it really changed my life...
However, if you are showing signs of facial function recovery, I doubt you'd want to go with either of those procedures, as I believe they're not reversible.
The best thing you can do is lubricate liberally and always shield your eyes outdoor (BIG sunglasses during the day, clear lenses or "pale" sunglasses at night to keep your eye protected from wind). I tried many different drops and found the only one that really had "staying" power was celluvisc--the others "wore off" in a matter of minutes. I use Refresh PM at night.
I developed the keratitis soon after my surgery, before I discovered that my eye did NOT like anything with a preservative in it. So read the labels carefully, too, to make sure whichever lubricants you use are preservative free.
Hope you enjoy beginning to resume working again. But do take it slow, OK?
