I can hardly believe this myself, but here goes...I was diagnosed with Dry Eye in my right eye last fall by an optometrist, who told me there was no cure, it would be there for the rest of my life, etc. About four weeks ago, I started putting castor oil (hexane-free, cold pressed) on my eyelids between my brows and lids and a bit under my eyes (I used it on both eyes, just to prevent left eye from also becoming dry). A week ago, I noticed that my eye had not been tearing at all, and I had not used eye drops for at least a week. Today, as I write, I still have had no tears streaming down my cheek. I do not claim that CO is a cure; all I can tell is what I have experienced.
Did your opthalmologist say that your Dry Eye had anything to do with Demodex mites? I ask because Castor Oil kills the mites. You were smart to try CO! If your ophthalmologist doesn't know about Demodex, I'd change doctors, and would definitely get a second opinion anyway. If you have Meibomian Gland Disorder that would also impact your DE. Good luck!
FYI, if your DE is related to Demodex, have your (new) doctor prescribe Xdemvy. It's a 2x/day eye drop treatment that absolutely kills them. It did for me. 1
PS. One way to know if you have Demodex is if you have any "crusties" on your lashes in the morning. They are called collarettes. Ask your new or old doctor if you had/have them.
Hi Nancy,
I’m so sorry you had to go through that. This is awful and gross to say the least. My eyes don get itchy but I do get the crust that you described and they feel irritated a lot. Will check out Facebook. I will definitely push my eye doctor on this. He’s affiliated with Will’s Eye - a top eye Hospital in Philadelphia. This has truly been an eye opener!
My doctor is also in Philadelphia, but at Scheie Eye Institute, which is now part of Penn Medicine. She only does dry eye and is the person who prescribed Xdemvy for me, but never used the word "Demodex" when she prescribed it. I read it on my way home from the appointment in the exit papers. That's when I started doing research. Now, when I see her we talk Demodex. She said there hadn't been a cure before Xdemvy and there was no sense in scaring people if she couldn't do something about it other than ease symptoms. I'm assuming she now tells people.
I just began bausch and lombs nutritears. I could do dry eye tears all day long. I switched to this capsule once a day. It's an OTC and it seems to be working well. Haven't used tears except on rare occurrence now. I thought it would be worth trying and for me it helped.
My doctor is also in Philadelphia, but at Scheie Eye Institute, which is now part of Penn Medicine. She only does dry eye and is the person who prescribed Xdemvy for me, but never used the word "Demodex" when she prescribed it. I read it on my way home from the appointment in the exit papers. That's when I started doing research. Now, when I see her we talk Demodex. She said there hadn't been a cure before Xdemvy and there was no sense in scaring people if she couldn't do something about it other than ease symptoms. I'm assuming she now tells people.
I have severely dry eyes due to Lupus and Crohn's Disease. Both from the disease process themselves and the medications I take to treat them. I have tried all sorts of over the counter drops to begin with without any success at all. At one point my eyes were so bad they ended up having to put plugs in my tear ducts to relieve the dryness because it had caused so much advanced irritation to my eyes. They kept the plugs in for 3 months. This worked great on one hand. The dryness ended completely within a week to 10 days because all your tears come out directly onto your eye instead of through the duct (because it's blocked by the plug.). The major downside is #1) you have tears basically pouring down your face every moment of the day and night 🌙. #2) It's not a permanent solution because yo can't keep the plugs in indefinitely and once taken out, it's only a month or so before the chronic dryness sets back in. I also tried the prescription eye drops Restasis without any success at all. They actually seemed to make my eyes feel dryer if that was humanly possible? So, I wasn't too excited when recently my ophthalmologist recommended yet another prescription drop. This one is called Xiidra. I really disliked it at first because it has a significant itchy/stinging sensation upon application that lasts a minute or so. I have found though that the less dry my eyes became, the less problem I had with this side effect. I've been on the drops (to be used twice daily which is pretty convenient) for about 3 weeks now and the itching/burning sensation upon application is completely gone. And, my eyes are feeling the least dry that I can ever remember them feeling. Not quite at 100% just yet, but hey it's only been 3 weeks. I'm feeling really good about these drops. Also of note.... The whole reason I went to my doctor asking for a prescription for drops to begin with was because I saw a commercial for an even newer, more advanced drop that works by forming a protective layer or coating over your eye to keep moisture in. It's the first drop of its kind supposedly. It must really be amazing because my doctor informed me that to qualify for it for insurance you must have tried and failed at least 2 other types of prescription eye drops and have a true diagnosis of chronic dry eyes. Otherwise it's $1400 - $1800 for a month supply. Thus my prescription for the Xiidra. I just love the way it all works. Lol.
I have severely dry eyes due to Lupus and Crohn's Disease. Both from the disease process themselves and the medications I take to treat them. I have tried all sorts of over the counter drops to begin with without any success at all. At one point my eyes were so bad they ended up having to put plugs in my tear ducts to relieve the dryness because it had caused so much advanced irritation to my eyes. They kept the plugs in for 3 months. This worked great on one hand. The dryness ended completely within a week to 10 days because all your tears come out directly onto your eye instead of through the duct (because it's blocked by the plug.). The major downside is #1) you have tears basically pouring down your face every moment of the day and night 🌙. #2) It's not a permanent solution because yo can't keep the plugs in indefinitely and once taken out, it's only a month or so before the chronic dryness sets back in. I also tried the prescription eye drops Restasis without any success at all. They actually seemed to make my eyes feel dryer if that was humanly possible? So, I wasn't too excited when recently my ophthalmologist recommended yet another prescription drop. This one is called Xiidra. I really disliked it at first because it has a significant itchy/stinging sensation upon application that lasts a minute or so. I have found though that the less dry my eyes became, the less problem I had with this side effect. I've been on the drops (to be used twice daily which is pretty convenient) for about 3 weeks now and the itching/burning sensation upon application is completely gone. And, my eyes are feeling the least dry that I can ever remember them feeling. Not quite at 100% just yet, but hey it's only been 3 weeks. I'm feeling really good about these drops. Also of note.... The whole reason I went to my doctor asking for a prescription for drops to begin with was because I saw a commercial for an even newer, more advanced drop that works by forming a protective layer or coating over your eye to keep moisture in. It's the first drop of its kind supposedly. It must really be amazing because my doctor informed me that to qualify for it for insurance you must have tried and failed at least 2 other types of prescription eye drops and have a true diagnosis of chronic dry eyes. Otherwise it's $1400 - $1800 for a month supply. Thus my prescription for the Xiidra. I just love the way it all works. Lol.
Thanks for the information. I have NK in one eye brought on by eye surgery which gives you extremely dry eyes. I tried Restasis for about 6 months,did nothing. I tried MEIBO and only used it a few times and hated the heavy feeling on my eye. I also have had the best results with Xiidra which is to combat inflammation.
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Thanks, glad it worked for you. I am going to try it.
I am tempted to dry castor oil the same way Janie did, but it concerns me that it’s not sterile. I have it but I use it only on my skin right now.
Did your opthalmologist say that your Dry Eye had anything to do with Demodex mites? I ask because Castor Oil kills the mites. You were smart to try CO! If your ophthalmologist doesn't know about Demodex, I'd change doctors, and would definitely get a second opinion anyway. If you have Meibomian Gland Disorder that would also impact your DE. Good luck!
FYI, if your DE is related to Demodex, have your (new) doctor prescribe Xdemvy. It's a 2x/day eye drop treatment that absolutely kills them. It did for me. 1
PS. One way to know if you have Demodex is if you have any "crusties" on your lashes in the morning. They are called collarettes. Ask your new or old doctor if you had/have them.
Good luck!
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1 ReactionMy doctor is also in Philadelphia, but at Scheie Eye Institute, which is now part of Penn Medicine. She only does dry eye and is the person who prescribed Xdemvy for me, but never used the word "Demodex" when she prescribed it. I read it on my way home from the appointment in the exit papers. That's when I started doing research. Now, when I see her we talk Demodex. She said there hadn't been a cure before Xdemvy and there was no sense in scaring people if she couldn't do something about it other than ease symptoms. I'm assuming she now tells people.
I just began bausch and lombs nutritears. I could do dry eye tears all day long. I switched to this capsule once a day. It's an OTC and it seems to be working well. Haven't used tears except on rare occurrence now. I thought it would be worth trying and for me it helped.
I’m going to ask about it next week as I have an appointment to get tear duct plugs.
I have severely dry eyes due to Lupus and Crohn's Disease. Both from the disease process themselves and the medications I take to treat them. I have tried all sorts of over the counter drops to begin with without any success at all. At one point my eyes were so bad they ended up having to put plugs in my tear ducts to relieve the dryness because it had caused so much advanced irritation to my eyes. They kept the plugs in for 3 months. This worked great on one hand. The dryness ended completely within a week to 10 days because all your tears come out directly onto your eye instead of through the duct (because it's blocked by the plug.). The major downside is #1) you have tears basically pouring down your face every moment of the day and night 🌙. #2) It's not a permanent solution because yo can't keep the plugs in indefinitely and once taken out, it's only a month or so before the chronic dryness sets back in. I also tried the prescription eye drops Restasis without any success at all. They actually seemed to make my eyes feel dryer if that was humanly possible? So, I wasn't too excited when recently my ophthalmologist recommended yet another prescription drop. This one is called Xiidra. I really disliked it at first because it has a significant itchy/stinging sensation upon application that lasts a minute or so. I have found though that the less dry my eyes became, the less problem I had with this side effect. I've been on the drops (to be used twice daily which is pretty convenient) for about 3 weeks now and the itching/burning sensation upon application is completely gone. And, my eyes are feeling the least dry that I can ever remember them feeling. Not quite at 100% just yet, but hey it's only been 3 weeks. I'm feeling really good about these drops. Also of note.... The whole reason I went to my doctor asking for a prescription for drops to begin with was because I saw a commercial for an even newer, more advanced drop that works by forming a protective layer or coating over your eye to keep moisture in. It's the first drop of its kind supposedly. It must really be amazing because my doctor informed me that to qualify for it for insurance you must have tried and failed at least 2 other types of prescription eye drops and have a true diagnosis of chronic dry eyes. Otherwise it's $1400 - $1800 for a month supply. Thus my prescription for the Xiidra. I just love the way it all works. Lol.
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1 ReactionOops I forgot to mention, the name of the super great, super expensive new prescription eye drop is Mebo.
Thanks for the information. I have NK in one eye brought on by eye surgery which gives you extremely dry eyes. I tried Restasis for about 6 months,did nothing. I tried MEIBO and only used it a few times and hated the heavy feeling on my eye. I also have had the best results with Xiidra which is to combat inflammation.
I have used Miebo for my dry eye for almost a year and love them, they feel oily . I had to fight with insurance to get them approved