Hi everyone,
I think I have lost my ability to cry. My eyes water a bit, but no tears. Is this how it happens?
Could you please let me know how it happened to you?
Thanks, Bobbie
Hi Bobbie,
Like SJS, tear evaporation is so different for everyone, and then there are members that never have a problem with their eyes. Some members lose theirs gradually, others a bit quicker, then there are some like me. I have MGD, and yep, it's also recognized as an eye symptom of SJS. With MGD, I have tears, lots of them, but the oil glands by the eye lashes don't work, leaving me with an unstable tear, and hence, dry eyes (my tears evaporate so fast that I have my left eye double plugged, and the right one has a single plug (lower)). Even with my plugs, Restasis, and fish oil, the evaporation rate at my last exam was six in the left and seven in the right; average normal is 12 (the lowest normal rate is 10).
Take care of yourself -
Patze
Hi Bobbie,
I'm like Patze...I have tears...just not the right kind...mine also evaporate very fast as I don't have the proper amount of oil layer in my tears either. So if I should get something in my eye and it tears or if I cry......when the tears are done...my eyes actually hurt/burn worse than ever because it dries them out so badly. They can also remain red for quite awhile afterward as well and it looks awful!
That's my story....but we are all so very different that everyones story will vary.
I can still cry if I'm sad, but cutting onions does nothing ::)
Quote from: Babs659 on February 14, 2010, 04:05:57 PM
I can still cry if I'm sad, but cutting onions does nothing ::)
same here,,emotions will make me cry some kindoftear,, but anything else,, forget it,, dry as a bone
I still have tears, but I do notice them drying quicker than normal. Emotional tears are very active! Before I got my lens I suffered with the red eyes affect to, but since getting them my eyes stay bright and healthy looking, also since getting them I do not suffer with dry eyes at all as there is a solution that is inserted in the lens when I put them in which stays in until I remove the lens.
I have zero on both eyes for Schirmers. However, I can cry, but try not to because it is like dredging up the Saraha desert. My eyes will be red and swollen for more than 24 hours and I look like I've been out on a "bender." Not sure how many of you know what that is. I do not do those, but it fit the situation.
Ah Lucy, I've done those a time or two over the years (but it's been way too long since the last time ;))! :) It's weird, but if I do cry, my eyes do feel like I've been in the desert too, I never really thought about it.
Patze
The tears that lubricate our eyes are basic tear secretions and are different from "crying" tears..those are reflex tears and are made by the upper main lacrimal gland.Excessive crying(or rubbing)puts strain on the lacrymal apparatus and causes redness and itchiness from irritation.
So the tears we need for eye comfort arent the same as what is made when we cry.And the ones we cry are irritating..most likely even more so to people who dont have an adequate film layer of basic tear secretions to start with.
Isn't there a little eye procedure that is done to correct that? I don't have especially dry eys or mouth. For me its my parotid glands and dry throat/sinus/espophogus.
I can cry but no tears anyother time. Dry as a bone.
Are your eyes blurry too. Mine are. See the Eye doc Mar 3.
Hi Harlin,
I can't see a thing without those readers!
It is like there are floaters going around. I keep blinking to clear it up but doesn't happen. I actually have trifocal glasses, which I don't wear very often. They seem to be worse when I have them on trying to focus.
Harlin, You and I have the same 'opportunity;' I can cry tears when occasion occurs...sad or happy. :'( :) No other time :(
Just wondering? Have you ever had any type eye surgery?
I, too, can cry tears when I'm really angry or sad, but am dry other times.
Hi, Bobbie -
It seems like so long ago, but only six weeks now. One day noticed that I had hardly any tears. And then the rest of the dryness happened. For me, Refresh's Celluvisc eyedrops are awful, even though it's a preservative-free, thicker formula (supposed to protect the cornea). Am going to get another Refresh p-f formula tomorrow that one of this site's members tried and likes. Hopefully, that one will feel/do better.
Hope you find the preservative-free formula that's right for you.
Sheltiemom
I don't have any tears when I cry. It feels weird. Once I got 1 tear and I got so excited I forgot what I was crying about. ;D Joyce
Joy
No I have never had any kind of eye surgery. Have you? Just dried up like the rest of me. :-\
harlin
It has been a couple of years since I could cry and produce tears. Last time I did my eyes got so swollen for three days that I could hardly see, but I miss the ability to cry.
When I watch a real sad movie, I watched the three lives of Thomasina the other week, I felt like I was going to cry, but instead my nose just runs, and my eyes hurt.
I feel like such a prune!
Jules
I have completely lost all ability to cry. When I am upset I can whimper and make crying-like noises but there is not a single tear. It has been very difficult.
I have the wrong kind of tears and my eyes run when I move from one room to another, or go outside, etc. They aren't comforting tears, though, as often my eyes burn as if peeling onions (and this makes my nose run, too ::) ) But I least I do have some moisture in my eyes.
I am always getting asked, by strangers, if I'm ok, as I have to mop my eyes quite often if I'm outside and the slightest breeze comes along!! ::)
Hello
I have had all four of my tear ducks cauterized, and it makes me cry quite abit. People always ask if I am crying. I tell you My eyes don't burn anymore, its annoying but my eyes don't hurt. I always carry a tissue.
Thanks Theresa
With Sjogen's you always have tears, there just on the inside :'( I'm in my dark place today.
Aw, Epson. That's a sad post. Hope the sun shines on your dark place soon. xx
I can cry but it just makes my eyes drier. My eyes just keep getting worse. I am constantly aware of the dryness now. I can barely hold my eyes open. I am squinting now. I have been on meds for 2 weeks now. no improvement yet. I used to consider the dry eyes thing one of the least bothersome symptoms but now i am becoming quite miserable. Will this ever get better?
Awe Epson
Come out of that dark place!! It is bright and SNOWY outside.
Many hugs harlin
I hear ya Epson....I'm kinda in a funk myself. I'm noticing that things are getting worse and its troublesome to me. I was diagnosed with Vasovagal syncope this week which explains a lot of my CNS problems but the question is whether I can stop it from getting worse and worse. I can't seem to stand for very long anymore and that scares me. I'm 52 and have had to give up driving and its hard for a guy to get people to drive you around. I have had to hire a friend to drive me to my next rhumy appointment and on disability I don't have lots of money to spare on stuff like that. The rhumy is about three hour drive so its an all day affair. Just this week I've been prescribed two new different drugs. I now have about 10 drugs I take!!!!!!
Billydude,
I drive so infrequently that I usually have to jump start my car. My nephrologist thinks I have vasovagal syncope, but until I start passing out it's on the bottom of my list of problems.
I'm not actually passing out either but come close to feeling like I'm going to. All these CNS type things are the biggest things for me with the Sjogrens. Now that the weather is getting warmer here where I live it usually magnifys my issues.