I'm in serious need of advice from all of you experts/sufferers. I've had Sjogren's (dry eyes, mainly) for decades, with very few serious problems. I've used eye drops on and off but mostly off. It just was never bad enough.
A few months ago, I started noticing that vision out of my left eye was blurry. At first, I thought it was a sudden vision change that needed new glasses but then realized there was no range in which vision was clear! I saw the optometrist first (couldn't get into an opthal quickly enough)-she said there was a "membrane wrinkle over my retina" and scheduled me for an opthalmologist. Interestingly, maybe related or unrelated-with my vision corrected with her special lenses, the letters seen by my left eye were sharp but in two layers. There was a duplicate layer above the actual layer. I thought maybe that was causing blurry vision when trying to read the computer screen and book, etc.
The opthalmologist I first saw said that the membrane wrinkle over my retina was not causing blurry vision and that I needed to get my glasses update and to get reading glasses. I looked at him with my jaw on the floor-I said but that wouldn't fix my blurry vision! What's causing my blurry vision? He was a jerk-said I have two eyes, get over it. Get new glasses and see him again in four months.
I went home and did my own research...found info that dry eyes could create unevenness over the cornea that would result in blurry vision. That made sense so I called the opthal office back. The nice med assistant said yes, that made sense but the doc I'd seen was a retina specialist and didn't think about the cornea.. >:(So she said start using eye drops and come in to see the cornea specialist. Argh. So another visit-cornea guy said glasses you just paid $$$ for are no good because your vision will keep changing due to unevenness/dryness of your cornea. "Water your grass" aka cornea for a month to get it healthy and then get new prescriptions. I tried to explain that I was seeing double layer of (sharp) letters but he didn't even check. Sent me home and said he didn't need to see me again unless I was still having problems. He just didn't seem to think it was a big deal.
I started using vysine (I know-they later told me that's bad) and the gel drops (recommended-goopy but..). My eye seems like it's getting worse! It's SO dry and gritty in the morning that it's even hard to open now. Unlike what I've read, my vision is most blurry when I blink and then slowly focuses...if I'm able to gain focus. Mornings are the worst-my left eye vision is completely blurry but it's blurry more often than not all the time.
I don't want to ruin my cornea so would appreciate your advice! I have an appointment with a *general* opthalmologist in three months and NOT at that other place (they are going to replace the lenses in my three new pairs of glasses because I need to go back and get new prescriptions, which was nice of them) so that one doctor can help me with my blurry vision-my presenting problem! ARGH. I might try to move up the opthal appointment since my eye is getting worse but I'm hoping someone here can help, at least in the meantime! It's so hard to work on the computer fulltime-gives me headaches! Thank you!!
People don't realize how bad dry eye can be. Shame on your doctor's for not looking at the while picture! Sorry you are going thru this. My ophthalmologist is located in a large eye center with several other eye specialists. During my last exam he said I had severe dry eye and referred me to their dry eye specialist (who knew there was such a thing!) She really didn't do much. Recommended Systane eye drops several times a day and using using warm/wet compresses. She also suggested some kind of new in-office treatment that heats up your eyelash follicles and tear ducts to clear out gunk clogging your eyes but my insurance wouldn't pay for it. So I just use the drops as much as possible but by the end of the day my vision is quite blurry. I hope you find some answers. Hang in there.
I would get yourself to another ophthalmologist who isn't as much as as idiot as this last one. Cant believe his attitude. There are eye docs who specialize in the retina and your next ophthalmologist may well send you to that type of doc.
Dryness can be a big problem for shire but when the retina has a wrinkle in it seeks like you are in need of special testing , etc. Good luck and please keep us updated on this. meirish
DeeIndiana, thank you for the suggestions. Warm compresses sounds comforting-I'll try that! And look at systane. I need something more than what I have. I hope I can heal it!
Meirish, the cornea specialist didn't even think I needed to see him again and that was why I was at the eye doc in the first place! The retina problem was apparently a secondary finding which, ok, I'll go back in 4mo to make sure it's not worsening, but it's not affecting my vision right now. I scheduled an appointment with a general opthalmologist-my problem is not complicated if it's due to dry eyes. I would think they're taught that!
Thanks!
I agree with getting a second opinion, as you're already doing. Ask to move appointment sooner if discomfort is interfering with life or intolerable.
While there, also consider asking about punctal plugs. They have made a world of difference for me as they keep in my eye what little amount of tears I product, but also keep eyedrops in eyes longer than they would otherwise stay. My doctor first only plugged bottom puncta, but that made top one overwork which made situation worse. Went back and she plugged top ones, too. Enabled me to get back to working full-time.
Eyedrops without preservatives are best, as preservatives exacerbate dryness. The individual vials are good. Refresh brand vials good because you can recap and use entire contents. Not sure if other vial brands are similar.
Quote from: deeindiana on December 18, 2020, 02:38:02 PM
Recommended Systane eye drops several times a day and using using warm/wet compresses. She also suggested some kind of new in-office treatment that heats up your eyelash follicles and tear ducts to clear out gunk clogging your eyes but my insurance wouldn't pay for it.
Quote from: Peanutbrain on December 19, 2020, 11:12:18 AM
Warm compresses sounds comforting-I'll try that!
You can do this at home by getting microwavable eye compress. I like Thermalon brand which can often be found in drugstore eye products aisle, but definitely online. Pick up some eyelid wipes while you're there. Heat compress in microwave as directed or a little longer if tolerable, apply to eyes to express the oil and gunk from tear ducts, then swipe eyelash area with lid wipe. Really soothing!
Good luck!
Just out of curiosity, did the corneal specialist or any eye doc do a scan of your eye that shows the retina. This is an excellent tool for diagnosis. Just wondering. meirish
I really think you should see a retinal specialist. My husband had what you are describing and needed to have surgery. He does not have Sjogrens. This does not mean that dry eyes are not also causing problems including blurring. This was a problem for me before I started using Xidra drops. But do not ignore a possible retinal problems.
Thank you for the feedback. I'll respond to some of the comments/questions...
-I really like the idea of plugs! I'd never seriously considered it before because my dry eyes was only a mild annoyance but now it's a fullblown problem affecting my life and the eyedrops don't seem to have any lasting impact. I can barely open my left eye in the morning even when I put in a drop about an hour before, hoping to improve my morning vision. I also like the idea of Refresh being reusable to a limited extent!
The retina guy did a scan of my retina and the cornea guy did a scan of my cornea. Two specialist co-pays because they were each too specialized :P The retina guy said that the membrane wrinkle was not causing the blurriness and didn't think it was a big problem at all but recommending re-checking in 4 mo to make sure there was no change. He was completely unconcerned I was experiencing blurred vision in one eye, telling me I had two eyes. He was a jerk and I reported it (on the advice of the medical assistant I later spoke to) to the office manager.
The cornea specialist did a scan of my cornea and said it looked "surprisingly good". He also wasn't too concerned and seemed to think using eye drops would cure me. It hasn't but I don't want to go back there. I will try tips from you guys and see if I can improve my dryness on my own or move up my other appt. Thanks!