How do you deal with dry eyes?

Posted by maryy @maryy, Jun 10, 2019

I have dry eyes due to sjogren's syndrome. Does anyone else deal with dry eyes?

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Profile picture for JVS @lacy2

@ashleyharris728 thanks i see optometrist in a month... one problem, daughters glasses are very dark prescription i also habve normal tension glaucoma with narrow angles so have been told to avoid comple darkness as it makes the pupil expand/enlarge and etc can presson optic nerve.. found all this out 2018 ... glaucoma , d,.dif, 4 of few friends died, they said i should no longer take zoloft re narrow angles and to be quite honest have not been "the same"since... i keep reminding myself things could be worlse but with ibs-d, fi, tinnitus and mes i do get to feel sorry for myself... but wake up and glad i can see, get out of bed, walk and talk, just some days harder than others... hugs to everyone xxx

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@lacy2 Hi!!! Good to see you here. I am not a doctor, but have found relief from tinnitus with Lipoflavinoid, am OTC vitamin combination...Worked wonders for me!!!

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Profile picture for JVS @lacy2

@ashleyharris728 thanks i see optometrist in a month... one problem, daughters glasses are very dark prescription i also habve normal tension glaucoma with narrow angles so have been told to avoid comple darkness as it makes the pupil expand/enlarge and etc can presson optic nerve.. found all this out 2018 ... glaucoma , d,.dif, 4 of few friends died, they said i should no longer take zoloft re narrow angles and to be quite honest have not been "the same"since... i keep reminding myself things could be worlse but with ibs-d, fi, tinnitus and mes i do get to feel sorry for myself... but wake up and glad i can see, get out of bed, walk and talk, just some days harder than others... hugs to everyone xxx

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@lacy2 I had tinnitus for a very short time many yrs ago (25 or 35) because I dove into the deep end of my pool at a very steep angle. Evidently I punctured an eardrum but ear doctor said it would heal and it did. I am surprised that there is no treatment for it by now. How about acupressure or acupuncture or a white noise sound that can over-ride it. I have a book entitled Acupressure's Potent Points, A Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments author is Michael Reed-Gach that is very helpful for a lot of problems that traditional medical doctors have no cures for or feel it's too insignificant to treat. It doesn't address tinnitus specifically but does have a lot of suggestions as to pressure points that hopefully can trigger a change in that area.

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Profile picture for JVS @lacy2

@ashleyharris728 thanks i see optometrist in a month... one problem, daughters glasses are very dark prescription i also habve normal tension glaucoma with narrow angles so have been told to avoid comple darkness as it makes the pupil expand/enlarge and etc can presson optic nerve.. found all this out 2018 ... glaucoma , d,.dif, 4 of few friends died, they said i should no longer take zoloft re narrow angles and to be quite honest have not been "the same"since... i keep reminding myself things could be worlse but with ibs-d, fi, tinnitus and mes i do get to feel sorry for myself... but wake up and glad i can see, get out of bed, walk and talk, just some days harder than others... hugs to everyone xxx

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@lacy2 that all sounds very difficult to deal with. I hope you are getting some support from your doctors and others in your life.
I hadn’t heard about that side effect of Zoloft before. Too bad you can’t take it as it sounds like it was helping your mood. Have you tried a different SSRI or other antidepressant? I know that my pain is much worse when I’m depressed. Hang in there and hope you can find a little bit of relief every now and then.

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Profile picture for dianedonohue @dianedonohue

@po1958ling The company that I use is Vital Tears phone number 800-360-9592. I am pretty sure they were based in Kansas City but are used by Mass Eye and Ear, Longwood Ave. Boston. It cost either $20.00 or $40.00 to have the nurse come to my house. I live in a suburb of Boston. They also gave me an address of a lab approxinately 25 minutes away but because I am 82 and don't love driving or falling on the ice so I opted to pay the extra and have the nurse come to my home. Sincerely, Diane Donohue

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@dianedonohue thank you

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Profile picture for ashleyharris728 @ashleyharris728

@lacy2 that all sounds very difficult to deal with. I hope you are getting some support from your doctors and others in your life.
I hadn’t heard about that side effect of Zoloft before. Too bad you can’t take it as it sounds like it was helping your mood. Have you tried a different SSRI or other antidepressant? I know that my pain is much worse when I’m depressed. Hang in there and hope you can find a little bit of relief every now and then.

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@ashleyharris728 ..thankyou Daughter with me had to travel 4.5 hours to Toronto, after mri and scan of eyes "Normal Tension/Pressure Glaucoma with narrow angled." Specialst said no meds which increase eye pressure.. Zolof being one of themso I did what they said and stopped cold turkey.... so not saying Zoloft caused eye issue but manymeds such as travel sickness pills, antihystamines, sinus meds and dozens of others raise eye pressure and not recommended. I had Iridotomies both eyes 3 yrs ago where tehey make laser hole in eyes to relieve pressure if it builds up but they can grow back so I would rather not take chances... possiblity of losing vision quickly so am now only on one med and glaucoma eye drops and yes am suffering because of not being safe taking most meds but thanks so much for your concern, J.

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Hi...is any 1 a candidate for Lacrifill? It is a Godsend 2 me! Its a hyaluronic acid material that is inserted in2 the tear ducts w/ a tiny cannula after my eye Dr uses some numbing drops...it helps to keep your tears in your eyes 2 keep them more hydrated. Unfortunately, I had a blepharoplasty mishap & the Dr cut off 2 much of my lt eyelid so my top/bottom lids do not come 2gether. My ophthalmologist is a dry eye specialist. I had a severe corneal abrasions & it was very painful, think pin cushion 4 an eyeball!
I also take blink vitamins & omega 3 supplements per my Dr's treatment plan.
I put retainer ointment in my lt eye every nite & sleep w/ goggles on @ nite.
During the day I like Refresh Optive Mega-3 preservative-free lubricant eye drops, another Godsend & believe me ive spent a fortune on drops.
Both restasis & xidra really stung upon application...no thank U!
U can get the Lacrifill tear duct plugs every 6mos.
Don't go the regular tear duct plug route, 2 me it feels lk U have a tampon in your tear duct! I truly hope i helped someone w/ the treatment options ive listed here...good luck 2 U all!

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I have found the punctum plugs, Restasis & Systane Eye drops to help my eyes wonderfully. Dry eyes are
painful.

Praying for all to get relief. Blessings....

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Profile picture for ashby1947 @ashby1947

Yes, dry eyes are a problem, but there are many ways to help yourself at home as well as some new physician procedures. First, any eye drops that have preservatives dry your eyes out more! That means that most OTC drops will aggravate dry eyes instead of helping. I have been using Retaine MGD for several years, and a single use vial lasts for several drops/day. Oasis is also a good drop. I have glaucoma, a precipitating factor in dry eye syndrome, and have even gone to preservative free glaucoma drops. I use lid scrubs daily and agree with you that the warm eye mask is very beneficial in stimulating the meibomian glands. Another important consideration is to not have air blowing on your eyes, which is quite a task since I live in FL and everything is air conditioned to the max - sigh! I hope sharing information will be of value to others who are dealing with dry eyes. Best Regards, Ashby 1947.

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@ashby1947 gracias por tu interesante información, lo tendré en cuenta cuando vaya a consulta próximamente con él oftalmólogo pues me ha dicho mi médico dé familia qué tengo cataratas y viendo lo qué sé comenta por aquí la operación no té garantiza nada

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Several years ago I had dry eyes. I went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. By the time I got there I had ulcer spots on my eyes. I was told to use a heated eye pad for 10 or 15 minutes, then remove and gently squeeze my eye lids toward the lid edge. I also used Restasis twice a day and Systane heavy drops for night. I did this routine for almost 2 years and finally the dr. said the only thing left was to get a Meibomian gland expression. It is done in the dr.'s office with a special machine. Insurance does not pay for this procedure. I got the treatment and it worked well. It took several years for the ulcers on my eyes to completely heal. I was diagnosed with lupus when I was 25 and I am 79 now. I have had repeated infections of all types during my life and I believe the lupus was involved with all of them. Nothing healed easily.

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Profile picture for covidstinks2023 @covidstinks2023

I have found the punctum plugs, Restasis & Systane Eye drops to help my eyes wonderfully. Dry eyes are
painful.

Praying for all to get relief. Blessings....

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@covidstinks2023 hola me podías decir si ésas gotas y tapones lagrimales son dé venta libre o lo tienen que recetar él médico.
No sé si mí problema es el mismo pero últimamente me lloran mucho los ojos y pudiera ser ojos secos. ¿ Es lo qué tiene pasa a ti?

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